Notable dates to celebrate in the history of comics and cartooning
JANUARY 1
1980 First appearance of The Far Side (Gary Larson)
1995 End of The Far Side (Gary Larson)
JANUARY 2
1857 Birthday of Frederick Burr Opper (Happy Hooligan, And Her Name Was Maud)
1896 Birthday of Frank "Lank" Leonard (Mickey Finn)
1929 Birthday of Don Heck (Iron Man)
1933 First appearance of Nancy in the comic strip Fritzi Ritz (Ernie Bushmiller)
JANUARY 3
1921 First appearance of Tillie the Toiler (Russell Westover)
1977 First appearance of Spider-Man newspaper strip (Stan Lee)
2000 Last new Peanuts strip (Charles Schulz)
JANUARY 4
1957 First appearance of Blondie TV show
1993 First appearance of Pluggers (Jeff MacNelly)
JANUARY 5
1896 First appearance of Yellow Kid in a yellow nightshirt (Richard Outcault)
1916 First appearance of Baron Bean (George Herriman)
JANUARY 6
1912 Birthday of Martin Filchock (Mighty Man, Fire-Man, Check and Double Check)
1952 First Peanuts Sunday page (Charles Schulz)
JANUARY 7
1900 First appearance of Foxy Grandpa (Charles E. "Bunny" Schultze)
1912 Birthday of Charles Addams (Addams Family)
1929 First appearance of Buck Rogers comic strip (John F. Dille & R.W. Calkins)
1929 First appearance of Tarzan comic strip (Hal Foster)
1934 First appearance of Flash Gordon strip (Alex Raymond)
1934 First appearance of Jungle Jim (Alex Raymond)
1990 First appearance of Baby Blues (Jerry Scott & Rick Kirkman)
JANUARY 8
1905 First appearance of Hungry Henrietta (Winsor McCay)
JANUARY 9
1901 Birthday of Chic Young (Blondie)
JANUARY 10
1929 First appearance of Little Annie Rooney (Brandon Walsh & Darrell McClure)
JANUARY 11
1935 New Fun Comics #1, the first comic book to contain all original material, appeared on the stands
1963 Birthday of Sam Kieth (The Maxx)
1976 Wedding of Brenda Starr & Basil St. John (Dale Messick)
JANUARY 12
1891 Birthday of Raeburn Van Buren (Abbie an' Slats)
1913 First appearance of Bringing Up Father (George McManus)
1966 First episode of Batman TV show
JANUARY 13
1930 First appearance of Mickey Mouse comic strip (Walt Disney)
1947 First appearance of Steve Canyon (Milton Caniff)
JANUARY 14
1863 Birthday of Richard Felton Outcault (The Yellow Kid, Buster Brown)
1990 First weekly episode of The Simpsons (Matt Groening)
JANUARY 15
1870 First appearance of Democratic donkey cartoon (Thomas Nast)
1951 First appearance of Cisco Kid comic strip (Jose-Luis Salinas)
JANUARY 16
1939 First appearance of Superman strip (Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster)
JANUARY 17
1929 First appearance of Popeye in Thimble Theatre (Elzie Segar)
1970 Birthday of Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack)
JANUARY 18
1970 First appearance of Friday Foster (Jim Lawrence and Jorge Longaron)
JANUARY 19
1916 Birthday of Bernard Baily (The Spectre, Hourman)
1948 Birthday of Joe Staton (E-Man, Green Lantern, Justice Society of America)
JANUARY 20
1894 Birthday of Harold Gray (Little Orphan Annie)
1944 Birthday of Bill Griffith (Zippy the Pinhead)
JANUARY 21
1957 Birthday of Bob Weber Jr. (Slylock Fox and Comics for Kids)
1972 Superman Day proclaimed in the town of Metropolis, Illinois
JANUARY 22
1922 First appearance of Major Hoople in Our Boarding House (Gene Ahern)
JANUARY 23
1884 Birthday of George McManus (Bringing Up Father, Rosie's Beau)
1952 Birthday of Klaus Janson (The Punisher)
1970 Birthday of Alex Ross (Marvels, Kingdom Come)
JANUARY 24
1930 Birthday of John Romita (Spider-Man)
1943 First appearance of Male Call (Milton Caniff)
JANUARY 25
1952 Birthday of Bud Grace (Ernie)
1999 First animated episode of Dilbert was broadcast (Scott Adams)
JANUARY 26
1929 Birthday of Jules Feiffer (Feiffer)
JANUARY 27
1919 Birthday of Ross Bagdasarian (Alvin and the Chipmunks)
1957 Birthday of Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil, Ronin, Sin City)
JANUARY 28
1949 End of Pogo (NY Star folded; Pogo was later syndicated) (Walt Kelly)
JANUARY 29
1933 First appearance of Doc Wright (Rube Goldberg)
1940 First appearance of Hap Hopper (William Laas & Jack Sparling)
JANUARY 30
1961 Birthday of Denys Cowan (Hardware)
1961 Television debut of The Yogi Bear Show
JANUARY 31
1907 Birthday of Court Alderson (Travelin' Arkie, Sonny South)
1960 Birthday of Grant Morrison (Animal Man, the Invisibles, JLA, All-Star Superman)
FEBRUARY 1
1960 Birthday of Ron Frenz (Thor, Spider-Man)
FEBRUARY 2
1912 Birthday of Creig Flessel (The Sandman)
1914 First appearance of Abie the Agent (Harry Hershfield)
FEBRUARY 3
1935 First appearance of Punjab in Little Orphan Annie (Harold Gray)
FEBRUARY 4
1957 First appearance of Miss Peach (Mell Lazarus)
1973 First appearance of Hagar the Horrible (Dik Browne)
FEBRUARY 5
1920 Birthday of George Evans (Secret Agent Corrigan, Terry and the Pirates)
1929 First appearance of They'll Do It Every Time (Jimmy Hatlo)
FEBRUARY 6
1932 First Charles Addams spot cartoon published in the New Yorker
FEBRUARY 7
1926 Birthday of Bill Hoest (Lockhorns, Agatha Crumm)
FEBRUARY 8
