Dayton, Ohio- Attention all comic strip fans! Here is your chance to meet the creative genius who, for over half a century, has made millions of people all over the world laugh with the shenanigans of the United States Army's laziest private. Mort Walker will be joining the Checker Book Publishing Group staff at the 2008 New York Comic-Con. Walker will be at Checker's exhibition booth from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday April 19th signing autographs and talking to fans to celebrate the upcoming release of Checker's newest book, Mort Walker’s Beetle Bailey 1950-1952.
Walker grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and had his first comic strip published when he was 11. A year later he sold his first strip. Not only did he use his college days at for inspiration for Beetle Bailey but also the time he spent in the US Army. After finishing his Army career and graduating from college, Walker then went on to pursue his comic career full time.
Walker continues to draw the Beetle Bailey strips for today’s readers. Besides Beetle Bailey, Walker is also known for the comic strip Hi and Lois. This comic strip is a spin off, featuring Beetle Bailey's sister and brother-in-law. Walker also created Boner's Ark, under the pseudonym ‘Addison,” and collaborated on Sam & Silo with Jerry Dumas.
He has won numerous awards during his prolific career in the comic industry, including the Reuben Award For Beetle Bailey in 1953. Walker founded the Museum of Cartoon Art in 1974 to honor great cartoonist from all generations. He was inducted into the Museum of Cartoon Art Hall of Fame in 1989.
Mort Walker’s Beetle Bailey 1950-1952 will feature the Beetle Bailey daily and Sunday comic strips, syndicated by King Features, which were published between the comic strip's first appearance in September of 1950 through December 1952. Checker plans to release this book in Summer 2008.
Beetle Bailey Volume 1: 1950-1951 by Mort Walker
Checker Book Publishing Group was established in 2000 to bring the absolute best of dormant, unpublished, and under-published serial comics and cartooning back to print. A private concern, Checker compiles complete, durable and affordable cartoon trade books for sale to such comic shops, bookstores and libraries as may require them for resale or public archiving. Checker Book Publishing Group is located in Dayton, Ohio.
For more information concerning this and other Checker titles, feel free to drop by our website at: www.checkerbpg.com.
