Month: October 2024

The Original

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Original pieces of Kreigh Collins’s comic strip illustrations are quite amazing. They are large (drawn on 20 x 30″  illustration board), rich in detail, and interesting in other ways — corrected areas are readily apparent, stock elements are revealed to be pasted in, and instructions or notes are sometimes written in the margins. In the example shown above, Kreigh (my grandfather) personalized the illustration and gifted it to my other grandpa (“For Walt Palmer, May his trials be less than Kevin’s!”). Unfortunately, the art has a bit of wear and tear due to hanging on my brother’s bedroom wall through high school and college. He gets a pass as he shared a name with Kevin’s young ward — Brett accompanied Kevin on many of his adventures.

Another feather in Brett’s cap is being Kreigh Collins’ first grandchild. I was his second—barely—having been born three days before my cousin Josh. I don’t recall any characters named Joshua, and there was only one minor character named Brian that I’m aware of.

Originals can occasionally be found at auctions for a couple hundred dollars or so, depending on their condition. Another original I own was in quite nice shape when it was offered for sale about ten years ago. But by the time I won it on ebay in a later sale, its edges had been hacked down to fit into a cheap 18 x 24″ picture frame. I suppose its value has taken a hit, but I didn’t buy it as an investment. For me, it’s all about the family connection.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

A Strange Battle

These half-page episodes are very nicely illustrated, and it’s interesting to remember that in this era, when third-page versions KEVIN appeared, the original artwork’s entire third tier of panels was eliminated (an enormous “throwaway”).

I don’t have an example of the May 29, 1966 half-page but I did manage to find an image of the original artwork—which is included in a collection at the Smithsonian.

Drawing. Comic strip, “Kevin the Bold,” art by Kreigh Collins. GA*22482.

Things look grim as Kevin’s right arm is imapled by a Potawatan arrow—just as Captain Spur lunges at him.

Luckily, Spur’s exuberance causes him to lose balance and fall overboard, where he presumably meets his demise.

After imparting a bit more “Viking-Indian” history on his readers, Collins transitions to KEVIN’s next chapter.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

Trapping Skraelings

The timing of this current chapter of KEVIN THE BOLD is a bit awkward, with Indigenous Peoples’ Day being celebrated tomorrow (October 14). Some of the dialog is rather offensive, and while Kreigh Collins didn’t write too many episodes during this late period of his comic strip, going along with it made him complicit. When these episodes ran in 1966, the discovery of ancient Norse sites in Canada’s Maritme provinces was a recent development, and inclusion of this plot point was likely a suggestion of my grandfather. So despite being a product of a more insensitive time, I give him points for sharing this progressive idea.

The ancient Norse had a put down for the indigenous people they met, calling them Skraelings, and it’s notable that here, even the friendly “Viking-like Indians” use the condescending term against their enemy, the Potawatas.

Looking beyond any awkwardness, let’s try to enjoy a rather unique chase scene.

Given the givens, of course Chief Swen took Kevin’s advice and circled around the island. And let’s just try to ignore the ridiculous red skin tones given to the warring tribes’ members.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

Distant Relation

From their hiding place, Kevin and Erik keep a close eye on Captain Spur and his men.

Erik recognizes the language used by the “Indians”.

As Erik and Chief Swen bond over the possibility of their shared ancestry, Captain Spur quickly cozies up to the Potawata. The third tier of panels gives readers of the half-page episode a clearer idea of what’s to come…

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.