1914 Birthday of Bill Finger (Batman)
FEBRUARY 9
1928 Birthday of Frank Frazetta (Shining Knight)
FEBRUARY 10
1957 First appearance of (Mary Perkins) On Stage (Leonard Starr)
FEBRUARY 11
2000 Disney releases first full-length Winnie the Pooh feature film
FEBRUARY 12
1917 First appearance of The Gumps (Joseph M. Patterson & Sidney Smith)
1934 First appearance of Secret Agent X-9 (Dashiell Hammett & Alex Raymond)
1940 First episode of Superman radio show
FEBRUARY 13
1918 Birthday of Bud Blake (Tiger)
1937 First appearance of Prince Valiant (Hal Foster)
FEBRUARY 14
1904 First appearance of Little Jimmy (James Swinnerton)
1921 First appearance of Skeezix in Gasoline Alley (Frank King)
FEBRUARY 15
1910 Birthday of Bob Naylor (Barney Baxter, Jerry on the Job)
1948 Birthday of Art Spiegelman (Maus)
1954 Birthday of Matt Groening (Simpsons, Life in Hell, Futurama)
FEBRUARY 16
1896 First appearance of The Yellow Kid (formerly Down Hogan's Alley) (R.F. Outcault)
FEBRUARY 17
1920 Birthday of Curt Swan (Superman)
1929 First appearance of Count Screwloose of Tooloose (Milt Gross)
1933 Wedding of Blondie Boopadoop & Dagwood Bumstead (Chic Young)
1936 First appearance of The Phantom (Lee Falk & Ray Moore)
1958 First appearance of B.C. (Johnny Hart)
1992 First appearance of Non Sequitur (Wiley Miller)
FEBRUARY 18
1924 First appearance of Boots and Her Buddies (Edgar Martin)
1930 Birthday of Gahan Wilson (magazine cartoonist)
1931 Birthday of Johnny Hart (B.C., Wizard of Id)
FEBRUARY 19
1914 Birthday of Henry Boltinoff (Hocus-Focus, Super-Turtle, Cap's Hobby Hints, Casey the Cop)
1919 Birthday of Léo de Budt, aka "Buth" (Thomas Pips)
1957 Birthday of Gerry Shamray (American Splendor)
FEBRUARY 20
1950 First appearance of Big Ben Bolt (Elliot Carlin & John Cullen Murphy)
FEBRUARY 21
1937 First appearance of The Asp in Little Orphan Annie (Harold Gray)
1949 Birthday of Frank Brunner (Vampirella, Dr. Strange, Howard the Duck)
FEBRUARY 22
1903 Birthday of Bill Holman (Smokey Stover)
1914 Debut of Gertie the Dinosaur (Winsor McCay)
1917 Birthday of Reed Crandall (Blackhawk, Doll Man)
FEBRUARY 23
1935 First appearance of Little Lulu in Saturday Evening Post (Marge Buell)
1948 Birthday of Doug Moench (Moon Knight, Deathlok, Batman)
FEBRUARY 24
1954 Birthday of Jim Borgman (Zits)
1954 Birthday of Greg LaRocque (The Avengers, the Flash, Power Man and Iron Fist)
FEBRUARY 25
1903 Birthday of Darrell McClure (Little Annie Rooney)
1929 Birthday of Arnold Roth (New Yorker, Playboy, National Lampoon)
1973 End of Terry and the Pirates (George Wunder)
FEBRUARY 26
1877 Birthday of Rudolph Dirks (Katzenjammer Kids, Captain and the Kids)
1907 Birthday of Tex Avery (Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny)
1928 Birthday of Ric Estrada (Kung-Fu Fighter)
FEBRUARY 27
1960 Birthday of Jeff Smith (Bone)
1960 Birthday of Norm Breyfogle (Batman)
1962 Birthday of Andy Kubert (X-Men)
FEBRUARY 28
1907 Birthday of Milton Caniff (Terry and the Pirates, Steve Canyon)
1935 First appearance of Judy in Gasoline Alley (Frank King)
FEBRUARY 29
Birthday of Little Orphan Annie, Superman, and Captain Marvel
1960 First appearance of The Family Circus (Bil Keane)
MARCH 1
1922 Birthday of Bill Gaines (Mad Magazine)
1924 Birthday of Arnold Drake (Doom Patrol)
1926 Birthday of Irwin Donenfeld (DC Comics publisher)
1944 First radio appearance of Batman & Robin (on The Adventures of Superman)
MARCH 2
1904 Birthday of Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
1952 Birthday of Mark Evanier (DNAgents, Groo the Wanderer)
1970 First appearance of Conchy (James Childress)
MARCH 3
1884 Birthday of Fontaine Fox (Toonerville Folks)
1933 First appearance of Red Barry (Will Gould)
1946 End of Male Call (Milton Caniff)
1952 First appearance of Lucy Van Pelt in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
MARCH 4
1904 First appearance of Flip in Little Nemo (Winsor McCay)
1946 First appearance of Rip Kirby (Alex Raymond)
MARCH 5
1934 First appearance of Don Winslow of the Navy (Frank Martinek)
1979 First appearance of Drabble (Kevin Fagan)
MARCH 6
1917 Birthday of Will Eisner (The Spirit, Sheena)
MARCH 7
1934 Birthday of Gray Morrow (Buck Rogers, Tarzan, etc.)
1967 "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" opened off-Broadway at Theatre 80
MARCH 8
1972 "Tales From the Crypt" movie, based on the 1950s EC comic book, opens
MARCH 9
1926 Reddy Kilowatt debuts as the Alabama Power Company's spokestoon
1935 Last Secret Agent X-9 written by Dashiell Hammett
MARCH 10
1935 First appearance of Smokey Stover (Bill Holman)
1996 Museum of Cartoon Art opens in Boca Raton, FL
MARCH 11
1900 First appearance of Happy Hooligan (Frederick Burr Opper)
1910 First appearance of Desperate Desmond (Harry Hershfield)
1968 First appearance of Boner's Ark (Addison, aka Mort Walker)
MARCH 12
1951 First appearance of Dennis the Menace (Hank Ketcham)
MARCH 13
1921 Birthday of Al Jaffee (Mad Magazine)
1951 Beetle Bailey joins the army (Mort Walker)
MARCH 14
1920 Birthday of Hank Ketcham (Dennis the Menace)
