I’m very sorry to report the passing of Howard “Howie” Post (1926-2010). I’ve been a huge fan of his work since I discovered his great funny animal and humor work from the 1940s and then immensely enjoyed his caveman “Anthro” comics for the Silver Age DC. When I spoke to Stan Lee about him a year ago he had kind praise for his work for him like the wacky “The Monkey and the Bear” comic book. For Harvey Comics Howie created Spooky and Hot Stuff-comic icons! Howie was in animation, too. He worked at Famous Studios as an in-betweener then as an animator. Later in the 1960s he became the creative head of the Paramount animation division. Jerry Beck at the ever invaluable Cartoon Brew interviewed Howie a number of times and gives more details on Post’s animation career along with a link to a cartoon. We learn on the Brew, in the comments, that Howie’s “Dropout” syndicated comic strip even showed up on Saturday morning cartoons via the Archie block!

I commissioned Howie to do a self portrait in the 1970s-he did one of himself as a youth torn between the pleasure of fishing and females. The drawing is seen for the first time below. When I later came to New York to work for the Muppets I invited Howie to come for a tour of Muppet Headquarters and to do lunch. I found him every bit as fun as his comics!

My new book “The Golden Collection of Klassic Krazy Kool Kids Komics” is out in a few days. Howard was one of the first cartoonists I thought to include. The story in the book by Howie is below. I think it shows well the hilarity and zany style he brought to his comics. Sadly, Howie was the second cartoonist featured in the book that has passed in the last few weeks, the first being Frank Frazetta. Howie told me at one time that he was inspired by Frazetta’s funny animal comics for his own work.

Howie was all Howard Post but at the same time had some Frazetta, maybe a little bit of Milt Gross in him at other times a lot of Walt Kelly. We’ll post a story tomorrow that Howie admittedly channeled Kelly on, but, his unique inking made it his. I very much like Howie’s unique underground-y pre-Crumb inking style, a little gritty and all great.

I made some contact a few months back while working on the book and was sorry to hear at the time of Howie’s poor health. I’m real sad Howard didn’t get to see “The Golden Collection of Klassic Krazy Kool Kids Komics”. Howard was one of the last living greats of the Golden Age of kids comics. He was one of that generation that had a class that is often lacking today. I sure hate to see such a talented and nice guy go…