Today in the history of the American comic strip: May 6

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.

5.6.1919: L. Frank Baum, who wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its sequels, dies in Hollywood, California, at 62. He also wrote a comic strip, illustrated by Walt McDougall, entitled Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz, to promote one of the Oz books.

5.6.1961: Willie Lumpkin, a strip about a small-town mailman, ends its short run, which began in 1959. Created by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo, the character later resurfaced as a bit player in comic books published by Marvel Comics.
 

5.6.2007: My Cage debuts. Created by Melissa DeJesus and Ed Power, it is considered the first manga-inspired comic strip.

My Cage

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.