Single panel comic strip "Dear God Kids." Sitting at a desk, a girl wonders, "Dear God, ...Did you ever have one of those days?"
"Dear God Kids" by Anne Fitzgerald, 1984-1988
July 7th, 1984 as seen int he Anchorage Times
Comic strip "Shrubbery." A praying mantis from Health and Human Services advises plants Shady and Shrub to expand their marriage initiative. Marriage could solve so many problems! Imagine Saddam Hussein married to Barbara Streisand, or Hillary Clinton to Eminem!
"Shrubbery" by Signe Wilkinson, 2002-2003
December 8th, 2002 as seen in the Salt Lake Tribune
Single panel comic strip "BJ's Better Way." Pictures and poems on little tips and tricks you can do around the house, what we now call "lifehacks." Today's poem: "When on the floor, you spy some tar / Get out the peanut butter jar / Dab some on, then rub the spot / It disappears, believe it or not!"
"BJ's Better Way" by Bonnie & Jeff Carlson, 1988-1993
November 6th, 1991 as seen in the Telegraph Plus
Comic strip "Fusbugs." A bug sees a cave and flies over to see who lives there. A burst of fire indicates that it's a dragon, leaving the bug scorched. A local strip for Mount Zion, Illinois.
"Fusbugs" by Jim Wood, 1981-1981
January 29th, 1981 as seen in the Mt. Zion Region-News
Comic strip "Uncle Charlie." Uncle Charlie waters some vines growing up a pole. Eventually, the vines climb up the pole and extend to another, becoming a clothesline for Charlie to dry his clothes on.
"Uncle Charlie" by Peter Laing, 1959-1979
December 3rd, 1975 as seen in the Syracuse Herald-Journal
Comic strip "Over Here." People crowd around as the baby Young Nuisance speaks for the first time. The parents argue over whether the baby said "da da" or "ma ma", neighbors roll their eyes, a "comedian" makes a sexist joke about how women get the last word, and Ol' John Don't holds up a sign, telling you not to trust babies.
"Over Here" by Jack Callahan, 1918-1918
September 4th, 1918 as seen in the San Antonio Evening News
Comic strip "The Muppets." Rowlf and Kermit are at the park, watching beautiful ladies as they go out for a jog. Kermit sighs. "If Piggy knew I was out here, she'd..." Suddenly, Miss Piggy jogs into scene. "She'd what?" she asks with an unamused expression.
"The Muppets" by Guy & Brad Gilchrist, 1981-1986
September 6th, 1983 as seen in the Clarion-Ledger
Comic strip "Fred & Others." A man running from president says he'll look after the little man. He's then stomped on by giant feet. "And I won't forget the big man." A rare Australian comic strip to make it to the States.
"Fred & Others" by Ron Tandberg, 1969-1973
December 12th, 1972 as seen in The State
Sunday edition of comic strip "Babs & Aldo." Young boy Aldo has gotten a card to give to young girl Babs for Valentine's Day. Aldo's mother suggests he also gives her a present, giving Aldo a piece of chocolate to give to her. Aldo can't resist, and Babs ends up receiving half a chocolate.
"Babs & Aldo" by "Buddy Valentine"*, 2003-2004
February 15th, 2004 as seen in the Salt Lake Tribune
*Bud Grace
Comic strip "Through Thick and Thin." Two women, Geraldine (Thin) and Pearl (Thick) are walking along the beach when they're approached by Mrs. Parsnip, the crabbiest old lady ever. They try to be polite, but Mrs. Parsnip makes that difficult.
"Through Thick and Thin" by Ralph Smith, 2001-2007
October 20th, 2003 as seen in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Comic strip "Story Minute." Today's story, "Time Off For Bad Behavior," about a company that fakes kidnappings, until they have to kidnap a man for real after he murders his wife. Text: "Running Kidnappers, Inc. was not easy. Clients had to be rich to afford the enforced time off from important jobs... and they had to be discrete enough not to reveal the ruse. One time a client was kidnapped who really didn't want the time off. The man threatened to sue and have them arrested. It turned out that his wife knew he would react in such a way... and was counting on Kidnappers, Inc. to take care of her problem husband. When he found out her intentions, he beat her to the punch. The kidnappers were in a fix. If they turned him in, he would turn them in. If they let him go free he'd get away with murder. If they bumped him off they'd be as guilty as he was. That's how the bogus kidnappers came to commit their only real crime."