1947 Birthday of Tom Batiuk (Funky Winkerbean, John Darling, Crankshaft)
1969 Snoopy became the first beagle on the moon in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
MARCH 15
1922 Sidney Smith (The Gumps) becomes the first cartoonist to sign a million-dollar contract
1923 First appearance of Skippy (Percy Crosby)
1931 First Tarzan Sunday strip (Rex Maxon)
MARCH 16
1958 Birthday of Kate Worley (Omaha the Cat Dancer)
1961 Birthday of Todd McFarlane (Spawn, Spider-Man)
MARCH 17
1930 First appearance of Scorchy Smith (John Terry)
1956 Birthday of Patrick McDonnell (Mutts)
1985 First appearance of Luann (Greg Evans)
MARCH 18
1963 First appearance of Trudy (Jerry Marcus)
MARCH 19
1932 First appearance of Henry (Carl Anderson)
1984 First appearance of On the Fastrack (Bill Holbrook)
MARCH 20
1897 First appearance of Yellow Kid magazine from Street & Smith (R.F. Outcault)
1943 Droopy Dog debuted in "Dumb-Hounded" (Tex Avery)
MARCH 21
1902 Birthday of Al Smith (Mutt and Jeff)
1971 First Doonesbury Sunday color page (Garry Trudeau)
MARCH 22
1915 Birthday of Bud Sagendorf (Popeye)
1919 Birthday of Bernard Krigstein (EC)
1929 Birthday of Mort Drucker (Mad Magazine)
MARCH 23
1992 Pogo revived (Carolyn and Peter Kelly)
MARCH 24
1899 Birthday of Allen Saunders (Mary Worth)
1911 Birthday of Joseph Barbera (Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound)
MARCH 25
1979 First appearance of John Darling (Tom Batiuk & Tom Armstrong)
MARCH 26
1900 First appearance of Happy Hooligan (Frederick Burr Opper)
1937 Statue of Popeye dedicated in Crystal City, Texas
1950 Birthday of Brian Bolland (Judge Dredd, Camelot 3000, The Killing Joke)
MARCH 27
1901 Birthday of Carl Barks (Donald Duck)
1908 First appearance of Little Jeff in Mr. A. Mutt (Bud Fisher)
1972 First appearance of Funky Winkerbean (Tom Batiuk)
MARCH 28
1894 Birthday of Wallace A. Carlson (The Nebbs)
1999 First appearance of That's Life (Mike Twohy)
MARCH 29
1924 Birthday of Jack Elrod (Mark Trail, Winky Ryatt)
1952 Wedding of Li'l Abner Yokum & Daisy Mae Scraggs (Al Capp)
1955 Birthday of Mark Silvestri (X-Men, Cyberforce)
1966 "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman" opened on Broadway
MARCH 30
1920 Birthday of Tex Blaisdell (Little Orphan Annie)
1992 First appearance of Bound and Gagged (Dana Summers)
1993 Charlie Brown wins his first baseball game (Peanuts) (Charles Schulz)
1997 First appearance of Liberty Meadows (Frank Cho)
MARCH 31
1931 First appearance of Wimpy in Thimble Theatre (Elzie Segar)
1973 Wedding of Smilin' Jack Jr. to Sizzle (Zack Mosley)
APRIL 1
1917 Birthday of Sheldon Mayer (Scribbly, Sugar and Spike)
1945 First appearance of Chipper Wallet in Gasoline Alley
1973 End of Smilin' Jack
1997 "The Great April Fools' Day Comics Switcheroonie"; several syndicated comic strip artists trade strips for a day
APRIL 2
1922 First appearance of Perry Winkle (Winnie Winkle's adopted brother, appeared Sundays)
1990 First appearance of Pickles (Brian Crane)
APRIL 3
1885 Birthday of Harry "Bud" Fisher (Mutt and Jeff)
APRIL 4
1927 Birthday of Joe Orlando (DC Comics)
1951 Birthday of Bob Rozakis (Batman, Robin, 'Mazing Man, Hero Hotline)
1967 First appearance of Woodstock (not named until 1970) in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
APRIL 5
1993 Cartoonists unite to petition for a comic strip stamp
APRIL 6
1926 Birthday of Gil Kane (Green Lantern, Atom, Star Hawks)
1936 First appearance of Mickey Finn (Lank Leonard)
APRIL 7
1935 First appearance of Spooky (Smokey Stover spinoff strip) (Bill Holman)
APRIL 8
1923 Birthday of George Fisher (political cartoonist)
APRIL 9
1883 Birthday of Frank King (Gasoline Alley)
1911 First animated cartoon, Little Nemo, released
1914 Birthday of Mac Raboy (Captain Marvel Junior)
APRIL 10
1904 First appearance of The Newlyweds (George McManus)
1988 First appearance of Foxtrot (Bill Amend)
APRIL 11
1906 Birthday of Dale Messick (Brenda Starr)
APRIL 12
1914 Birthday of Hank Schlensker (Biff Baker, Buz Sawyer)
APRIL 13
1978 First appearance of Gretchen Skinner in Gasoline Alley
APRIL 14
1918 First Bringing Up Father Sunday strip (George McManus)
1924 First appearance of Wash Tubbs (Roy Crane)
APRIL 15
1890 Birthday of Billy DeBeck (Barney Google)
1934 Birth of Baby Dumpling (Alexander) in Blondie (Chic Young)
1941 First appearance of Jimmy Olsen (on the Superman radio program)
1946 First appearance of Mark Trail (Ed Dodd)
1953 First episode of Superman TV show
APRIL 16
1961 Birthday of Todd McFarlane (Spawn)
1984 First appearance of Rose is Rose (Pat Brady)
1989 First appearance of Dilbert (Scott Adams)
APRIL 17
1937 First appearance of Daffy Duck in the cartoon "Porky's Duck Hunt" (Tex Avery)
APRIL 18
1920 Birthday of Carl Burgos (Human Torch)
1938 Action Comics #1 released (First appearance of Superman)
1977 First appearance of Sam and Silo (Jerry Dumas & Mort Walker)
APRIL 19
1914 Birthday of Mac Raboy (Captain Marvel Jr., Bulletman, Flash Gordon)
1930 First appearance of Joe Palooka (Ham Fisher)
