Today in the history of the American comic strip: January 21

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.

1.21.1931: C. W. Kahles, the creator of Hairbreadth Harry, dies on Long Island, New York, at the age of 53. The strip depicted Harry’s attempts to rescue Beautiful Belinda from the villainous Relentless Rudolph.

1.21.1937: Jim Unger is born in London, England. He is best known for Herman, which ran for 18 years, starting in the 1970s.

Herman

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.