"Story Minute" by Carol Lay, 1992-2004
November 26th, 1998 as seen in the LA Weekly
Comic strip "Aunt Effie." Effie is trying to sleep, but something is squeaking, so she goes downstairs to get the oil can. At first we think it's the bed that's making the noise, but then Effie oils a squeaking mouse. That seems to do the trick, and Effie goes back to sleep.
"Aunt Effie" by Edgon Margo, 1939-1940
August 5th, 1939 as seen in the Omaha Guide
Comic strip "Auto Sense." Doc the mechanic dispenses with automobile maintenance advice. When asked, Doc tells a customer to never put his worn rear tires up front, otherwise they may gets a flat and drive into a ditch. A sign reads, "3 Miles to Doc's Garage. Go easy on your brake, let the clutch in gently, slow down for curves, if you want your rear tires to live long and die happy."
"Auto Sense" by Jack Williamson, 1924-1928
July 6th, 1924 as seen in the Palm Beach Post
Comic strip "Hem and Amy." A woman's ink well runs low. Her daughter tries to clean it out in the sink, but accidentally sends ink splotches flying all over the washroom. She asks her mother if they have any blotter. This is the fourth Frank Beck strip we've looked at here, guy was a cartooning beast in the first half of the 20th century.
"Hem and Amy" by Frank Beck, 1922-1940
May 12th, 1938 as seen in the Daily Nonpareil
Musical comic strip "The Jingle Belles." Musical notes top the strip, and the dialogue is in rhyme, meaning you could perform it yourself if you so wished. Two potential suitors are making their way to Josie and Jessie Jingle, the Jingle Belles, when they're jumped by two other men. They steal the suitors flowers and arrive at the Jingle Belles' door instead. Strip was originally called "Them Days is Gone Forever," maintaining this musical element through it's entire run.
"The Jingle Belles" by Al Posen, 1922-1925
July 30th, 1924 as seen in the Boston Globe
Single panel comic strip "As You Were." Nostalgic looks at the past. This time, Jim Baker remembers when they used to bring bears to local events. Text: "NOT THE SAME. When a new supermarket or gas station has its grand opening today giant searchlights are usually brought in to attract public attention... These do a good job, but they can't match the appeal of yesterday's trained bear! A year seldom passed without some new place of business being ballyhooed with a trained bear... The bear attracted kids, and the kids brought their parents. It was a great promotion."
"As You Were" by Jim Baker, 1970-1982
December 29th, 1972 as seen in the Delaware Gazette
Single panel comic strip "Around Town." A man with scruffy hair and a long beard goes to the barbershop. The barber asks, "How much do you want to spend?"
"Around Town" by Rube Weiss, 1957-1978
April 25th, 1972 as seen in the Beauregard Daily News
Comic strip "The Astronits." Girl alien Vif asked girl alien Adx how to look prettier, and Adx suggest drawing a mole on her cheek. Vif draws a mole, the animal, on her face and gets lots of attention. This strip takes place on an alien planet, so how do they know about Earth moles?
"The Astronits" by Pat Anderson, 1970-1977
February 5th, 1970 as seen in the Cook Inlet Courier
Single panel comic strip "at Andre's." Two women are in conversation, one frustrated with the other. She says, "I was extremely patient when you were telling me about your stomach trouble. You could at least show the same courtesy to my gland."
"at Andre's" by Sandy Brier, 1961-1962
September 21st, 1961 as seen in the Jackson Citizen Patriot
Serialized superhero comic strip "Batman and Robin." Batman agrees to help the Commissioner Gordon in tracking down the escaped convict Spike Durphy on the docks. However, Batman's boy sidekick Robin has disappeared! This is the first of five Batman comic strips.
