Today in the history of the American comic strip: August 24

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.

8.24.1941: Jim Scancarelli is born in New York City. After working as an assistant on Gasoline Alley, he assumed control of the strip in 1986. In 1988 he was one of two recipients of a Newspaper Comic Strip award from the National Cartoonists Society. The other was Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes.

8.24.1956: A. D. Condo dies in Albany, California. He collaborated with J. W. Raper to create The Outbursts of Everett True (1905-1927). Flying solo, he created Mr. Skygack, from Mars (1907-1917).

The Outbursts of Everett True

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.