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

11.24.1918: Frank King’s Gasoline Alley debuts. It celebrated its 100th anniversary on Nov. 24, 2018, making it the second-longest-running comic strip in the U.S. (after The Katzenjammer Kids).

11.24.1934: A weekend Brick Bradford strip is added to the weekday lineup. The science fiction comic ran until 1957.

11.24.1934: Betty Boop, which debuted in July, adds a Sunday strip.

11.24.1941: Gordo, created by Mexican-American artist Gustavo "Gus" Arriola, debuts. It introduced American readers to Mexican culture.
 
11.24.1947: Al Capp, the creator of Li’l Abner (1934-1977), finds himself on the cover of Newsweek.

11.24.1952: The soap opera-style strip Judge Parker debuts. It was created by psychiatrist Nick Dallis, who used the pseudonym Paul Nichols when writing the strip, which he did not draw. Dan Hellman was the first artist on the strip, which  he drew until 1965.

11.24.1984: Joe Palooka ends its run. Ham Fisher's strip debuted in 1930.

11.24.1986: Al Smith, who drew Mutt and Jeff for almost 50 years starting in 1932, dies in Vermont. He was 84 years old. Launched in 1907, the cartoon survived for more than 70 years.
 
11.24.1989: Gordon Bess, the creator of Redeye, dies in Boise, Idaho. He was 60 years old. His strip, which ran from 1967 to 2008, focused on a tribe of 19th-century Native Americans.

11.24.2003: Rick Stromoski and Steve McGarry debut the short-lived strip Mullets, which focused on two dim-witted friends with mullet haircuts.
 

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.