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

7.31.1933: Milton Caniff, who later earned fame for Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon, debuts his first comic strip: Dickie Dare.

7.31.1966: Ben Casey ends its run four months after the cancellation of the TV show that inspired the comic strip.

7.31.1968: Franklin Armstrong, the first African-American character in Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts, makes his initial appearance.

7.31.1976: The final daily episode of Lank Leonard’s Mickey Finn runs. The strip had shed its Sunday installment the previous year.

 

Ben Casey

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 30

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.

7.30.1933: Roy Crane’s Captain Easy, Soldier of Fortune goes into syndication. The cartoon, which remained in print for more than five decades, was an adventure strip.

7.30.1945: Sweatin’ It Out, the cartoon featuring Bill Mauldin’s infantrymen, changes its name once again, this time to Willie and Joe, the names of the feature’s stars. The comic ran until 1948.
 
7.30.1955: Frank V. Martinek scuttles Don Winslow of the Navy, ending its 21-year run.

7.30.1992: Joe Shuster, the co-creator of Superman, dies in Los Angeles, California. He was 78. Superman began his life in comic books in 1938, a year before the newspaper strip materialized.

7.30.2008: The Library of American Comics releases Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles, a 392-page volume that includes every Scorchy Smith strip, a biography of Sickles and a look at his career as a magazine illustrator.

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 29

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.

7.29.1985: Arlo and Janis, created by Jimmy Johnson, debuts. The strip centers on a middle-aged, middle-class, married couple.

 

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 28

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.

7.28.1945: Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield, is born in Marion, Indiana. He was named 1989 Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society. The same society also honored him with Newspaper Comic Strip awards in 1981 and 1985.

7.28.1996: Martin Branner's Winnie Winkle ends its 76-year run. The strip came to be seen as heralding a more independent role for American women after World War I.

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 27

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.

7.27.2016: Richard Thompson, creator of the much-celebrated Cul de Sac (2004-2012), dies from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was only 58 years old.

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 26

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.

7.26.1934: Winsor McCay, best known as the creator of the tremendously innovative Little Nemo in Slumberland (1905-1914 and 1924-1926), dies in New York City.

7.26.1974: Gene Byrnes, the creator of Reg’lar Fellers, dies in New York City. He was 84. Byrnes' strip was syndicated from 1917 to 1949.

7.26.2020: More than a month after creator Jan Eliot announced that she would be retiring Stone Soup, the final strip runs in newspapers. The comic went into daily syndication in 1995, and switched to a Sundays-only format in 2015.

Litlle Nemo in Slumberland

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 25

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.

7.25.1916: Fred Lasswell, who took over Barney Google and Snuffy Smith following the death of creator Billy DeBeck, is born in Kennett, Missouri. He was named 1963 Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society, which also awarded him a Newspaper Comic Strip award the same year.

7.25.1939: A. E. Hayward dies in New York City. In 1918, he debuted Somebody’s Stenog (short for stenographer), which was one of the first daily strips focusing on an independent woman. The comic ran until 1941.

7.25.1950: Signe Wilkinson, an editorial cartoonist and the the creator of the Family Tree strip (2007-2011), is born in Wichita Falls, Texas.

7.25.1957: Ray Billingsley, the cartoonist behind Curtis, is born in Wake Forest, North Carolina. His strip, which launched in 1988, focuses on an urban black family.

7.25.1982: Hal Foster, the creator of Prince Valiant and the initial artist for Tarzan, dies in Spring Hill, Florida, at 89. Foster is a member of the National Cartoonists Society Hall of Fame.
 

Curtis

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.

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

7.24.1904: Winsor McCay introduces Little Sammy Sneeze, which only ran from 1904 to 1906. In each episode, Sammy sneezed himself into an awkward or disastrous predicament.

7.24.1904: Frederick Burr Opper debuts And Her Name Was Maud, a strip about a mule (Maud) with a penchant for kicking people.

And Her Name Was Maud

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 23

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.

7.23.1917: Francis Herron is born in Lee County, Virginia. Working with Mike Roy, he created the Nero Wolfe strip, which ran from 1956 to 1972.

