Today in the history of the American comic strip: May 31

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.

5.31.1954: Long Sam (1954-1962), created and initially written by Al Capp and drawn by Bob Lubbers, is believed to have started on this date, or the following month. The title character was a mountain woman raised in a hidden valley by a man-hating mother.

5.31.1959: Arnold Roth launches Poor Arnold's Almanac as a Sunday comic. It ran until 1961, and was resurrected as both a Sunday and daily feature from 1989 to 1990. 

 

5.31.2021: The Washington Post quotes Jean Schulz, the widow of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, as saying she’s puzzled by seven black-and-white strips created by her husband, which star adults rather than children. The seven strips depict only adults, whereas Peanuts never depicted adults. “I don’t see Sparky in it,” said Jean Schulz, using her late husband’s nickname.

Long Sam

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.