Today in the history of the American comic strip: September 5

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.

9.5.1917: Martha “Marty” Links, the creator of Bobby Sox (later called Emmy Lou), is born in Oakland, California.

9.5.1950: Cathy Guisewite, the cartoonist behind Cathy (1976-2010), is born in Akron, Ohio. She was named 1992 Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society.

9.5.1965: Howie Schneider’s Eek & Meek debuts. The strip, which ran until 2000, featured the foibles of Eek, an aggressive alcoholic, and Meek, who lived up to his name.

9.5.1994: Patrick McDonnell unveils Mutts, which follows the adventures of Earl the dog, Mooch the cat, their owners, and other assorted animals. McDonnell received the Newspaper Comic Strip award from the National Cartoonists Society in 1996.

 

Mutts

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.