Walt Kelly's Pogo: Satirical Comics as Political Commentary
Walt Kelly's comic strip Pogo (1948–1975) used anthropomorphic swamp denizens to satirize McCarthyism and 1950s American conformity. Kelly's essay in Chicago Review's 1955 special issue helped legitimize comics as a tool for socio-political critique. His characters, including Albert Alligator and Porky Pine, mocked figures like Joe McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover. The strip's famous line 'We have met the enemy, and he is us' remains resonant. Kelly's work is celebrated for blending slapstick with subversive commentary.
Key facts
- Pogo ran from 1948 to 1975.
- Created by Walt Kelly.
- Set in the Okefenokee Swamp.
- Characters include Albert Alligator, Porky Pine, Howland Owl, Churchy LaFemme.
- Satirized Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Nikita Khrushchev, J. Edgar Hoover.
- Kelly's essay appeared in Chicago Review's 1955 special issue.
- The essay argued for intellectual freedom post-McCarthy.
- Famous quote: 'We have met the enemy, and he is us.'
Entities
Artists
- Walt Kelly
- Garry Trudeau
Institutions
- Chicago Review
- PRINT Magazine
Locations
- Okefenokee Swamp
- United States