Today in the history of the American comic strip: January 13

American cartoonists and writers may not have invented the comic strip, but some argue that the comics, as we know them today, are an American creation. Clearly, the United States has played an outsize role in the development of this underappreciated art form.

1.13.1895: The precursor of The Yellow Kid, a creation of Richard F. Outcault, debuts in Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World.

1.13.1930: Already an established animation star, Mickey Mouse branches out into newspaper comic strips.

1.13.1947: Having retired from Terry and the Pirates, Milton Caniff introduces Steve Canyon, an adventure strip. Caniff was named 1946 Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society.

1.13.1947: Milton Caniff, who is sometimes described as the Rembrandt of the comic strips, turns up on the cover of Time magazine.

1.13.2026: Scott Adams, the controversial creator of the Dilbert comic strip, dies in Pleasanton, California. Born in 1957, he launched Dilbert in 1989.

The Yellow Kid

Most of the information listed here from one day to the next comes from two online sites -- Wikipedia, and Don Markstein's Toonopedia -- as well as 100 Years of American Newspaper Comics, edited by Maurice Horn. Note that my focus is on American newspaper comic strips (and the occasional foreign strip that gained popularity in the United States). Thus, comic books and exclusively online comics are not included here.