![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Mm0xQkT7HVchIlU0YT8E7kcLjO4q0vwbrH1cJfz6vEfzTCiDGIW-2equMdd47a_Ds62R2GpllWHHxxbY3cDAc60MM7XkCnGf-5o_DdkqzS_k741a2n_Je7NE1g4vTVlr-E-Vpw/s640/Walker.jpg)
Above: Mort Walker writes and draws an adventure strip for Mad Magazine #89. Looks like he's channeling some Roy Crane here!
Okay, I need to talk about some old cartoonists! You know it's what we usually talk about. Here are some:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiZqd6SP5w8VjWBfvyg-4Wax9bJr9rDBOfQyv-zra0_SLEPuQxaL7FYgUUhN6RzCibqrd0PZpE_PnFN8Snx0rp8IZ8mN3N4ggNpgMZimOLcmZH1pWvXE1NAqHJmPSAcK0vtaxMg/s640/cartoonists.jpg)
From left, counter clockwise (do you really need to know who these guys are?): Mell Lazarus, Mort Walker, Ken Ernst, Charles Schulz, Allen Saunders, and Walt Kelly.
In 1964, MAD Magazine asked top cartoonists to draw their "dream" comic strip for a feature article.
Chaos, obviously, ensued, in the 4 page feature titled "Comic Strips They'd Really Like To Do:"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWJfSidVyXwSo_s37TFkS6TI4CzSOypeDgN6BI8v6wXDKZ17oY-Hd5vgj9NZJT7UX8Oc6ypjKkDFGSFUPL5YyQD-i3q9JTCy1oYzrUHJilUFBAQsge5Qiay3ollYTP8eDnyMd8w/s640/Mad89.jpg)
They are all funny and intriguing, with Mell Lazarus' contribution maybe the most visually arresting. Here's a scan of the original art:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZOAp42WNZTd_BVT9dpy0FXohCzXUZ0DzuMlpJ5cDLl4u_IP4DSZpAhNcyx_h-bwNqq8NWruB05qab4bS8xxXI4VzaLvOeFZ3d59ClXCxnNCbMG0fW1uVXOeLb7UgAE9mUjamLw/s640/Lazarus.jpg)
And below is Ernst and Saunders' version PEANUTS, complete with a MARY WORTH cameo:
These three pieces of original art were offered for sale by the Lewis Wayne Gallery in 2009.
I'm not associated with the Gallery. I just thought theses were some unique and (to me) unknown pieces of American cartoon art.
Interestingly, the Schulz piece, was not offered in that auction.
-- An edited version of a February 26, 2009 blog entry.