4) Meeting Cartoonists…

Sometime in the mid 60’s, The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper sponsored a Cavalcade of Comics at the local shopping mall (Severance Center) in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Every afternoon for a week guest cartoonists would appear on stage and give a demonstration of their skills and answer questions from the audience. I was there every day of the festival. I loved cartooning and even cut school classes so I could be there to meet my heroes.

I remember asking Al Capp about his character called the Kigmy. This Shmoo-like creature was introduced in Li’l Abner in 1949 as the ultimate scapegoat. Any anger or aggression could be nullified by beating the shit out of the masochistic little being, who thrived on the abuse. In my studies of comic strip history, I had read that Capp had retired the character because of public and syndicate pressure. Mr. Capp answered my question with a cryptic “keep reading the funnies.” Some months later the Kigmy reappeared in Li’l Abner after an absence of about fifteen years.

Another highlight of the Cavalcade of Comics was meeting Brant Parker, co-creator (with Johnny Hart) and artist on The Wizard of Id. My memento of that meeting is posted below. The strip was still a new feature on the newspaper comics pages in the mid 60’s. It’s interesting to note that the King’s nose has transformed over the years from a little nubbin to a big honking snout.

Original Wizard of ID by Brant Parker 4-4-1979 (Note the larger nose on the King)

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at themythfits@gmail.com.