1970 First appearance of Broom-Hilda (Russell Myers)
1999 First appearance of The Boondocks (Aaron McGruder)
APRIL 20
1942 First appearance of Barnaby (Crockett Johnson)
APRIL 21
1971 Birthday of Michael Turner (Witchblade, Fathom, Superman/Batman)
2004 First appearance of B.D. without a helmet in Doonesbury (Garry Trudeau)
APRIL 22
1864 Birthday of cartoonist/caricaturist Phil May
1923 Birthday of Sol Brodsky (Marvel Comics original Production Manager)
1990 First appearance of The Buckets (Scott Stantis)
APRIL 23
1908 Birthday of Myron Waldman (Betty Boop, Popeye, Superman, Happy the Humbug)
1916 First Sunday Krazy Kat strip (George Herriman)
1917 First appearance of Barry the Boob (Elzie Segar)
APRIL 24
1912 Birthday of George Wunder (Terry and the Pirates)
1930 Birthday of Howie Schneider (Eek and Meek)
1970 Wedding of Steve Canyon and Summer Smith Olson (Milton Caniff)
APRIL 25
1915 Birthday of Mort Weisinger (Superman editor)
1926 Birthday of Johnny Craig (one of EC's most prolific artists)
APRIL 26
1914 Birthday of Paul Norris (Aquaman, Brick Bradford, Jungle Jim)
APRIL 27
1899 Birthday of Walter Lantz (Woody Woodpecker, Andy Panda, Chilly Willy)
1958 First appearance of Rick O'Shay (Stan Lynde)
APRIL 28
1924 Birthday of Dick Ayers (Ghost Rider, Sgt. Fury, Unknown Soldier)
1958 Last new television episode of The Adventures of Superman aired
APRIL 29
1906 First appearance of The Kin-Der-Kids (Lyonel Feininger)
1940 First appearance of Sparky Watts (Gordon "Boody" Rogers)
APRIL 30
1926 Birthday of Bill Overgard (Steve Roper)
1929 Death of Mary Gold in The Gumps (Sydney Smith)
MAY 1
1919 Birthday of James Winslow "Win" Mortimer (Superman, Spider-Man, David Crane, Larry Brannon)
1999 First appearance of Spongebob Squarepants
MAY 2
1922 Birthday of Doug Wildey (Jonny Quest)
1928 First appearance of Corky Wallet in Gasoline Alley (Frank King)
1955 Birthday of Jerry Scott (Nancy, Baby Blues)
MAY 3
1919 Birthday of John Cullen Murphy (Big Ben Bolt, Prince Valiant)
1927 Birthday of Mell Lazarus (Momma, Miss Peach)
1939 Birthday of Denny O'Neil (Batman, Green Lantern)
1958 Birthday of Bill Sienkiewicz (Moon Knight, New Mutants)
1965 First appearance of Tiger (Bud Blake)
MAY 4
1902 First appearance of Buster Brown (R.F. Outcault)
1919 First appearance of Harold Teen (Carl Ed)
1961 Wedding of Judy Wallet & Gideon Grubb (Gasoline Alley)
MAY 5
NATIONAL CARTOONISTS DAY
1895 First Sunday color comic: Down Hogan's Alley (later renamed The Yellow Kid) (R.F. Outcault)
1919 First appearance of Napoleon (Clifford McBride)
1932 Birthday of Stan Goldberg (Archie, Millie the Model, Three Stooges; designed color schemes for most 1960s Marvel superheroes)
1946 National Cartoonists Society founded
1958 First appearance of The Strange World of Mr. Mum (Irving Phillips)
MAY 6
1952 Birthday of Chris Browne (Hagar the Horrible)
MAY 7
1922 Birthday of Tony Auth (Norb)
MAY 8
1938 Birthday of Moebius (aka Jean Giraud)
1961 First appearance of Apartment 3-G (Nicholas Dallis & Alex Kotzky)
1972 First appearance of Wee Pals (Morrie Turner)
MAY 9
1893 Birthday of William Moulton Marston (Wonder Woman)
MAY 10
1948 First appearance of Rex Morgan, M.D. (Nicholas Dallis & Marvin Bradley)
1955 Birthday of Matt Feazell (Cynicalman)
MAY 11
1947 First Cartoonist of the Year award given to Milton Caniff by the National Cartoonists Society
MAY 12
1950 Birthday of Tom Armstrong (Marvin)
MAY 13
1929 First appearance of Connie (Frank Godwin)
1946 Birthday of Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans, Blade, Tomb of Dracula)
1991 First appearance of Sherman's Lagoon (J.P. Toomey)
MAY 14
1920 Birthday of Hank Ketcham (Dennis the Menace)
1924 Birthday of Brad Anderson (Marmaduke)
1944 Death of Flattop in Dick Tracy (Chester Gould)
MAY 15
1949 First appearance of Clovia Wallet in Gasoline Alley
1959 Birthday of Tom Grummett (Superman, Superboy)
MAY 16
1949 First appearance of Pogo (syndicated) (Walt Kelly)
MAY 17
1956 Birthday of Dave Sim (Cerebus the Aardvark)
MAY 18
1917 Birthday of Bill Everett (Sub-Mariner)
1931 Birthday of Don Martin (Mad Magazine)
MAY 19
1906 First appearance of Rosy Posy -- Mama's Girl (George Herriman)
1913 Birthday of Pete Costanza (Captain Marvel, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen)
1927 Birthday of Emilio Squeglio (Captain Marvel)
MAY 20
1936 Birthday of Mal Hancock (Nibbles, Polly)
MAY 21
1928 First appearance of Tailspin Tommy (Glenn Chafin & Hal Forrest)
MAY 22
1907 Birthday of Herge (Georges Remi) (Tintin)
1915 Birthday of George Baker (Sad Sack)
MAY 23
1926 First appearance of And Her Name Was Maud (Frederick Burr Opper)
MAY 24
1925 Birthday of Carmine Infantino (Flash, Batman, Adam Strange)
1967 Charles Schulz Day proclaimed in California
MAY 25
1949 Birthday of Barry Windsor-Smith (Captain America)
1953 Birthday of Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo)
1971 Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury) appears on To Tell The Truth; stumps 3 of 4 panelists
