Christmas Greetings from Inspector Clouseau and me.

Just a reminder of those long gone days when I used to write and draw comic book stories featuring

  The Inspector for Novaro publishers. Thought it'd be a nice touch to include him in my Xmas card. I think Inspector Clouseau was my favorite comic book character, even on top of The Pink Panther during my time working in the comics business.

BACK ISSUE!

This morning's mail brought a very nice and quite unexpected surprise: Number 129 of Back Issue Magazine featuring an article by Mark Arnold on the Pink Panther which included a mention of my Spanish language issues done for Western Publishing Company through their Latin American affiliate, Novaro Publishers.

Thank you, Mark Arnold and TwoMorrows Publishing!

https://www.twomorrows.com

More of my PINK PANTHER & ROAD RUNNER comic covers from Novaro Publishing Co.

I started working at Novaro Publishing co., (which was one of Western Publishing Company's licencees) back in 1972.  My creation, EL MAFIOSO NICK (Mobster Nick) appeared under the DOMINGOS ALEGRES (Happy Sundays) banner and was one of four weekly rotating titles.
It lasted just 6 issues and was replaced by something else, but it helped me get the job of filling out additional issues of THE PINK PANTHER and BEEP BEEP, THE ROAD RUNNER, created for the Hispanic market.  All in all, I wrote and did the artwork for 156 Pink Panther issues and about the same for the Road Runner until 1985, when Novaro abruptly shut down production and vanished.

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I've posted many of these covers before on this blog and here are a few more samples of my work during those golden years of comic book history.

                                                  BEEP BEEP THE ROAD RUNNER

                      

                         

                 

                        

                                                                  THE PINK PANTHER

                               

Pink Christmas Wishes from The Pink Panther

I spent most of my professional years as a cartoonist, drawing and writing stories for The Pink Panther comics that were designed for the overseas market. Thanks to The Pink Panther (and Beep Beep, the Road Runner),  I managed to make a living and raise a family, and consequently, I will always feel a certain amount of indebtedness to this character.
Over the years, I've tried to keep him alive in my life by doing some new little illustration featuring this funny feline every once in a while. 

Thank you, Friz Freleng, David H DePatie and Blake Edwards for creating him!

As a bonus, I'm sharing the classic Pink Panther Christmas TV Special, which first aired on ABC on December 7, 1978. It was directed by Bill Perez and produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.

                                          

(Another special, "A Very Pink Christmas", was produced in 2011 but the less said about it, the better).

THE PINK PANTHER SHOW

On September 6, 1969, Friz Freleng and David H. DePatie produced THE PINK PANTHER SHOW, which was a half-hour compilation of the Pink Panther theatrical cartoons and later became a showcase for subsequent made-for-TV cartoons.

It ran on NBC until September 2, 1978 when it changed networks and became THE ALL NEW PINK PANTHER SHOW.  Today, we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the series' debut.

I enjoyed this first series a lot and, since I began doing the PINK PANTHER comic books for overseas distribution in Spanish, I felt I had a special bond with the character.

In celebration of THE PINK PANTHER SHOW's 50th Anniversary, I'd like to remember some of my Pink Panther covers during that period.

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You can read all about the Pink Panther story in this excellent book by Mark Arnold:

https://www.amazon.com/Think-Pink-DePatie-Freleng-Mark-Arnold/dp/1593931697

And here's the very first PINK PANTHER cartoon, released December 18, 1964.

The Genius of Peter Sellers!

Admittedly a very controversial and enigmatic person in private, Peter Sellers was nevertheless, a master of comedy and a fine, versatile actor. His multiple roles in a wide variety of films reveal him to be a prolific and highly talented performer.

THE PINK PANTHER (1964) and its sequels, type-cast Sellers as the bumbling inspector Clouseau; however, his skills reached even further as witnessed by his next to last performance in 1980's BEING THERE.

Gone much too soon and missed by legions of adoring fans, Sellers rightfully earned his place among the pantheon of great film comedians.

Among his many film credits, are THE MOUSE THAT ROARED, THE LADYKILLERS, LOLITA, DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB,

THE PARTY, AFTER THE FOX, THERE'S A GIRL IN MY SOUP, WHAT'S NEW, PUSSYCAT?, CASINO ROYALE, MURDER BY DEATH and of course, the five PINK PANTHER movies.