A surprisingly edgy cartoon from late 60's or whatever

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[valerief]

1. Back then it would have been considered cute, not edgy. And it's still cute! nt

[Greybnk48]

2. Yep. Not at all edgy for the 60's and 70's. Just fun.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how I miss the "funny papers." The really good one's, not the drivel we have now. For me, Al Capp's Lil' Abner was number one in the 60's and 70's then Peanuts and a few more.

Thanks to N2Doc for posting the political cartoons, which I also LOVE. Gannett and other papers don't even print them anymore.

[Nitram]

3. Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" turned hard right during the 60s.

That's when he lost me.

[Greybnk48]

7. I think it was closer to the 70's

and he was getting sick (and mean). But for 35 years he wrote in defense of the New Deal and everything liberal, writing one of the greatest comic strips ever, IMO, in Lil' Abner, among others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li'l_Abner

Tons of information here including all of the wonderful characters. Sorry, I won't toss him in the garbage because he became a sick, grouchy old man. He even apologized before his death for ruining Lil' Abner with vitriol. I still love him.

[Nitram]

8. I read the original Li'l Abner religiously.

It was only when he changed from a progressive liberal to a student-hating, Vietnam War-supporting buddy of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew that I couldn't read him anymore. And it turns out he was a sexual predator, as well, which I didn't even know. From what I remember, Capp's conversion was well under way by the mid 60s, btw. This is a good piece I don't know why, but I couldn't get this one to show as a link).

www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/02/just-how-bitter-petty-and-tragic-was-comic-strip-genius-al-capp/273595

And a more personal account:

[link:http://www.newsfromme.com/2013/04/20/the-shame-of-dogpatch/|

[Greybnk48]

11. I loved the original Lil' Abner too!

My dad (a hard core liberal) and I read it together when I was little and kept at it through about the mid 60's when I switched to Mad Magazine and other more trendy stuff. Now I think my dad probably quit reading it with me because of Capp's ugly turn. But, the characters were such a part of my childhood I still reference them, e.g., I think ultrasounds of fetuses look like schmoos, lol. It breaks my heart what happened to him. We "lost" many other people too that sucked up to Nixon and were vile, pro-war hippy haters. That was such a dark time, much like now. Ugh.

Thanks for the Atlantic article Nitram. I have it saved for later.

[Nitram]

13. Another one I reference is Joe Btfsplk, who had dark rain cloud over his head that followed him

wherever he went and brought bad luck to anyone who was near him. I've wondered if he was based on Mister Mxyzptlk in the superman comics (or visa versa).

[randome]

4. .

[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]

[Capt. Obvious]

5. No, this is edgy

[MattSh]

6. No, that is weird... nt

[Nitram]

9. this is 60s edgy.

[link:|

[Capt. Obvious]

10. .

[Greybnk48]

12. This movie was stunning.

If anyone wants to know how ugly this era could be, watch this movie. It is about as real as a movie can get.