Today in the history of the American comic strip: February 16

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.

2.16.1902: George Herriman creates Musical Mose, the first of many generally short-lived strips that preceded the birth of the comic that made his reputation: Krazy Kat.

2.16.1992: Wiley Miller launches Non Sequitur, which is set in Whatchacallit, Maine. The strip’s title is a Latin term meaning an inference that does not follow from a premise, or a statement that is not clearly related to anything previously said. In 1992, Miller received the Newspaper Comic Strip award from the National Cartoonists Society.

2.16.1993: Malcolm “Mal” Hancock dies, at 56. In addition to publishing cartoons in Playboy and other magazines, he drew many comic strips, including Nibbles (1961–63), Humphrey Hush (1963), Patrick (1965–69), The Fantastic Foster Fenwick (1968–72), Polly (1972-73), Fenwick (1977-1979), The Lumpits (1970–78), Pig Newton (1983), Willie (1983-85) Malfunction Junction, (1990–93), and Hi and Jinx (1991–93).

Non Sequitur

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.