Whether it’s the cave paintings of prehistoric Spain, the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt, or the manga of modern Japan, visual storytelling has been an important part of human expression throughout history. For more than a century, American comics have captivated audiences of all ages. With just a handful of panels – or just one in some cases – talented cartoonists were able to create daily or weekly stories.
Whether through slapstick humor, romance or high adventure, the medium of comics offers something for everyone. Although new tapes continue to be created today, some of the best have been the same for a long time.
Updated on February 8, 2023 by Patrick Arellano: Although unfairly decried by some as a minor art formthe bone The comics have provided some of the most iconic and beloved characters and worlds. For many in the creative field, these strips were among the earliest forms of fiction to be enjoyed. It’s very likely that some characters that have appeared on both the big and small screen owe their existence to the comic book section of newspapers.As such, youits strip has been updated to include more big names who have graced the fun newspapers.
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15 newspapers join Mickey Mouse at the Jamboree
Since his debut on the big screen, Mickey Mouse has become one of the most iconic cartoon characters. Kings Features Syndicate president Joseph Connolly contacted animator Ub Iwerks and encouraged him to incorporate the character into a daily comic strip. In this medium, the mouse starred in more elaborate and serialized stories than theatrical shorts allowed.
One of the most controversial stories is that of a crestfallen Mickey after being abandoned by Minnie. Like the early strips, they were inspired by “Plane Crazy”, which in turn served as inspiration for theatrical shorts such as “The Great Orphanage Robbery”.
14 Life In Hell Paved The Way For A Famous Lively Family 
life in hell is probably best known as the work that introduced television producer James L. Brooks to cartoonist Matt Groening, and paved the way for The simpsons. Fans of the animated sitcom might be surprised by the strip’s more racy content and willingness to tackle more taboo subjects.
For years the underground strip has provided a humorous juxtaposition of dark themes and crudely drawn characters, such as Bongo the Rabbit and the couple Jeff and Ackbar, similar to peanuts. While the infinitely more famous sitcom Family occupied Groening’s time, the tape continued online.
13 thrilling Tarzan stories 
According to the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan recounts the many adventures of the man with the loincloth raised by the great Mangani apes. From 1929 to 2002, the daily and Sunday strips of Tarzan they were written and drawn by a myriad of creators, including Hal Foster, Gil Kane, Mike Grell and Eric Battle.
Tarzan represents a fairly popular trend in the history of comics: the adaptation of novels. By some measures, pulp novels like Burroughs’s were superseded by the American comic strips of later years. Therefore, the comics of Tarzan They mark an interesting transition.
12 The Thimble Theater is booming 
Thimble Theater is probably best known in recent years for being the comic strip that introduced spinach-eating sailor Popeye. However, it’s important to remember that EC Segar’s iconic tape was around long before Paramount brought the sailor to the big screen.
At first it was a comedy centered around the everyday exploits of hoodlum Ham Gravy and his friendly girlfriend Olive Oil, but it gradually took on a more adventurous tone. Over time, it incorporated more original characters, such as Professor Sappo and the aforementioned sailor. Charles Schultz and Carl Barks considered Thimble Theater as one of the great daily strips.
11 Don’t fall asleep with Little Nemo 
Little Nemo in Slumberland was a weekly comic strip written and drawn by Winsor McCay. Each week, the protagonist, Nemo, was involved in a spectacular dream adventure before waking up in the final panel of each strip. In addition to stories that put dream psychology into practice, Little Nemo he was revered for his artistic style. Nearly a century before the founders of Image caused a stir, McCay was experimenting with dynamic perspective and panel composition.
Little Nemo it was also fascinating format-wise. McCay had a whole page to tell his fantasies. In modern newspapers, one page can contain the entire comics section.
10 Beetle Bailey Doesn’t Skimp On Inane Antics 
BeetleBailey is a military humor comic created by Mort Walker. As Gomer Pyle, USMC there MASH POTATOESwhich will appear much later, Beetle Bailey features an awkward protagonist who – intentionally or not – acts as a perpetual thorn in the side of his superior officer. It has delighted readers for over seventy years.
Bailey Beetle, which began in 1950, is one of the oldest comics by the original creator. Since Walker’s death in 2018, his three children – who have helped him since 1982 – have continued to strip.
9 Prince Valiant Was An Epic Historical Fantasy 
Considered by the Duke of Windsor to be “the greatest contribution to English literature of the last hundred years”, valiant prince it was an epic series of historical adventures. The strip deviated from traditional speech bubbles and juxtaposed elements of swashbuckling high adventure with a healthy dose of humor.
