First installment of The Kiev Casebook of Osip Basarov, 1976. The beginning of the 1970s was still the heyday of the ‘alternative,’ or ‘underground’ press. In 1972 those papers ran a full-page weekly strip I drew called Organic Bear, built around the eponymous cynical character who served as a counterpoint to all the other animals and their more freakish natures.  An oblivious 12 year old, I was informed that I had a strong fan base, who one publisher told me assumed I was “a forty year old acid head writing in code” -an actual quote.  A few years later I was encouraged to bring back the Bear, so I disguised him with a clip-on mustache and set him lose in a new, historical-fantasy setting.  This version also demanded of me a full page per week. Whew. But the original fans were delighted -and suitably mystified- while a larger base grew. The rough reproduction quality here is due to this being scanned from old newsprint.

see below and hoover anywhere for enlargement