Legendary "Little Golden Books" Artist Mel Crawford Passes

If you owned or read any picture books when you were a child, or had kids who did from the 1950s on up, you more than likely have seen his work. One of the most prolific children's book artists of all time passed away on Monday, February 23rd. He was 89.
Best-known for his renderings of  numerous Disney and Hanna-Barbera characters such as Yogi Bear, Magilla Gorilla, The Flintsones and more, he rendered hundreds of books, covers, and comic book covers for Whitman Publishing's "Little Golden Books" and the associated "Gold Key Comics".
Many books still in print today contain his work.
Read the article and see more pictures HERE .

Happy Birthday, Walt!!

POGO!

Today would have been the birthday of WALT KELLY, former DISNEY animator/artist and creator of the long-running "POGO" comic. The award-winning classic comic featured an opossum and various other anthropomorphic characters in a swamp setting. Read more about him HERE.

POGO Sunday Comic

R.I.P. John Severin, Comics Legend

 The great John Severin passed away Sunday at age 90. He was one of my favorite cartoon artists EVER! I was first made aware of Severin from the "CRACKED" magazines my older brother Kevin would buy up at the corner store when we would make our monthly 'comics run' in the early 70's.

 His caricatures and style were inspiring to an impressionable young doodler like me. I was in awe of his line work and ability to get a likeness, yet maintain his definitive style. Below is a marriage of two of my favorite things from my youth: Cracked Severin art and Planet of the Apes:

I used to wonder: 'Man! This guy is GREAT! Why isn't he drawing REAL comics...?' Of course, this was before I was aware that he was a prolific member of MARVEL's "Bullpen" in the 60's & early 70's.

Read an article about him HERE .

Thanks, John, for your contributions to the comics industry!