COLLINS Katherine (Saba Arn)
“Making the world safe for musical comedy” The motto of Neil The Horse
The life of this cartoonist, writer, historian stage performer, composer and media personality divides into two parts. In the first half he was identified as Arn Saba. In the second half she is Katherine Collins. But, under these two genders exists a single creative personality. In this entry I will use both names each associated with the creative work associated with that name.
Arn Saba/Katherine Collins was born in 1947.
He went to University of British Columbia on a creative writing scholarship. While there he worked of the university newspaper Ubyssey and created his first comic strip “Moral Man.”
In 1970 and 1972, in partnership with Gordon Fidler he produced two issues of the magazine, The Magenta Frog. Although much of the content is unidentified, in it we can still see Saba’s early efforts as a writer, illustrator, editor and compiler.
In 1977, he moved to Toronto where he worked extensively for the CBC. He created “Comic Strips: The Continuous Art” for the program Ideas. It aired beginning February 1979. He appeared frequently on Morningside, to talk about cartooning, and it was on this program that his radio play “Neil The Horse: Bananas Are Here To Stay.” was aired, about 1982.
He created “Neil The Horse” (See NEIL THE HORSE) and explored its use in cartoon strips, graphic periodicals, illustrated stories, radio plays, and musical theatre. His graphic style was inspired by Carl Barks and the early Disney animated shorts featuring “Mickey Mouse” etc. He also created “Eureka Street (See EUREKA STREET) based on where he lived in Toronto.
In 1982 he moved to California and about this time changed his identity to Katherine Collins.
WORK:
CARTOONIST, WRITER & ILLUSTRATOR:
BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:
Cover:
Book front & back:
The Collected Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. Conundrum Press, 2017.
Content:
The Collected Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. Conundrum Press, 2017. The features in this compendium are gathered from the publications below.
CARTOONIST:
BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Story:
“Neil The Horse.” AV In 3D, 1-1, December 1984. Aardvark Vanaheim Inc.:17-20. This is a story done in a 3 Dimensional format.
“ Neil The Horse: Cannonball Wanted Apply Within.” Potlatch presents The 1980 Comics Annual. Ed., Ian Carr. Potlatch Publications, 1979: 52-53. (Colour). Subsequently appeared in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-2, April 1983. (Black & white.)
“ Neil The Horse Goes To Hell.” Assist Dave Roman . Potlatch presents The 1980 Comics Annual. Ed. Ian Carr. Potlatch Publications, 1979: 114-117. Subsequently appeared in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-1, Feb. 1983.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content:
Advertising reprint:
Advertising for the first “Neil the Horse” story cartooned by Arn Saba in 1975. It was a feature in the Menomonee Falls Guardian newspaper.. Reprinted in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-15, July 1988: 6-7.
Advertising for the second “Neil the Horse” story called “Creatures of Earth” cartooned by Arn Saba in 1976. It was a newspaper feature. Reprinted in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-15, July 1988: 42.
Ideas &Projects:
The second half of Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-15, July 1988 showcased the new direction that Saba was taking the “Neil The Horse” concept. The first half of this periodical wrapped up the old “Neil The Horse”.
Story:
“Mam’selle Poupée.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-11, April 1985.
“Mam’selle Poupée & Neil the Horse.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-1, Feb. 1983.
“Mam’selle Poupée & Neil the Horse.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-2, April 1983.
“Neil The Horse: A Unique Story .” Cerebus, 1-44, Nov. 1982: 24-27. Subsequently appeared in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-12, June 1985.
“Neil The Horse.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-14, July 1988.
“Neil The Horse Advertises Himself.” Cerebus, 1-45, Dec. 1982: 27. Subsequently appeared in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-15, July 1988.
“Neil The Horse: Another Day At The Office.” Assist., David Roman. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-12, June 1985:
“Neil The Horse Meets Mr. Coffee Nerves.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-3, June 1983.
“Neil The Horse: The Magic Balloon: A Unique Story.” Cerebus, 1-41, Aug. 1982: 24-27. Subsequently appeared in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-15, Aug. 1988: 2-5.
