Today in the history of the American comic strip: April 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.

4.5.1939: In Alley Oop, the title character and his girlfriend Ooola find themselves transported from the Stone Age to the 20th century, after they enter a time machine operated by Doc Wonmug.

4.5.1998: Rugrats launches as a daily strip. It was based on the animated TV series of the same name, and remained in print for five years.

4.5.2005: Dale Messick, the creator of Brenda Starr, Reporter, dies in Sonoma County, California, at 98. Her strip continued for another six years.

 

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.