Marlette's Kudzu born in DC

Richard Thompson reminded me that Doug Marlette came up with the idea for the Kudzu strip in the Tabard Inn on N St, NW and there's a small plaque in the room with the fireplace. I took a picture of it last year. The "mortal Doug Marlette" is a bit more poignant now.

Post on Doug Marlette's death

The Post has two articles on Kudzu comic strip and hard-charging editorial cartoonist Doug Marlette's accidental death yesterday.

His formal obituary is "Doug Marlette, 57; Cartoonist, Vocal Defender of Free Speech" By Patricia Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, July 11, 2007; Page B07.

An article that gives a better feel for his work is "The Cartoonist As Tenacious As Kudzu" By Linton Weeks, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, July 11, 2007; C01.

The Post dropped Kudzu years ago, and I must confess to not missing it much. It had become a one-note strip, like MacNelly's Shoe before his death. But both men were still giants of the editorial cartoon page, and should be missed for their cartoons defending the little guy.