MAY 26
1922 First appearance of You Know Me Al (Ring Lardner)
MAY 27
1929 First appearance of Skyroads (Lester Maitland & Dick Calkins)
MAY 28
1892 Birthday of Merrill Blosser (Freckles and His Friends)
1947 Birthday of Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse)
MAY 29
1948 First appearance of Li'l Folks (Charles Schulz)
1974 Birthday of Aaron McGruder (The Boondocks)
MAY 30
1916 Birthday of Mort Meskin (Sheena, Wildcat, Starman, Vigilante)
1947 Birth of Sparkle Plenty in Dick Tracy (Chester Gould)
1962 Birthday of Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
MAY 31
1940 Birthday of Gilbert Shelton (The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers)
1954 First appearance of Long Sam (Al Capp & Bob Lubbers)
1977 Wedding of Clovia Wallet & Slim Skinner (Gasoline Alley)
JUNE 1
1892 First appearance of Little Bears and Tykes (Jimmy Swinnerton)
1925 First appearance of Ella Cinders (Charles Plumb & Bill Conselman)
JUNE 2
1940 First appearance of The Spirit (Will Eisner)
1991 End of Moon Mullins (Ferd Johnson)
JUNE 3
1919 Birthday of Gene Hazelton (Wind in the Willows, Fantasia, Flintstones, Yogi Bear)
1934 First appearance of Peter Pat (Moe Leff)
JUNE 4
1929 Birthday of Dick Locher (Dick Tracy)
1951 Birthday of Wendy Pini (Elfquest)
JUNE 5
1905 Birthday of Wayne Boring (Superman)
1944 First appearance of Johnny Hazard (Frank Robbins)
1988 End of Steve Canyon (Milton Caniff)
JUNE 6
1926 Birthday of Tom K. Ryan (Tumbleweeds)
JUNE 7
1915 Birthday of Graham Ingels (EC)
1941 First appearance of Teena (Hilda Terry)
1948 Birthday of Robert Browne (Hi and Lois)
JUNE 8
1910 Birthday of C.C. Beck (Captain Marvel)
1957 Birthday of Scott Adams (Dilbert)
1986 End of Dondi (Gus Edson and Irwin Hasen)
JUNE 9
1934 Donald Duck's first screen appearance in "The Wise Little Hen"
1954 Birthday of George Pérez (New Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths)
JUNE 10
1914 Birthday of Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are)
JUNE 11
1934 First appearance of Mandrake the Magician (Lee Falk & Phil Davis)
JUNE 12
1920 Birthday of Dave Berg (Mad Magazine)
2017 Designated as Superman Day by the Ohio legislature (home state of Jerry Siegel)
JUNE 13
1929 Birthday of Jon D'Agostino (Archie, G.I. Joe, Sonic the Hedghog)
2005 First appearance of Sam and Me (John Sherffius)
2011 End of (Little Orphan) Annie strip
JUNE 14
1970 Birthday of David Lapham (Warriors of Plasm, H.A.R.D. Corps)
JUNE 15
1941 Birthday of Neal Adams (Batman, Green Lantern, Deadman)
1955 Birthday of Brent Anderson (Somerset Holmes, Strikeforce: Morituri)
1981 First appearance of Kudzu (Doug Marlette)
2005 Opening of the film "Batman Begins"
JUNE 16
1930 Birthday of Frank Thorne (Red Sonja)
JUNE 17
1919 First appearance of Barney Google (Billy DeBeck)
1927 Birthday of Wallace Wood (EC Comics)
1950 Birthday of Dana Summers (Bound and Gagged, etc.)
1971 First appearance of Quincy (Ted Shearer)
1971 Peanuts Day proclaimed in San Diego, California
JUNE 18
1956 Birthday of Alan Davis (Batman, Outsiders, Excalibur)
1968 First appearance of "Peppermint" Patty Reichardt in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
JUNE 19
1915 Birthday of Julius Schwartz (DC Comics)
1923 First appearance of Moon Mullins (Frank Willard)
1978 First appearance of Garfield (Jim Davis)
JUNE 20
1910 First appearance of The Dingbat Family (later, Krazy Kat) (George Herriman)
1943 First appearance of Penny (Harry Haenigsen)
JUNE 21
1903 Birthday of Al Hirschfeld (caricaturist)
1957 Birthday of Berke Breathed (Bloom County, Outland)
JUNE 22
1970 Woodstock first referred to by name in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
1972 Birthday of Jae Lee (WildC.A.T.S., Sub-Mariner, Youngblood)
JUNE 23
1934 Birthday of Frank Bolle (Encyclopedia Brown, Winnie Winkle, Juliet Jones)
JUNE 24
1926 Wedding of Walt Wallet & Phyllis Blossom (Gasoline Alley)
JUNE 25
1928 Birthday of Alex Toth (GA Green Lantern, Dr. Mid-Nite, Space Ghost, Herculoids)
JUNE 26
1905 First appearance of A Pilgrim's Progress (Winsor McCay)
1934 Birthday of Bob Weber (Moose Miller)
JUNE 27
1928 Birthday of Joe Giella (Mary Worth, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern)
1959 Birthday of Dan Jurgens (Superman, Metal Men, Zero Hour)
1961 Birthday of Jackson "Butch" Guice (Superman, Ruse)
JUNE 28
1944 Wedding of Skeezix Wallet & Nina Clock (Gasoline Alley)
1971 First appearance of Ziggy (Tom Wilson)
JUNE 29
1964 First appearance of Sniffy (later renamed Norbert) (George Fett)
JUNE 30
1940 First appearance of Brenda Starr (Dale Messick)
JULY 1
1963 First appearance of Mr. Zip, U.S. Postal Service cartoon icon to promote the use of ZIP codes
JULY 2
1997 "Men In Black" movie opens, based on the comic book series by Lowell Cunningham
JULY 3
1940 Superman Day at the New York World's Fair
1953 First 3-D comic book, Three Dimension Comics #1 starring Mighty Mouse, arrives on newsstands
JULY 4
1883 Birthday of Rube Goldberg (Boob McNutt)
JULY 5
1933 Birthday of Shel Dorf (Steve Canyon letterer and originator of San Diego Comic-Con)
1951 Birthday of Michael T. Gilbert (Mr. Monster, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight)
1958 Birthday of Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes)
JULY 6
1950 Birthday of John Byrne (Superman, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Next Men)
JULY 7
1937 First appearance of Abbie an' Slats (Raeburn Van Buren)
1950 Birthday of John Byrne (X-Men, Superman, Fantastic Four)
JULY 8
1918 Birthday of Irwin Hasen (Dondi)
1919 First appearance of Toots and Casper (Jimmy Murphy)
1967 End of Buck Rogers
JULY 9
1909 Birthday of Basil Wolverton (Powerhouse Pepper)
1921 Birthday of Tony DiPreta (Joe Palooka, Rex Morgan M.D.)
1926 Birthday of Murphy Anderson (DC Comics)
1963 First appearance of Fred Basset (Alex Graham)
JULY 10
1914 Birthday of Joe Shuster (Superman)
JULY 11
1923 Birthday of Dan Barry (Daredevil, Airboy, Tarzan, Flash Gordon)
JULY 12
1928 Birthday of Al Scaduto (They'll Do It Every Time)
1993 First appearance of 9 Chickweed Lane (Brooke McEldowney)
JULY 13
1940 Birthday of Mike Ploog (Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night)
JULY 14
1884 Birthday of Dave Fleischer (Betty Boop, Popeye, Superman,Gulliver's Travels)
1910 Birthday of Bill Hanna (Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound)
JULY 15
1925 Birthday of Henry Martin (Good News/Bad News)
JULY 16
1930 Birthday of Jerry Fearing (Rooftop O'Toole)
JULY 17
1871 Birthday of Lyonel Feininger (Wee Willie Winkie's World)
1955 Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California
JULY 18
1948 Birthday of Berni Wrightson (Swamp Thing)
JULY 19
1883 Birthday of Max Fleischer (Betty Boop, Popeye, Superman,Gulliver's Travels)
1928 First appearance of Tailspin Tommy (Glenn Chafin & Hal Forrest)
1950 Birthday of Richard Pini (Elfquest)
1952 Birthday of Bob Burden (Flaming Carrot)
JULY 20
1932 Birthday of Dick Giordano (DC Comics)
1975 End of Pogo (Walt Kelly) (later revived)
JULY 21
1948 Birthday of Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury)
JULY 22
1903 First appearance of The Outbursts of Everett True (A.D. Condo & J.W. Raper)
1941 Birthday of Vaughn Bodé (Cheech Wizard, Deadbone, Powermowerman)
JULY 23
1911 End of Little Nemo in Slumberland (Winsor McCay)
1931 Betty Boop debuts in the cartoon short, "Betty Co-Ed" (Max Fleisher)
1962 Birthday of Dale Keown (Pitt)
JULY 24
1904 First appearance of Little Sammy Sneeze (Winsor McCay)
1917 Birthday of Morrie Brickman (small society)
1935 Birthday of Pat Oliphant (political cartoonist)
JULY 25
1957 Birthday of Ray Billingsley (Curtis)
JULY 26
1910 First brick thrown at Krazy Kat by Ignatz Mouse (George Herriman)
JULY 27
1957 First appearance of Bugs Bunny in the cartoon "A Wild Hare" (Tex Avery)
JULY 28
1915 Birthday of Dick Sprang (Batman)
1933 First appearance of Swee'pea in Thimble Theatre (Elzie Segar)
1945 Birthday of Jim Davis (Garfield)
JULY 29
1945 First appearance of Miss Cairo Jones (Bob Oksner)
1955 Birthday of Dave Stevens (The Rocketeer)
JULY 30
1933 First appearance of Captain Easy (Roy Crane)
JULY 31
1927 Birthday of George Wildman (Popeye)
1933 First appearance of Dickie Dare (Milton Caniff)
AUGUST 1
1931 Birthday of Tom Wilson (Ziggy)
1942 First appearance of Flip Corkin in Terry and the Pirates (Milton Caniff)
AUGUST 2
1984 Peanuts (Charles Schulz) is picked up by the Portsmouth, OH Daily Times, becoming the first comic strip to be carried by 2000 newspapers
1987 Disney rereleased Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs after 50 years, grossing $20 million in its first two weeks
