Colorful Characters

The third “Kevin” comic introduces the Irish traitor Bull Blackie — and includes cross-dressing and fight scenes. In the fourth episode we meet Rory the Irish Wolfhound, and in the fifth we see Kevin attempt to single-handedly capture a pirate ship.

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Of course, the comics also feature fantastic artwork. There’s a nice high-angle perspective of the pirates’ ship, Moya showing off as many of her charms as she’s allowed to on Sundays, and some beautifully-composed panels (such as the fifth panel of the October 29 comic — there’s quite a bit of information packed into that frame!)

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For now, everyone is safe, but based on the events of these first five comics, no doubt there is danger ahead.

Girl Meets Boy

The first “Kevin the Bold” sequence features all the classic elements for which the strip would become known — dramatic action, monstrous villains, damsels in distress, heroism… and gorgeous artwork.

Moya McCoy is the first character introduced; Kevin doesn’t appear until the second episode, when the two abruptly meet (or as it says in the comic, “Whoosh!”).KTB 100150 HF 150 QCC

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“Whoosh!” is a slang term with which I had been unfamiliar — until I started reading Kreigh’s comics. It must be dialogue suggested by the artist. By coincidence, the word appears in not just the second episode of “Kevin the Bold,” but also in the second episode of “Up Anchor.” Note to conspiracy theorists: it does not appear in the second (or any!) episode of “Mitzi McCoy.”

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Note: I stand corrected! See the fourth panel (or “frame,” as Collins called them) of the March 26, 1950 “Mitzi,” below.

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Tit-Bits

Tit-Bits (originally named Tit-Bits from all the interesting Books, Periodicals, and Newspapers of the World) was a British weekly magazine with origins in the late 19th century. (It also makes for a blog post title that might come up in more internet searches than usual).

The publication’s emphasis was on dramatic human interest stories. An Argentinian version was created in 1909, and among other things, it featured American comics translated into Spanish.

In the 1950s, many of the comics it ran were King Features titles (“The Phantom,” “Judge Parker,” “Rex Morgan MD,” etc.) but it also ran “Terry and the Pirates” (the Chicago Tribune Syndicate, renamed “La Sombra”) and “Kevin the Bold” (Newspaper Enterprise Association/“Kevin el Denodado”), among others.

The Tit-Bits covers repurposed art from its variety of source material, and frequently used comics. “Kevin” was featured — generally in cases when it had dramatic double-decked illustrations. (Covers are shown with corresponding original Sunday comics).

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Looking at the five originals above, I’m reminded of other comics where Collins used similar devices or poses. The first two have echoes of throwaway panels from some of the earliest KTBs.

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At left, an earlier drowning victim (December 3, 1950). At far right, from the KTB debut strip,  Moya McCoy displays similar form to the damsel in the red dress.

Based on the publication dates of the Argentine monthlies (and the dates the comics originally ran), I’d speculate that each issue would contain four to six episodes of any given comic. The comics ran in a tabloid format, but in a much smaller size, with other stories wrapping around them on the pages.

Though many are currently listed on eBay, I haven’t seen any physical copies of these publications — the shipping costs put them out of my price range. However, I did spring for a rather unique full-page illustration from Tit-Bits. It shows a trussed up Moya McCoy, as she is being kidnapped by Moors. The artwork is from KTB’s opening sequence, and I will begin running that chapter in four installments starting next Sunday.

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Nothing to see here — just a little pre-Code bondage!

Fog of War

British ships approach as visibility fades. With Kevin in chains, young Glenn takes on a more prominent role.

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A gauche, les illustrations des tours sont ridicule!

Shots have been fired; Maria has been injured. Chaos. Glenn’s loyalty comes to the forefront.

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Ces bandes dessinées doivent avoir été stockés dans une très petite enveloppe pur eux ont été coupée de façon sauvagement!

 

Kevin and Glenn seem doomed as commander Pereiz de Vargas has lit the fuse to destroy the Seahawk and the navigational secrets hidden inside her hull.KTB 120664 BT 72 QCC

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With apologies to francophones, and assistance from Google translate.

Mendoza’s greed has foiled the Spaniards’ plan to destroy the Seahawk, and now Kevin can deliver the secrets of Spain’s naval superiority to Queen Elizabeth. It’s the untold story of how the Spanish armada was defeated and a planned invasion of England was thwarted. And Kevin the Bold was… well, actually in shackles for most of it. But he was there.

Secrets, Intrigue

Chained in the bilge, Kevin is powerless. Young Glenn continues to be his eyes and ears as the suspense builds.

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The Spaniards take action on a plan to safeguard their navagational secrets on the Seahawk, which they have commandeered from Captain Mendoza. Meanwhile, the “Kevin l’audacieux” comics continue to have been butchered. C’est dommage!