Although the series didn’t really strive for historical accuracy in its early days, Hal Foster later made significant attempts to bring events closer to the fifth century, as well as incorporate famous characters such as Attila the Hun.
8 daily bugle stories went to funny diaries 
Although Webhead is one of the most famous superheroes in the world, very few fans read his daily series. From 1977 to 2019, Spider-Man co-creator and the face of Marvel, Stan Lee, wrote The Amazing Spider-Man comic book with a number of collaborators, including John Romita Sr. and Lee’s brother, Larry Lieber.
Comically accused of snail-stepping in comics spider worms, The Amazing Spider-Man still has some interesting things to offer. Aside from a few story arcs, Spider Man it told completely original stories with a continuity separate from Spider-Man’s main publishing efforts. Lee and company also created new series-exclusive characters, such as Crimson Cloak and Ted Chambers.
7 Flash Gordon Is The Father Of Star Wars 
Designed to rival the sci-fi monster of the time, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon has become a legendary sci-fi title in its own right. Created by Alex Raymond, the strip follows the luscious adventures of Flash and his myriad companions on the planet Mongo.
The popularity ofFlash Gordon has spawned multimedia iterations such as film series, comic books, and several animated series. George Lucas wanted to make a movie in the 1970s, but when he didn’t get the rights, he created his own space opera franchise.
6 The Man With The Wrist Radio Is Still On The Case 
With his signature yellow fedora and two-way radio on his wrist, Detective Dick Tracy has been catching criminals since 1931. Original creator Chester Gould’s propensity for not planning his stories in advance kept his early readers on the lookout. tomorrow’s story.
In the 1940s, a newsboy strike in New York City prevented comics from reaching fans. However, Dick Tracy it was so popular that Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia read it on the radio. Since then, Tracy has appeared in films, series and on television.
5 Yes, Mutts Is Excellent 
Patrick McDonnell’s Classic Tape Mutts tells the adorable and hilarious friendship of Mooch and Earl. Even if Mutts deals with the relationship between the anthropomorphized animals in the series, the relationship between animals and humans is equally important. Often a week of tapes is dedicated to an animal welfare cause, such as animal shelters or endangered species conservation.
In 2011, a film adaptation was in pre-production with McDowell himself co-writing the screenplay with his brother. Unfortunately, after a decade of turmoil, development on the film ceased.
4 Garfield Is The Cure For Mondays 
The latest entries on this list prove it: pets and kids sell out! Perhaps the most famous cat in comics (sorry, Mooch) is the lazy, lasagna-loving Garfield. Created in 1978, Jim Davis’ series about an altruistic, manipulative cat and his socially inept owner Jon continues to delight today.
Like many successful comics, brand expansion Garfield in other media, it is immense. After just two years in publication, Garfield made his television debut and has since appeared in a slew of television specials, a few feature films, and a handful of video games.
3 Fantasy and humor abound in Calvin and Hobbes 
Poured from the mind of Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes It’s about a boy looking for adventure and his stuffed tiger friend. As Little Nemo, this legendary band is a fine demonstration of imagination and creativity. Whether through the intergalactic adventures of Spaceman Spiff or the superheroes of Stupendous Man, Watterson was capable of creating any type of story he could think of.
Perhaps most gratifying is the imagination that Calvin and Hobbes inspire. Unlike many of his colleagues, Watterson never licensed his tape. This has motivated die-hard fans to create their own projects – like handmade Hobbes toys – to celebrate this masterpiece.
2 Krazy Kat’s minimalist premise belies its awesomeness 
Krazy Kat , by George Herriman, revolves around three central characters. The eponymous Krazy is absolutely smitten with a door mouse named Ingatz. Unfortunately, this doesn’t reciprocate Krazy’s affections and he usually responds by throwing a brick at her. A third character, Officer Bull Pupp, attempts to keep the peace by protecting Krazy and punishing Ignatz.
Each character basically acts as the superego, ego, and id, respectively. Despite this seemingly simple premise, Krazy Kat was acclaimed for its high quality of characterization and dialogue. The strip was also far ahead of its time by featuring a protagonist whose gender was completely ambiguous.
1 Charlie Brown And The Peanuts Gang Are As Timeless As Ever 
Peanuts it is perhaps the most recognizable newspaper comic in history. Created by Charles “Spark” Schulz, the classic story of a lovable loser and his friends spanned fifty years. The witty humor combined with the sardonic melancholy were a brilliant reflection of the human condition, all from the perspective of young children.
In stark contrast to Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts is a merchandising machine. With numerous television specials, a feature film, and millions of Snoopy t-shirts and toys, Peanuts remains a highly profitable brand even decades after Schulz’s death.