"Batman and Robin" by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, 1943-1946
November 9th, 1943 as seen in the Kingston Whig-Standard
Comic strip "Zoonies." A cat's flea collar expires, and is immediately attacked by fleas.
"Zoonies" by Craig Leggett, 1977-1980
June 29th, 1978 as seen in the Martinez News-Gazette
Comic strip "Second Chances." A couple, Nick and Kate, are eating breakfast and discussing their new neighbor. Turns out it's Tank McNamara, sports caster and main character of Jeff Millar and Bill Hinds' other strip. It's a crossover! "Second Chances" ended three days after this strip, and Nick and Kate became secondary characters over on Tank's strip.
"Second Chances" by Jeff Millar and Bill Hinds, 1996-2000
September 7th, 2000 as seen in the Telegraph
Comic strip "Antoinette & Cleopatra." Girls Antoinette And Cleopatra and lost in the desert. Cleopatra says she read how God protects the lost with his wings. On a branch overhead, a vulture perches.
"Antoinette & Cleopatra" by Joanne McGuire. 1978-1980
July 28th, 1979 as seen in the Pueblo Chieftain
Single panel photo comic strip "Bannister Babies." Photos of babies with funny captions. A baby looks at a newspaper. Caption reads: "Why do they always put the legal hookers in small print?" You might argue that comic strips have to be drawn, but I think if it's syndicated, runs on the comics page and has a baby looking up prostitutes, it counts.
"Bannister Babies" by Constance Bannister, 1971-1973
January 12th, 1972 as seen in the Columbia Record
Single panel comic strip "Amos the Analyst." Amos as a therapy session with a man with no face. Amos says, "Ordinarily, I would suggest you face your problem..."
"Amos the Analyst" by Mick Stevens, 1966-1966
September 5th, 1966 as seen in the Daily Olympian
Comic strip "Oscar." A small dog goes out for a walk at night under a full moon. He feels the cry of the wild stirring inside him, but when he goes to howl, all that comes out is a yippy little "erf!" Disappointed, the dog blames it on indigestion.
"Oscar" by Dave Rusch, 1960-1962
November 16th, 1961 as seen in the Newark State-Ledger
Comic strip "Billy the Boy Artist." Billy's uncle is goes into his room to take a nap, and asks Billy to make sure no one disturbs him. Two men come to visit, and don't care to be told not to disturb the man, so they decide to get Billy in trouble by painting "Walk In" on the door. Billy's faithful friend, Billy the Billy-Goat, sees this and headbutts one of the men through the door.
"Billy the Boy Artist" by Ed Payne, 1899-1955
August 25th, 1907 as seen in the Boston Globe
Comic strip "Arnold." Two boys are wading through a stream. One of them is starting to relax, the sound the babbling brook bringing out the poet in him. The other boy sees a leech and starts to panic. "Heart Attack at Parasite Creek" thinks the poet.
"Arnold" by Kevin McCormick, 1982-1988
August 10th, 1984 as seen in the Miami Herald
Serialized comic strip "Star Wars," a continuation of the film of the same name. The first part of the "Princess Leia, Imperial Servant" storyline, Princess Leia and a man named Hume are on a rebel ship, low on fuel, floating through Imperial space. A Star Destroyer that happens to carrying Darth Vader arrives, detecting the ship.
"Star Wars" by Russ Helm and Russ Manning, 1979-1984
November 6th, 1979 as seen in the Idaho Statesman
Bilingual comic strip "Amanda y Rocinante," designed for language education, originally in Spanish with an English translation on the side. Amanda has a crush on a boy, and starts daydreaming of them meeting, only for the daydream to turn sour as the boy turns away. Imagination is so exhausting.
"Amanda y Rocinante" by Resurrecion Espinosa and Dorthy Hall B. Torres, 1997-2005
March 15th, 2000 as seen in The Day