Story with music:
“Mam’selle Poupée & Fred Astaire: I Was Waiting For You.” Writ. Some Pen., & In., Arn Saba. Figure Pen., Barb Rausch. Assist. & backround In., David Roman. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-13, Dec. 1986.
“Mam’selle Poupée & Neil the Horse: Night Suite.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-13, Dec. 1986.
| “Neil The Horse: Video Warrior.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. | |||
| Ch. 1: 1-4, Aug. 1983. | Ch.: 2: 1-5, Nov. 1983. | Ch. 3: 1-6, Feb. 1984. | Ch. 4: 1-7, Apr. 1984. |
Strip cartoon reprints:
Reprint. of Saba’s first cartoon story 1975. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-14, June 1988: 8-41. It was featured in the Menomonee Falls Guardian newspaper.
| “Neil The Horse.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. | ||
| 1-1, Feb. 1983: 15.
1-2, April 1983: 8-9, 23. |
1-3, June 1983: 11-12, 21.
1-10, Dec. 1984:18-19, 27. |
1-12, June 1985: 2, 16-17.
1-15, August 1988: 8-15, 26-31, |
| “Eureka Street.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, | ||
| 1-9, Sept. 1984: 18 & Inside back cover. | 1-10, Dec. 1984: 32 & Inside back cover | 1-12, June 1985: 8. |
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Strip cartoon:
“Neil the Horse.” Charlton Bullseye, 1, June 1981. (Colour)
Story with music:
“Neil The Horse.” Charlton Bullseye, 2, July 1981. (Colour). Subsequently appeared as “Neil The Horse.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-8, June 1984. (Black & white.) (“Soft on You.” music & lyrics by Marie-Ann Hammond.)
NEWSPAPER:
The strips were syndicated from 1977-1979 by GLP Features an association of Ontario cartoonists. The strips were sold to weekly community newspapers. Some examples below.
Strip cartoon:
“Neil The Horse.” The Express {Meaford], 30 May 1979: 14.
“Neil The Horse.” The Money Stretcher, 16 May 1979: B6.
“Eureka Street.” Bargain Hunter, 11-44, April 10-17 circa 1980.
ILLUSTRATOR:
BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Cover:
Book:
Back: Potlatch presents The 1980 Comics Annual. Potlatch Publications, 1979. (Neil The Horse.)
BOOK TEXT & GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Activity:
“Neil The Horse and Soapy in Puzzleland.” Writ., (Puzzles) William Ettridge. Assist illus., Dave Roman. Canadian Children’s Annual, 1980. Ed., Robert F. Neilson. Potlatch Publications, 1979: 141-156.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Cover:
| Front & Back: Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. | ||||
| 1-1, Feb. 1983. | 1-2, April 1983. | 1-9, Sept. 1984. | 1-12, June 1985. | 1-15, August 1988. |
| Wrap around: Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. | |||
| 1-3, June 1983.
1-4, August 1983 1-5, Nov. 1983. |
1-6, Feb. 1984.
1-7, April 1984. 1-8, June 1984. |
1-10, Dec. 1984.
1-11, April 1985. |
1-13, Dec. 1986.
1-14, July 1988. |
Content:
Activity:
“Soapy’s Cross Words (and Puzzle) by Nosilla Niabcm.” Writ., Nosilia Niabcm. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-8, June 1984.
Paper doll:
“Great Women of ze Comics.” Illus., Arn Saba. Costume illus., Barb Rausch. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-1, Feb. 1983. (Great women are: Daisy Mae, Sheena & Little Orphan Annie).
| “Great Women of the Comics.” Illus., A. Saba. Costume illus., B. Rausch. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. |
| 1-2, April. 1983. (Great women are: Rosie Ze Riveter, Katy Keene & Mama Katzenjammer.).
1-3, June. 1983. (Great women are: Modesty Blaise, Red Sonja & Dragon Lady). 1-4, August 1983. (Great women are: Lil Lulu, Leetan & Phantom Lady). 1-5, Nov. 1983. (Great women are: Dale Arden, Betty Boop & Miss Fury). 1-6, Feb. 1984. (Olive Oyle & Miss Mizzou) |
“Mam’selle Poupée Salutes Katy Kon 83.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-8, June 1984.
