Sorry, Yogi Bear fans, but my sources of half-page, three-row Yogi Bear newspaper comics has dried up again, so you’re stuck with the best versions I can find that are, unfortunately, missing the top row. Since you’ll want to see these in full colour, I suspect they’ll be at Mark Kausler’s blog by the time you see this post. Mark is trying to find excuses for me not to stop blogging by sending me scans of Hanna-Barbera storyboards from his personal collection for me to post here (including a Ruff and Reddy). But those are posts for another day.
One thing noticeable about the Yogi comics from 50 years ago this month is the absence of Boo Boo and, with one exception, Ranger Smith (unless they’re in the missing top row). At the risk of harping on the point, I think Yogi was a stronger character in his first season cartoons (1958-59 TV season) when he was allowed to roam free without being saddled with Jellystone Park, Mr. Ranger and a bear-type buddy as necessities in each cartoon. A 6 ½-minute cartoon could have easily made surrounding a baseball game with kids like in the August 22nd newspaper comic. With the Capitol Hi-Q library, naturally.
There isn’t really much for me to say about these comics. Gene Hazelton—at least, I’ll presume he was responsible—shows a great sense of layout. I like his sense of perspective with many frames drawing your attention to something in the foreground as well as the background (and, sometimes, in between). The sprinkler truck panel on August 15th is a good example.
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Can anyone see the sweater in the August 1st comic and not think of Charlie Brown?
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Nice expressions on Yogi in the August 8th comics. Other than in profile, his eyes look different than the way Harvey Eisenberg drew them. They seem closer together. The angular fir trees are all over the place and we get a silhouette panel.
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The first panel in the August 15th comic is really well thought out. The hunters are in the background and Yogi’s not quite in the foreground, so the reader’s eye is automatically directed to the rifle which is at the centre of the plot. Nice angle on the truck in the last panel.
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The “alert” and “Bert” rhyme in the August 22nd comic couldn’t be much more contrived, could it?
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The squirrel talks! Yogi’s helping cutsy animals in the August 29th comic, which includes an appearance by that gym rat, Ranger Smith.
Click on any of the comics to make them bigger, but I again suggest you do the same on Mark’s blog as they’re in colour.
One thing noticeable about the Yogi comics from 50 years ago this month is the absence of Boo Boo and, with one exception, Ranger Smith (unless they’re in the missing top row). At the risk of harping on the point, I think Yogi was a stronger character in his first season cartoons (1958-59 TV season) when he was allowed to roam free without being saddled with Jellystone Park, Mr. Ranger and a bear-type buddy as necessities in each cartoon. A 6 ½-minute cartoon could have easily made surrounding a baseball game with kids like in the August 22nd newspaper comic. With the Capitol Hi-Q library, naturally.
There isn’t really much for me to say about these comics. Gene Hazelton—at least, I’ll presume he was responsible—shows a great sense of layout. I like his sense of perspective with many frames drawing your attention to something in the foreground as well as the background (and, sometimes, in between). The sprinkler truck panel on August 15th is a good example.
Can anyone see the sweater in the August 1st comic and not think of Charlie Brown?
Nice expressions on Yogi in the August 8th comics. Other than in profile, his eyes look different than the way Harvey Eisenberg drew them. They seem closer together. The angular fir trees are all over the place and we get a silhouette panel.
The first panel in the August 15th comic is really well thought out. The hunters are in the background and Yogi’s not quite in the foreground, so the reader’s eye is automatically directed to the rifle which is at the centre of the plot. Nice angle on the truck in the last panel.
The “alert” and “Bert” rhyme in the August 22nd comic couldn’t be much more contrived, could it?
The squirrel talks! Yogi’s helping cutsy animals in the August 29th comic, which includes an appearance by that gym rat, Ranger Smith.
Click on any of the comics to make them bigger, but I again suggest you do the same on Mark’s blog as they’re in colour.