AUGUST 3
1866 Birthday of Russell Westover (Tillie the Toiler)
AUGUST 4
1935 First appearance of Peter Piltdown (later renamed Rocky Stoneaxe) (Mal Eaton)
AUGUST 5
1875 Birthday of Clare Briggs (A. Piker Clerk, Mr. and Mrs., Real Folks at Home)
1924 First appearance of Little Orphan Annie (Harold Gray)
AUGUST 6
1989 End of Bloom County (Berke Breathed)
AUGUST 7
1903 Birthday of Rudolf Ising (Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies)
1933 First appearance of Alley Oop (Vincent T. Hamlin)
AUGUST 8
1988 First appearance of Ada Wallet in Gasoline Alley
AUGUST 9
1957 Birthday of Rick Leonardi (designed Spider-Man 2099)
AUGUST 10
1888 Birthday of Ellison Hoover (Outline of Oscar, Mr. and Mrs.)
AUGUST 11
1902 Birthday of Jack Binder (Mary Marvel)
1917 Birthday of Dik Browne (Hagar the Horrible, Hi and Lois)
1964 Birthday of Jim Lee (WildC.A.T.S.)
AUGUST 12
1996 First appearance of The Norm (Michael Jantze)
AUGUST 13
1919 Birthday of Jim Mooney (Supergirl, Ms. Marvel, Tommy Tomorrow, Dial H for Hero)
1928 First appearance of Tim Tyler's Luck (Lyman Young)
AUGUST 14
1923 First appearance of Felix the Cat (Pat Sullivan)
1926 Birthday of René Goscinny (Asterix)
1950 Birthday of Gary Larson (The Far Side)
AUGUST 15
1941 Motion picture debut of Reg'lar Fellers, based on the strip by Gene Byrnes
AUGUST 16
1890 Birthday of Myron "Grim" Natwick (Betty Boop)
1892 Birthday of Hal Foster (Prince Valiant)
1916 Birthday of Paul Gustavson (Arrow, Black Panther, The Jester)
AUGUST 17
1956 Birthday of John Romita, Jr. (Spider-Man, etc.)
AUGUST 18
1888 Birthday of J.R. Williams (Out Our Way)
AUGUST 19
1906 First appearance of Wee Willie Winkie's World (Lyonel Feininger)
AUGUST 20
1930 Birthday of Bill Rechin (Crock)
1934 First appearance of Li'l Abner (Al Capp)
AUGUST 21
1906 Birthday of Isadore "Friz" Freleng (Porky Pig, Sylvester & Tweety, Pink Panther)
1933 First appearance of Brick Bradford (William Ritt & Clarence Giray)
AUGUST 22
1880 Birthday of George Herriman (Krazy Kat)
1903 Birthday of Samuel "Jerry" Iger (Sheena, etc.)
AUGUST 23
1905 Birthday of Ernie Bushmiller (Fritzi Ritz, Nancy)
AUGUST 24
1941 Birthday of Jim Scancarelli (Gasoline Alley)
1977 First appearance of Agatha Crumm (Bill Hoest)
AUGUST 25
1912 Birthday of Ted Key (Hazel)
1913 Birthday of Walt Kelly (Pogo)
1947 Birthday of Mike Kaluta (The Shadow)
AUGUST 26
1911 Birthday of Otto Binder (Captain Marvel)
1920 Birthday of Brant Parker (Wizard of Id)
1970 First appearance of Momma (Mell Lazarus)
AUGUST 27
1913 Birthday of Negley Cochran (Out Our Way)
AUGUST 28
1917 Birthday of Jack Kirby (Captain America, Fantastic Four, Hulk)
1971 End of Freckles and His Friends (Merrill Blosser)
AUGUST 29
1905 Birthday of Al Taliaferro (Donald Duck comic strip)
AUGUST 30
1936 First appearance of Donald Duck strip (Walt Disney)
1943 Birthday of Robert Crumb (Zap, Fritz the Cat)
AUGUST 31
1902 First appearance of The Captain in The Katzenjammer Kids (Rudolf Dirks)
1908 Birthday of Hugh Harman (Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies)
1942 First episode of The Adventures of Superman radio show
1948 First appearance of the Shmoo in Li'l Abner (Al Capp)
SEPTEMBER 1
1926 Birthday of Gene Colan (Sub-Mariner, Daredevil)
SEPTEMBER 2
1946 Birthday of Walt Simonson (Thor, Batman, Manhunter)
SEPTEMBER 3
1923 Birthday of Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey)
1973 First appearance of Heathcliff (George Gately)
SEPTEMBER 4
1950 First appearance of Beetle Bailey (Mort Walker)
1954 Birthday of Paul Smith (X-Men, The Golden Age)
SEPTEMBER 5
1950 Birthday of Cathy Guisewite (Cathy)
1965 First appearance of Eek and Meek (Howie Schneider)
SEPTEMBER 6
1937 Birthday of Sergio Aragones (Mad Magazine, Groo the Wanderer)
SEPTEMBER 7
1966 Birthday of Barry Blair (creator/publisher of Night Wynd Comics)
SEPTEMBER 8
1908 Birthday of Austin Briggs (Secret Agent X-9, Flash Gordon)
1941 DC Comics filed suit against Fawcett for copyright infringement, claiming that Captain Marvel was a Superman rip-off.
