Gasoline Alley Daily, 4 Aug 1922

When I first saw an image of this Gasoline Alley original, I thought that it was pretty funny, just because Skeezix ended up so covered with soot that Walt couldn't even recognize him. But after I looked more carefully and noticed Skeezix's left eye, which is so subtilely drawn that it almost gets lost in the dirt, I thought it to be pretty hilarious! In general, it seems that King's artwork, unlike that of many other comic strip artists, is much more impressive than it might seem at first glance. I can't think of many other artists who would have taken so much time and displayed so much skill in drawing the exhaust debris which envelops Skeezix, even down to showing larger particles here and there. But it is that one little eye which isn't even noticed without a closer look that shows the toddler's complete shock over what just hit him as he was so innocently pursuing that worm. In my opinion, it is King's inclusion of details such as these which make him a truly great comic strip artist and not just someone who was accomplished at portraying the America of his time.