Stolzer, Rob :: Kelly, Walt

Walt Kelly - Pogo Daily - 1955 - Bats!

Artist: Walt Kelly (All)

5 Comments - 5,718 Views - 1 Like

Walt Kelly - Pogo Daily - 1955 - Bats! Comic Art

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Additional Images:

Walt Kelly - Pogo Daily - 1955 - Bats! - Left Side

Walt Kelly - Pogo Daily - 1955 - Bats! - Right Side

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Walt Kelly - 1959 Pogo - BATS!

Artwork Details

Title:	Walt Kelly - Pogo Daily - 1955 - Bats!
Artist:	Walt Kelly (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Comic Strip
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	5,718
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	7/13/2012
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Walt Kelly fans can afford to be choosy, as there is so much of Kelly's art available. I've owned relatively few Kelly pieces over the years, with one daily being my main keeper. Until I ran across this piece on eBay. I love, love, love Kelly's bat characters. They may well be my favorite characters from the strip. This daily, from May 7, 1955, features all three bats, with two of them believing that they've been visited by the stork. The word-play is wonderful, but the drawing is even better. I've never owned a piece from this period by Kelly, and I'm struck by the beautiful textures that he brought to the piece. Combine that with the writing and animated style, and the whole package is pretty damn sweet.

Identifying the Bats is difficult. Here is their entry in Wikipedia: "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bemildred: A trio of grubby, unshaven bats – hobos, gamblers, good-natured but innocent of any temptation to honesty. They admit nothing. Soon after arriving in the swamp they are recruited by Deacon Mushrat into the "Audible Boy Bird Watchers Society", (a seemingly innocent play on the Audubon Society, but really a front for Mole's covert surveillance syndicate.) They wear identical black derby hats and perpetual 5 o'clock shadows. Their names, a play on the song title Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, are rarely mentioned. Often even they cannot say for sure which brother is which. They tell each other apart, if at all, by the patterns of their trousers – striped, checkered or plaid. (According to one of the bats, "Whichever pair of trousers you puts on in the morning, that's who you are for that partic'lar day.")"

I've post two detail shots below, to give you and idea of the pen work and textures.

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About the Owner

	Rob Stolzer Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	September 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	robart
Website:	https://freeassociationfunnies.com/
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Rob's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About RobStolzer

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Comments on this Artwork

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Lorenzo Fratini
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 7/14/2012

Walt Kelly strips are a joy for the collector: they are surprinsingly huge when you see them live, estremely well drawn, historically relevant, but still very affordable pieces of art. Furthermore, you made a beautiful choice: the bats are really some of the most funny characters of the cast. Congrats!

Alex Johnson
Member Since 2006
Forum Moderator

1 - Posted on 7/14/2012

Good stuff, Rob. Congratulations.

Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 7/14/2012

It is really a great example of Kelly's excellent work. Nice pick up.

Max C
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 7/15/2012

Any update of your gallery is not a surprise to me, Rob. You always pick up the best. Bravo indeed!

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 8/4/2012

Kelly was delivering top quality throughout his career, but in the early 1950s he really outdid himself!

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