'Pogo', 1992 comic. Artwork credited to Carolyn Kelly.
Carolyn Kelly was an American comic artist, animator and book designer. She was the daughter of Walt Kelly, creator of the influential and frequently awarded funny animal comic 'Pogo'. In 1992-1993, she briefly worked on a revived version of her father's strip. From 2011 on, she was instrumental in Fantagraphics' complete reprints of Walt Kelly's 'Pogo', designing covers and doing restorations of her father's original artwork. In 2000-2001, Kelly also drew two 'Simpsons' stories for Bongo Comics.
Life and career
Carolyn Kelly was born in 1948 in Connecticut as the second of three children of Walt Kelly and his first wife, Helen DeLacey. Her older sister and younger brother were Kathleen and Peter Kelly. Growing up in Darlen, Connecticut, she sometimes sat on her father's lap while he was drawing his signature comic 'Pogo' (1948-1975). Kelly nicknamed his daughter "Tony Bug", but she never knew why. Either way, the name was used a lot in 'Pogo', as a special nod to her. Walt Kelly also encouraged his daughter's own artistic ambitions and gave her drawing advice. When Walt Kelly died in 1973, 'Pogo' was continued for two more years by his third wife Selby Kelly, until 1975.
Carolyn Kelly was mostly active as a book designer and also worked in animation. She was involved with the short-lived animated TV series 'Channel Umptee-3' (1997-1998) on the Warner Brothers Network. The show was produced by Norman Lear (scriptwriter of the groundbreaking TV sitcom 'All In The Family') and, among others, Everett Peck (of 'Duckman' fame). Mark Evanier, best-known for scripting Sergio Aragonés' 'Groo the Wanderer' and writing a biography about Jack Kirby ('Kirby: King of Comics', Abrams Books, 2008), was hired to work as a story editor on 'Channel Umptee-3'. Soon he and Carolyn became a couple. On his blog, Evanier told a witty anecdote about their first night together at his house: he happened to wake up and find a real-life possum on his patio, almost as if their relationship was predestined. He recalled thinking: "Boy, I'm lucky I'm not dating the woman whose father drew 'Alley Oop'."
In the 2010s, Carolyn Kelly was diagnosed with breast cancer, and passed away from it in 2017.
Pogo revival (1989-1992)
In 1989, The Los Angeles Times Syndicate revived the 'Pogo' strip. Initially, new stories were scripted by Larry Doyle, with Neal Sternecky providing the artwork. In February 1991, Doyle left and Sternecky combined writing and drawing for almost a year. In March 1992, Carolyn and her brother Peter Kelly made 'Pogo' a family affair again. She drew the stories, while he wrote scripts, but focused purely on the daily episodes, as from that point on, the Sunday episodes turned mostly to reprints. Halfway through 1993, Michael Lewis became the new scriptwriter. Carolyn drew the daily 'Pogo' comic until 2 October 1993. For about a month, reprints were published until 'Pogo' vanished from the papers again.
'Pogo' compilation book by Fantagraphics. Cover artwork by Carolyn Kelly.
Pogo: reprints
Throughout her long career, Kelly remained the caretaker of her famous father's comic legacy. In 2011, she oversaw a complete re-edition of Walt Kelly's 'Pogo' by Fantagraphics, editing the books, painting cover artwork and restoring all the original comics. In some cases, the available prints were in such bad shape that it took a long time to find acceptable source material. In some cases, Kelly took up the pencil herself, painstakingly trying to mimic her father's original art, while simultaneously battling cancer. Her co-editor on the 'Pogo' reprints, Kim Thompson, also succumbed to this disease in 2013. Unfortunately, Carolyn Kelly didn't live to see Fantagraphics release the final volumes.
Simpsons comics
In 2000, Carolyn Kelly also drew two stories, 'Grrrl-Whirl' ('Bart Simpson', issue #1, October 2000) and 'Bart Simpson's Day Off' ('Bart Simpson', issue #5, August 2001) for Matt Groening's 'The Simpsons' comics, published by Bongo Comics. The first story was scripted by George Gladir, the second by James Bates. Her former scriptwriter on 'Pogo', Larry Doyle, also worked as a screenwriter for 'The Simpsons' TV series.
'Bart Simpson's Day Off' (Bart Simpson #5).