Turner, Morrie (1923-2014). Pioneering African-American cartoonist. "WEE PALS": FIVE ORIGINAL DAILY COMIC STRIP ART WORKS by the pioneering African American cartoonist MORRIE TURNER, each signed by him, including an early one in which George tells Wellington that Sybil is therapeutic to which Wellington replies that he thought she was Protestant. United Feature Syndicate & Creators Syndicate, 1978-1995. Five original pen & ink drawings consisting of panels drawn on white art card stock. One of the strips is drawn on 3-3/4 inch high by 14-3/4 inch wide stock, and the remaining four are drawn on 4-5/8 inch high by 14-5/8 inch wide stock. The earliest strip, in 4 panels, drawn in black & white with brown zipatone, is from 1978 and portrays Sybil telling George to "Never give up, George! You can do it!". In response to George's comment that "Sybil is therapeutic, Wellington!", Wellington proclaims "I thought she was Protestant!" Boldly signed "Morrie" at the bottom right of the last panel with United Feature Syndicate's credits mounted below and with the date "8-17" penned at the bottom right of the second panel. There are additional notations penciled by Morrie at the top, including "You could have fooled me" penciled above Wellington preceding the punch line. Inked on the verso of this drawing is text, likely for a similar but later strip dated "1983" in pencil, including the lines "Don't let it get you down George, you'll have a better game tomorrow", concluding with "I thought he was Jewish".
The next strip, in four panels, is from 1993. Drawn in black & purple ink. In this strip, George informs Diz and Oliver that "China has more people than any country in the world!", with Oliver then contributing that "India is next! They have about 500,000,000 people", Diz then concludes "500,000,000 Indians?", "That's one big reservation". Boldly signed "Morrie" at the lower right of the last panel and dated "6-22" within the second panel. Creators Syndicates' credits are penned vertically along the left edge of the second panel.
The next, this one in 3 panels, is from 1994, and portrays Sybil commenting to Wellington that "if you intend on becoming a writer someday ... You'll have to read a lot of books, Wellington", to which he replies "That won't do me any good, Sybil ... I don't have a big intention span". Boldly signed "Morrie" at the left of the last panel with the date "5-10" penned at the right of that panel. Creative Syndicate's credits are penned vertically along the right edge of the last panel.
The fourth strip, also in 3 panels, is also from 1994. The strip depicts Oliver and Diz running together as Diz asks "Did you do your homework, Wellington?" When Wellington replies that he didn't, Diz asks "What do you think teacher will do to you?" to which Wellington replies "I'm hoping to be fired!". Boldly signed "Morrie" at the right of the last panel with the date "8-23" penned below. Creators Syndicate's credits are penned vertically along the right edge of that last panel.
The last strip, in 3 panels, is from 1995 and portrays Wellington telling Diz that "Oliver's uncle is probably rich, Diz... He owns his own newspaper", Diz, unimpressed, replies "What's the big deal, Wellington? ... I own two! Today's Tribune and yesterday's Chronicle". Boldly signed "Morrie" at the middle left of the last panel with the date "5-16" below. Creators Syndicate's credits are penned vertically between the first and second panels.
There is soiling along the top edge of the last strip, otherwise are in very good condition.
The pioneering African-American cartoonist Morrie Turner (1923-2014) broke the color barrier with "Wee Pals", the first syndicated strip to feature an integrated cast of characters. Turner served with the Tuskegee Airmen during the second World War, contributing illustrations to Stars & Stripes. He later created the strip "Baker's Helpers" while working for the Oakland Police Department. One of 6 cartoonists selected by the National Cartoonist Society, Turner spent 27 days in Vietnam during the war, drawing caricatures of service people on the front lines and in hospitals. Urged by his mentor "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz, Morrie Turner first created the comic strip "Dinky Fellas", but the all black strip was only picked up by one newspaper. This did not stop Turner who reworked the strip, renaming it "Wee Pals". Although the new strip, featuring an integrated cast of characters, was only published in 5 major newspapers at first, over a hundred newspapers chose to publish the strip following Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination.
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