“Poupée’s Summer Sun Fun Wear.” “Florida Fashion’s 1-6” by Scott Johnson. “Summer of ’85
Fashions” by David Puckett. “Additional Fashions & Rendering.” By Barb Rausch. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-12, June 1985:
Portrait:
Character designs for the Hogan’s Alley All-Stars. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-13, Dec. 1986.
“Advertisement for the Groovy San Diego Con ’83.”. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-12, June 1985: 26.
“Mam’selle Poupée & Fred Astaire.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-11, April 1985: 1.
“Making The World Safe For Musical Comedy” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-12, June 1985: 26.
“Making The World Safe For Musical Comedy” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-12, June 1985: Back cover..
“Scene in an Alien Discotheque.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1: 1-9, Sept. 1984: 28.
“This Looks Like A Job For Musical Comedy.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-12, June 1985: 26.
TAPE AUDIO CASSETTE:
Artwork:
Neil The Horse: Bananas Are Here To Stay. Neilcorp, 1986.
WRITER:
BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Story:
“The Return of the Magician.” Layout, Arn Saba. Assist., Lois Atkinson. Finished Art., Don Inman. The 1980 Comics Annual. Ed., Ian Carr. Potlatch Publications, Ltd., 1979: 1-8..(Coloured). Subsequently appeared in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-12, June 1985. (Black & white)
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Story:
“Dance Class.” Illus., Trina Robbins. Col., Maria Severin. Title, Tom Orzechowski. Anything Goes!, 4, May 1987: 5-7.
“The Perfect Guy.” Pen. & Let., Jacques Boivin. In., Bernie Mireault. Jacques Boivin’s Love Fantasy, 1-1, May 1987. (In this story Boivin gives a visual tribute to Saba’s cartoon strip “Eureka Street.)
PERIODICAL TEXT & GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Interview:
“Harold Foster: Drawing Upon History.” The Comics Journal, 102, September 1985: 61-84.
“Milton Caniff.” The Comics Journal, 108, May 1986: 60-102.
RADIO:
Program:
Ideas CBC-FM Network February 1979:
“Comic Strips The Continuous Art” Producer: Max Allen. Programs 1. “The Aesthetics of Trash”. 2. How To Read Comics”. 3. “But Is It Art?” 4. “The Great Romancers”. 5. “Superheroes & Marvel Comics”. 6. “Art As Sausage”.
Morningside circa 1982.
Neil The Horse: Bananas Are Here To Stay. See information associated with the audio tape below.
WRITER & ILLUSTRATOR:
BOOK TEXT & GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Story:
“The Bananaburg Players present: The Buried Moon.” Canadian Children’s Annual, 1981. Ed., Robert F. Neilson. Art Dir., Mary Tach. Potlatch Publications, 1980: 22-26. (Subsequently in Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-2, April 1983.)
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content:
Poetry:
“No title.”. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-1, Feb. 1983.
“No title.”. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-6, Feb. 1984: Back cover.
Story:
| “Neil The Horse in Old New France.” Assist. & costume design, Barb Rauch. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. | |||
| Pt. 1: 1-1, Feb. 1983.
Pt. 2: 1-2, April 1983. |
Pt. 3: 1-3, June1983.
Pt. 4: 1-4, August 1983. |
Pt. 5, 1-5, Nov. 1983. | Pt. 6, 1-6, Feb. 1984. |
“Break It To Make It.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-9, Sept. 1984.
WRITER & PENCILLER:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content:
Story:
“Neil The Horse: “Sur Toits de Bananaburg.” In., Warren Greenwood. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-1, Feb. 1983.
“Mam’selle Poupée as suggested by Katannya Jantzen, age 10.” In., Warren Greenwood. Fashion & Layout: Barb Rauch. A “Unique Story” in Cerebus, 1-45, Dec. 1982: 24-26.
WRITER & INKER:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content:
Story:
“Mam’selle Poupée: Congratulations! You’re in the Show!” Pen., Barb Rausch. Assist., David Roman. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-11, April 1985.
Neil The Horse 2 part story:
“The Hour Of the Hand of the Shadow Fiend from the Forgotten Blood-Cursed Crypt!!?! Pen., Barb Rausch. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1: 1-9, Sept. 1984.
