Man, Do I Feel Old

Somehow this bit of news slipped by me a few days ago.

'Underdog' cartoon co-creator dies at 85

William Watts Biggers, the co-creator of the cartoon "Underdog," the mild-mannered canine shoeshine boy who turned into a caped superhero to rescue his girlfriend, Sweet Polly Purebred, has died. He was 85.

The native of Avondale Estates, Ga., worked for the New York City advertising firm DFS when he accepted an assignment from the agency's largest client, General Mills, to create television cartoons to promote its breakfast cereals. The most famous was "Underdog," which debuted on NBC in 1964.

The canine superhero, voiced by comic actor Wally Cox, also battled villains including mad scientist Simon Bar Sinister, and a gangster wolf Riff Raff.

Upon hearing the cries of Sweet Polly Purebred, Underdog would rush into a telephone booth and transform into the hero.

He spoke in simple rhymes, his most famous probably "There's no need to fear, Underdog is here."

The family said Biggers "delighted in the enduring appeal of his 'Underdog' franchise," including the balloon that appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the 2007 live-action film.

Underdog was one of my favorite cartoons. It was a simpler time back then. The difference between heroes and villains was clear-cut. Heroes stood for truth, justice, and the American way. They never used their powers for evil or personal gain. Their love interests remained chaste and pure. They never backed down. They did what was right because that's what good guys did.

Yes, things were simpler back then. We didn't know how good we had it.

Man, do I feel old...