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

5.13.1955: Three years after liftoff, the comic strip Beyond Mars crashes and is seen no more. The comic was written by Jack Williamson and drawn by Lee Elias.

5.13.1991. Sherman’s Lagoon, by Jim Toomey, begins its run. It focuses on a shark named Sherman, his wife Megan, and their aquatic friends and foes.

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.