“Night Of the Flames of Wrath At The Lost Temple Of The Talons Of Fear And Death.” Pen., Barb Rausch. Assist, Dave Roman. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1: 1-9, Sept. 1984.
COMPOSER:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content:
Music & Lyrics:
“Another Highway Song.” Arrangment., Pete McCabe. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-3, June 1983.
“Wind That Shakes the Barleycorn.” Arr., P. McCabe. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-12, June 1985.
Music & Lyrics for stories:
| “Mam’selle Poupée: Congratulations! You’re in the Show!” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-11, Apr. ‘85. |
| “Congratulations! You’re in the Show!” Arrange., G.P. Graham. |
| “Mam’selle Poupée / Fred Astaire: I Was Waiting For You.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse, 1-13, Dec. 86. |
| “I Was Waiting For You.” 1985. Arrange., Pete McCabe. |
| “Mam’selle Poupée & Neil the Horse: Night Suite.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse,1-13, Dec. 1986. |
| “Does Love Live in the Night?.” 1985. Arrange., Pete McCabe.
“The Downbeat.” 1985. Arrange., G.P. Graham. “Nothing.” 1985. Arrange., Pete McCabe. |
| “Neil Goes To Hell.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-1, Feb. 1983. |
| “The Devil’s Interlude.” 1982. Arrange., Pete McCabe. |
| “Neil The Horse In Old France.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-2, April 1983. |
| “Those Who Marry.” 1982. Arrange., Pete McCabe |
| “Video Warrior.” Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. |
| “The Reason.” 1983. Arrange., Pete McCabe. 1-4, August 1983
“Here I am Falling in Love with You.” Arrange., G. P. Graham. 1-5, Nov. 1983. “Bananas are Here to Stay.” Arrange., G. P. Graham. 1-6, Feb. 1984. “With You.” Arrange., Pete McCabe. 1-7, Apr. 1984. |
TAPE AUDIO CASSETTE:
Content:
Neil The Horse: Bananas Are Here To Stay: Ten songs from Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse . Composer Arn Saba, 1986.Arrange & Production, Steve McKinnon. Neilcorp, 1986.
Voices: Mam’selle Poupée, Wanda Cannon; Soapy, Scott Walker; Neil, Arn Saba also Victor Young; Laurie Hood & Doug Tranquada. Tap dancing: Lesley Ballantyne. Hogan’s Alley All-stars: Keyboards, Steve McKinnon; saxophone & clarinet, Bob De Angelis; trombone, Herb Besson, violin Bill Richards, guitar, Peppy Francis, bass, Dave Piltch, percussion, Dave Campion, drums Barry Keane, emulator operator, Claude Desjardin.
CO-WRITER:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content:
Story:
“No title.” Co-writ., Barb Rausch. Pen., Barb Rausch. Arn Saba’s Neil The Horse. 1-8, June 1984.
PRODUCER
The Magenta Frog Magazine, Published in conjunction with Talonbooks. March 1970.
The Second Magenta Frog Magazine, Published in conjunction with Talonbooks. November 1972.
.
SOURCE:
Periodical text:
“Arn Saba, Part 1.” Interviewer, Mark Shainblum. Comic Interview, 19, Jan. 1985: 7-17.
“Arn Saba, Part 2.” Interviewer, M. Shainblum. Comic Interview, 20, Feb. 1985: 12-23.
“Back in the Saddle.” Writ., Conan Tobias. Quill & Quire, May 2017: 14-18.
Newspaper:
“Here’s your guide to superheroes of Canadian comics.” Toronto Star, 27 February 1987: D6.
GALLERY:
See NEIL THE HORSE & EUREKA STREET
Katherine Collins is inducted into the “Giants Of The North” at the Toronto Cartoon Arts Festival May 13-14, 2017.
Katherine Collins gives an acceptance speech for induction into the “Giants Of The North” at the Toronto Cartoon Arts Festival May 13-14, 2017.
A rare instance of Arn as an editorial cartoonist. Bargain Hunter, 11-44, April 10-17, 1980: Front cover.