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Glenn the Loyal

The orphan Glenn, his dog Inky and lovely Maria are bound for Spain. They sail aboard the Sea Hawk, with Kevin acting as their escort. Glenn fiercely defends his dog after witnessing some ill treatment by Captain Mendoza. In defending Glenn, Kevin nearly comes to blows with Mendoza. The captain’s reputation as a scoundrel has proven to be accurate. In the October 18 comic, tempers flare again.

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The sails of an enormous fleet have been spotted on the horizon. As was his style, Collins has woven history into his narrative — “Kevin the Bold” often reads like an illustrated  historical novel.

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Finalement! Une bande dessinée intacte. Mais il est noir at blanc! Merde!!

Kreigh Collins had four sons. Like-named characters based on the older two were featured in “Up Anchor.” The younger boys were twins, and one was named Kevin. I’m not sure exactly which was named for whom, but the comic debuted five months before my uncle. Fourteen years later, a character named Glenn appeared — perhaps my other twin uncle thought this was just a bit overdue. Another common name between the comic strip and the artist’s family was Brett, Kevin’s ward and the name of Kreigh’s first grandchild. Again, the character preceded the person (this time by nine and a half years). Glenn’s dog Inky was modelled on not one of the family’s cocker spaniels, but on a neighbor’s dog (also named Inky) who spent a lot of time at the family house in Ada.

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Kevin the Audacious

The action in the following sequence begins on October 4, 1964. Kevin has sailed to the West Indies, and three new characters are introduced. It is June, 1588.

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This first comic came from a tabloid the NEA published featuring its stable of comics. These were dated six days before they appeared in the Sunday funnies.

When I first began collecting “Kevin,” I was frustrated by its lack of availability. Auctions on eBay weren’t showing up very often, and when they did, the prices tended to go beyond my budget. I had complete runs of a few different years, but my goal was to collect the entire 19-year run. I was starting to get impatient.

While searching for books illustrated by my Grandpa Collins on a used book site (in this case, abebooks.com), I came across a couple of listings of “Kevin l’audacieux” — French-language versions for newspapers in Québec. For cheap! I bit on one, thinking I could translate the dialog, and… well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.KTB 100464 TH 72 qccKTB 100464 TH Fr 72 qcc

I soon realized that translating them would take an enormous amount of time. Also, they were very poorly trimmed. Mon dieu! They worked out to 46¢ apiece, and I guess I got what I paid for. However, since I did make the initial investment, and especially since I took the time to scan them, let’s follow the action bi-lingually. (Qui sait, peut-être que je vais gagner quelques abonnés français!) The one-third pagers will at least add some color.

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An Exhibition

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The Ada Historical Society is currently hosting an exhibit on the career of Kreigh Collins. The exhibit features a sampling of the artist’s work, including illustrations, paintings, books, comic strips and more.

Each of Kreigh’s three comics is represented with reprints. Sailing was a lifelong hobby of Collins, and it often featured in his comics’ illustrations.

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Among the paintings is an oil of Kevin the Bold himself.

The Averill Historical Museum of Ada is open on Friday and Saturday from 1:00-4:00 p.m. or by appointment. It is located at 7144 Headley Street in Ada, Michigan. The exhibit is scheduled to run all through the summer. 

Pt. 4: Stub ex machina

Though these past few “Mitzi McCoy” posts feature rather unique black and white one-third pages, last week’s final comic was quite titillating and deserves to be seen in full color.

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Yolo’s beautiful and valuable earring has been stolen and it seems that poor Jerry is going to take the fall. Stub Goodman is determined to get to the bottom of the things, and comes up with a plan where he lives up to his surname — even if it means a little blackmail and tampering with a crime scene.

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In the end, Jerry is exonerated. Stub fools everyone — except Mitzi. However, in two weeks, it will all be over as “Mitzi” is about to morph into “Kevin the Bold.” Goodman, who first appeared in the prototype comic “Tom Match and Stub,” was liked enough by Collins that he would reappear in the new comic as Kevin’s squire.

Pt. 3: Eye Appeal

The mood shifts again as the beautiful Yolo meets the staff of the Freedom Clarion. Mitzi McCoy had met Yolo while travelling to Fez with her father, and now the McCoys are hosting Yolo during her stay in Freedom. Meanwhile, Jerry has built a fine stage for Yolo’s dance performance. The benefit for a new waterfront park promised to be the town’s social event of the season.

The tension mounts quickly as an agitated and evidently left-handed Stub clobbers Jonas. A temporary open-air dressing room gives an intimate view of Yolo as she readies for her performance and disaster strikes as some of Yolo’s jewelry goes missing.

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