SEPTEMBER 9
1917 Birthday of Frank Robbins (Johnny Hazard, Batman)
1934 First appearance of Little King (Otto Soglow)
1955 Birthday of Michael John Kricfalusi (Ren and Stimpy)
1968 First appearance of The Lockhorns (Bill Hoest)
1979 First appearance of For Better or For Worse (Lynn Johnston)
SEPTEMBER 10
1904 First appearance of Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend (Winsor McCay)
1928 First appearance of Vanilla and the Villains (Darrell McClure)
SEPTEMBER 11
1923 Birthday of Alex Kotzky (Apartment 3-G)
1930 Birthday of Jean-Claude Forest (Barbarella)
1988 First appearance of One Big Happy (Rick Detorie)
SEPTEMBER 12
1932 Milton Caniff took over Mister Gilfeather from Al Capp
SEPTEMBER 13
1947 Birthday of Mike Grell (Warlord, Jon Sable, Green Arrow, Legion of Super-Heroes)
1958 Debut of Steve Canyon TV show
SEPTEMBER 14
1947 Birthday of Jeff MacNelly (Shoe)
SEPTEMBER 15
1916 First appearance of Mutt and Jeff (formerly Mr. A. Mutt) (Bud Fisher)
1930 First appearance of Blondie (Chic Young)
1964 Steve Canyon Day at the New York World's Fair
SEPTEMBER 16
1960 Birthday of Kurt Busiek (Astro City)
1960 Birthday of Mike Mignola (Hulk, Batman, Phantom Stranger)
SEPTEMBER 17
1931 Hal Foster took over Tarzan Sundays from Rex Maxon
1947 Birthday of Jeff MacNelly (Shoe)
SEPTEMBER 18
1926 Birthday of Joe Kubert (Hawkman, Sgt. Rock, founder of the Joe Kubert School)
1952 First appearance of Linus Van Pelt in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
1964 First episode of Addams Family TV show
SEPTEMBER 19
1992 First appearance of Dave (David Miller)
SEPTEMBER 20
1901 Birthday of Gus Edson (Dondi)
1915 First appearance of Freckles and His Friends (Merrill Blosser)
1920 Birthday of Jay Ward (Rocky & Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle)
1920 First appearance of Winnie Winkle (Martin Branner)
1965 First appearance of Moose (Bob Weber)
1990 First episode of The Flash TV show
SEPTEMBER 21
1893 Birthday of Frank Willard (Moon Mullins)
1911 Birthday of animator Chuck Jones
1920 Birthday of Jay Ward (Rocky & Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, George of the Jungle)
SEPTEMBER 22
1922 Birthday of Bill Elder (EC, Mad)
SEPTEMBER 23
1935 episode Leslie Charteris took over writing of Secret Agent X-9
1956 Birthday of Peter David (Hulk, Aquaman, Supergirl, Atlantis Chronicles)
SEPTEMBER 24
1924 Wedding of Boob McNutt & Pearl (Rube Goldberg)
SEPTEMBER 25
1938 First episode of Terry and the Pirates radio show
1959 First appearance of Dondi (Gus Edson and Irwin Hasen)
SEPTEMBER 26
1869 Birthday of Winsor McCay (Little Nemo in Slumberland, Gertie the Dinosaur)
1924 First appearance of "Daddy" Warbucks in Little Orphan Annie (Harold Gray)
SEPTEMBER 27
1840 Birthday of Thomas Nast, "Father of the American Cartoon"
1994 Crumb, a film documentary about Robert Crumb, debuts in New York
SEPTEMBER 28
1909 Birthday of Al Capp (Li'l Abner)
1952 End of The Spirit newspaper section (Will Eisner)
1961 First episode of Hazel TV show, based on the Ted Key comic panel
SEPTEMBER 29
1926 Birthday of Russ Heath (Sgt. Rock)
SEPTEMBER 30
1934 End of Boob McNutt (Rube Goldberg)
1960 The Flintstones, the first animated prime-time TV series, debuts
1968 First appearance of Bull Tales (Garry Trudeau) in Yale Daily News (later becomes Doonesbury)
OCTOBER 1
1933 First appearance of On the Wing (later, Smilin' Jack) (Zack Mosley)
1940 Birthday of Richard Corben (Heavy Metal, etc.)
1949 Wedding of Corky Wallet & Hope Hassel (Gasoline Alley)
1971 Disneyworld opened in Orlando, Florida
1984 First appearance of Mother Goose and Grimm (Mike Peters)
1994 First appearance of Thatch (Jeff Shesol)
OCTOBER 2
1898 Birthday of Frank Miller (Barney Baxter)
1909 Birthday of Alex Raymond (Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Rip Kirby)
1950 First appearance of Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
OCTOBER 3
1924 Birthday of Harvey Kurtzman (Mad Magazine)
1967 Birthday of Rob Liefield (co-founder of Image Comics)
1988 First appearance of Safe Havens (Bill Holbrook)
OCTOBER 4
1931 First appearance of Dick Tracy (Chester Gould)
1948 First appearance of Pogo (in the New York Star only) (Walt Kelly)
1950 First appearance of Snoopy in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
1959 First episode of Dennis the Menace TV show
OCTOBER 5
1922 Birthday of Bil Keane (Family Circus)
1970 First appearance of Lt. Flap in Beetle Bailey (Mort Walker)
OCTOBER 6
1959 Birthday of Adam Kubert
OCTOBER 7
1989 End of Buz Sawyer (Roy Crane)
OCTOBER 8
1939 Birthday of Harvey Pekar (American Splendor)
OCTOBER 9
1922 First appearance of Fritzi Ritz (Meyer Marcus & Larry Whittington)
1938 Birthday of Russell Myers (Broom-Hilda)
1943 Birthday of Mike Peters (Mother Goose and Grimm)
1949 Birthday of Jim Starlin (Dreadstar, Marvel's Captain Marvel)
OCTOBER 10
1965 First appearance of Snoopy vs. the Red Baron (Charles Schulz)
OCTOBER 11
1913 Birthday of Joe Simon (Captain America)
OCTOBER 12
1917 Birthday of Roger Armstrong (Ella Cinders, Napoleon, Little Lulu)
OCTOBER 13
1885 Birthday of Harry Hershfield (Abie the Agent, Desperate Desmond)
1909 Birthday of Herbert Block ("Herblock")
OCTOBER 14
1872 Birthday of Sol Hess (The Nebbs)
OCTOBER 15
1905 First appearance of Little Nemo in Slumberland (Winsor McCay)
OCTOBER 16
1920 Birthday of Nick Cardy (Aquaman, Teen Titans, Batman, Bat Lash)
1926 Birthday of Joe Sinnott (Fantastic Four, etc.)
1941 Death of Raven Sherman in Terry and the Pirates (Milton Caniff)
OCTOBER 17
1914 Birthday of Jerry Siegel (Superman, Spectre)
1920 Birthday of John Prentice (Rip Kirby)
1937 First appearance of Huey, Dewey, and Louie in the Donald Duck comic strip
1958 Birthday of Bill Holbrook (On the Fastrack, Safe Havens)
OCTOBER 18
1926 First appearance of Skippy (Percy Crosby)
1954 First appearance of Hi and Lois (Mort Walker and Dik Browne)
OCTOBER 19
1961 Birthday of Mike Manley (Batman, Darkhawk)
OCTOBER 20
1889 Birthday of Frank Godwin (Connie)
1906 Birthday of Crockett Johnson (Barnaby, Harold and the Purple Crayon)
OCTOBER 21
1956 Birthday of Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes)
OCTOBER 22
1934 First appearance of Terry and the Pirates (Milton Caniff)
OCTOBER 23
1920 Birthday of Bob Montana (Archie)
1958 First appearance of the Smurfs (Les Schtroumpfs) in the French magazine Spirou (Pierre Culliford, AKA Peyo)
OCTOBER 24
1916 Birthday of Bob Kane (Batman)
1956 First Jules Feiffer cartoon appears in the Village Voice
1961 First appearance of Sam's Strip (Jerry Dumas & Mort Walker)
OCTOBER 25
1943 First appearance of Batman strip (Bob Kane)
OCTOBER 26
1931 Birthday of Larry Lieber (Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Spider-Man)
1954 Comics Code adopted by Comics Magazine Association of America
1970 First appearance of Doonesbury (Garry Trudeau)
1970 First appearance of Momma (Mell Lazarus)
1994 First appearance of Far Side TV special (Gary Larson)
OCTOBER 27
1954 "Disneyland" (later renamed "The Wonderful World of Disney") debuts on ABC-TV