7.23.1923: Ad Carter kicks off Just Kids. The strip about a group of children palling around in a town called Barnsville ran from 1923 to 1957, with a name change in 1950 to Mush Stebbins and His Sister.

7.23.1934: Betty Boop makes the transition to newspaper comics, with a daily strip. It ran until 1937, and was revived (with some changes) from 1984 to 1988.

Betty Boop

 
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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 22

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.

7.22.1895: Hal Forrest, the cartoonist behind Tailspin Tommy, is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The strip about a youthful pilot had a 14-year run, from 1928 to 1942.

7.22.1905: The Outbursts of Everett True, originally titled A Chapter from the Career of Everett True, debuts. Created by A. D. Condo, it focused on a portly, ill-tempered man who constantly found himself annoyed by everyone he met. It ran until 1927.

7.22.1983: Jack Rickard dies. He was 61. An advertising illustrator and contributor to Mad magazine, he collaborated with Mel Lazarus in 1966 and 1967 on Pauline McPeril, a newspaper strip starring  a blonde secret agent.

7.22.1986: Floyd Gottfredson dies at 81 in Montrose, California. In 1930 he began a 45-year stint working on the Mickey Mouse comic strip. 

7.22.1995: Rick Yager, who worked on the Buck Rogers strip for 25 years starting in 1933, dies.
 
7.22.2005: Jerry Marcus, the creator of Trudy, dies in Waterbury, Connecticut, at 81. Launched in 1963, Trudy focused on the homemaker of the title as she managed her family and its pets.

 

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 21

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.

7.21.1948: Garry Trudeau, the creator of Doonesbury, is born in New York City. He won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning, the 1994 Newspaper Comic Strip award from the National Cartoonists Society, and the 1995 Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year award from the National Cartoonists Society.

7.21.1968: Tales of the Green Beret, which debuted with a Vietnam War setting in 1965, ends its run.

Doonesbury

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 20

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.

7.20.1946: Flyin' Jenny, an aviation adventure strip by Russell Keaton, is grounded after seven years.

7.20.1963: Walt Kelly's Pogo (1948-1975) wraps up a week-long tribute to George Herriman's legendary Krazy Kat (1913-1944). 

7.20.1971: The introverted and insightful Marcie appears for the first time in Charles Schulz's Peanuts.

7.20.1975: Pogo ends its run after more than 26 years. A subsequent attempt to revive Walt Kelly's strip failed.

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.

Today in the history of the Americna comic strip: July 19

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.

7.19.1961: Terry LaBan, the co-creator (with his wife Patty LaBan) of Edge City, is born in Michigan. The strip followed the adventures of the Ardins, a Jewish family, from 2000 until 2016.

7.19.1982. Geech, a strip created by Jerry Bittle, premieres. From 1982 until 2003, it showcased small-town life, as exemplified in the fictional city of Grimace, Texas.

 

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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 18

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.

7.18.1968: Mark O’Hare, the creator of Citizen Dog (1995-2001), is born in San Pedro, California. The strip focused on the antics of Mel and his male dog Fergus.

7.18.1983: George Lichty, creator of the long-running Grin and Bear It (1932-2015), dies in Santa Rosa, California. He was 78.
 

 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.

Today in the history of the American comic strip: July 17

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.

7.17.1917: Mexican-American artist Gustavo "Gus" Arriola is born in Florence, Arizona. His strip Gordo introduced American readers to Mexican culture. Arriola won a Newspaper Comic Strip award from the National Cartoonists Society in 1965, eight years after he tied with Gasoline Alley's Frank King for the same award.

7.17.1956: Sergeant Orville Snorkel’s dog Otto makes his first appearance in Mort Walker’s Beetle Bailey. Initially, Otto was a regular dog who walked on all fours, but he later acquired an Army uniform and walked upright.

7.17.1971: Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury avoids cancellation in a Macon, Georgia, newspaper, The Telegraph, thanks to a 27-22 win in a referendum.

7.17.2007: R. C. Harvey releases Meanwhile . . . , a biography of Milton Caniff, creator of Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon.
 

Terry and the Pirates

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.