1966 first broadcast of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
OCTOBER 28
1913 First appearance of Krazy Kat (replaced The Dingbat Family) (George Herriman)
1925 Birthday of Leonard Starr (On Stage, Annie)
1946 First appearance of Lena the Hyena (Basil Wolverton) in LIFE Magazine
OCTOBER 29
1916 First appearance of Rosie's Beau (George McManus)
1921 Birthday of Bill Mauldin (Willie & Joe)
OCTOBER 30
1922 First appearance of Stumble Inn (George Herriman)
1987 First appearance of Calvin as Stupendous Man in Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)
OCTOBER 31
1938 Al Andriola took over Charlie Chan
NOVEMBER 1
1937 Terry and the Pirates radio show debuts on NBC's Red Network
1943 First appearance of Buz Sawyer (Roy Crane)
NOVEMBER 2
1927 Birthday of Steve Ditko (Spider-Man)
NOVEMBER 3
1897 Birthday of Franklin O. Alexander (Hairbreadth Harry)
1916 Birthday of Harry Lampert (The Flash)
NOVEMBER 4
1929 First appearance of Flying to Fame (Ernest Henderson)
1940 First appearance of Daisy Duck in the Donald Duck comic strip
1974 End of Etta Kett (Paul D. Robinson)
NOVEMBER 5
1938 Birthday of James Steranko (Nick Fury, etc.)
1939 First Superman Sunday strip (Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster)
NOVEMBER 6
1938 First appearance of Red Ryder (Fred Harman)
1972 First appearance of Frank and Ernest (Bob Thaves)
NOVEMBER 7
1874 First Republican elephant cartoon appeared in Harper's Weekly
1975 First episode of Wonder Woman TV show starring Lynda Carter
1987 First episode of Sable TV show (based on Jon Sable, Freelance by Mike Grell)
NOVEMBER 8
1980 "Richie Rich" animated cartoon series debuts
2002 "The Tick" live-action TV series debuts on the Fox Network
NOVEMBER 9
1919 Felix the Cat debuts in "Feline Follies"
1921 Birthday of Stan Drake (Heart of Juliet Jones, Blondie)
1964 First appearance of Wizard of Id (Brant Parker & Johnny Hart)
NOVEMBER 10
1906 Birthday of Frank Engli (Popeye, Betty Boop, Rocky, Looking Back)
NOVEMBER 11
1943 Birthday of Dave Cockrum (Legion of Super-Heroes, X-Men)
1952 Birthday of Keith Giffen (Legion of Super-Heroes, Justice League, Ambush Bug, Heckler)
1977 First TV appearance of animated Doonesbury special (Garry Trudeau)
NOVEMBER 12
1908 Birthday of James "Shamus" Culhane (Andy Panda, Betty Boop, Popeye, Woody Woodpecker)
1932 Birthday of Bunny Hoest (The Lockhorns, Howard Huge, Agatha Crumm)
1945 First appearance of Ozark Ike (Ray Gotto)
NOVEMBER 13
1927 First appearance of Connie (Frank Godwin)
1939 First appearance of Sadie Hawkins Day in Li'l Abner (Al Capp)
1940 Fantasia made its world premiere in New York
1947 Birthday of Greg Evans (Luann)
1972 First appearance of Boomer (Bill Brown & Mel Casson)
1977 End of Li'l Abner (Al Capp)
NOVEMBER 14
1951 Lucy yanks the football away from Charlie Brown for the first time in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
NOVEMBER 15
1907 First appearance of Mr. A. Mutt (later, Mutt and Jeff)(Bud Fisher)
1915 Birthday of Martin Nodell (Golden Age Green Lantern)
NOVEMBER 16
1902 The Teddy bear was introduced by political cartoonist Clifford Berryman
1935 Last Secret Agent X-9 written by Leslie Charteris
NOVEMBER 17
1934 First appearance of Snuffy Smith in Barney Google (Billy DeBeck)
1958 First appearance of Short Ribs (Frank O'Neal)
NOVEMBER 18
1928 Steamboat Willie (the cartoon debut of Mickey Mouse) premiered at the Colony Theater in New York
1985 First appearance of Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)
NOVEMBER 19
1961 First mention of the Little Red Haired Girl in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
1984 First appearance of Betty Boop and Felix (Mort Walker)
NOVEMBER 20
1900 Birthday of Chester Gould (Dick Tracy)
1995 First appearance of Stone Soup (Jan Eliot)
NOVEMBER 21
1948 Birthday of Bob Weber, Jr. (Comics For Kids)
NOVEMBER 22
1899 Birthday of Walter Berndt (Smitty)
1901 Birthday of Roy Crane (Captain Easy, Buz Sawyer, Wash Tubbs)
1940 Birthday of Roy Thomas (Conan, Invaders, All-Star Squadron)
1942 First appearance of Fearless Fosdick in Li'l Abner (Al Capp)
1976 First appearance of Cathy (Cathy Guisewite)
NOVEMBER 23
1950 Birthday of John Roman (Gunther)
NOVEMBER 24
1918 First appearance of Gasoline Alley (Frank King)
1941 First appearance of Gordo (Gus Arriola)
NOVEMBER 25
1911 Birthday of Dr. Athelstan Spilhaus (Our New Age)
NOVEMBER 26
1922 Birthday of Charles Schulz (Peanuts)
1986 Wedding of Adam Wallet & Teeka Tok (Gasoline Alley)
NOVEMBER 27
1922 First appearance of Smitty (Walter Berndt)
1950 First appearance of The Jackson Twins (Dick Brooks)
1977 First television broadcast of A Doonesbury Special
NOVEMBER 28
1957 Birthday of Jerry Ordway (Superman, All-Star Squadron, Captain Marvel)
NOVEMBER 29
1888 Birthday of Martin Branner (Winnie Winkle)
1915 Birthday of Gill Fox (Popeye, Betty Boop, political cartoons)
1985 First appearance of Calvin as Spaceman Spiff in Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)
NOVEMBER 30
1951 Birthday of Craig Russell (Sandman)
1992 First appearance of Close to Home (John McPherson)
DECEMBER 1
1941 First appearance of Vic Jordan (Kermit Jaediker, Charles Zerner, and Elmer Wexler)
1983 Rover Bump adopted by the Skinners in Gasoline Alley
DECEMBER 2
1917 First appearance of The Kewpies (Rose O'Neill)
1924 Birthday of Jack Davis (MAD Magazine)
DECEMBER 3
1933 First appearance of Cicero's Cat (Mutt and Jeff spinoff) (Al Smith)
2001 First appearance of Pibgorn (Brooke McEldowney)
DECEMBER 4
1912 First appearance of Polly and Her Pals (Cliff Sterrett)
DECEMBER 5
1901 Birthday of Walt Disney (Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck)
1932 First appearance of Alley Oop (V.T. Hamlin)
DECEMBER 6
1929 Birthday of Frank Springer (Phoebe Zeit-Geist, Virtue of Vera Valiant)
DECEMBER 7
1992 First appearance of Galacto Guys (Steve Cole)
DECEMBER 8
1891 Birthday of Percy Crosby (Skippy)
1894 Birthday of Elzie Segar (Thimble Theatre/Popeye)
1945 End of Skippy (Percy Crosby)
1962 Birthday of Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon)
1980 First appearance of Bloom County (Berke Breathed)
DECEMBER 9
1945 First appearance of "Mystery Man" Basil St. John in Brenda Starr (Dale Messick)
1965 First Peanuts TV special (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
1991 First appearance of Betty (Gary Delainey & Jerry Rasmussen)
DECEMBER 10
1917 Birthday of Bill Crooks (Captain Easy)
1920 Birthday of Dan Spiegle (Hopalong Cassidy, Blackhawk, Nemesis, Crossfire)
1921 Birthday of Matt Baker (Phantom Lady)
DECEMBER 11
1904 Birthday of Marge Buell (Little Lulu)
1923 Birthday of Morrie Turner (Wee Pals)
1927 Birthday of John Buscema (Marvel Comics)
DECEMBER 12
1883 Birthday of Cliff Sterrett (Polly and Her Pals)
1897 First appearance of Katzenjammer Kids (Rudolf Dirks)
1906 Birthday of Zack Mosley (Smilin' Jack)
1909 Birthday of Dick Moores (Gasoline Alley)
DECEMBER 13
1959 Wedding of Mary Perkins (...On Stage) & Pete Fletcher (Leonard Starr)
DECEMBER 14
1918 Birthday of Jack Cole (Plastic Man)
DECEMBER 15
1911 Birthday of Nicholas Dallis (Rex Morgan M.D., Apartment 3-G)
1920 Birthday of Kurt Schaffenberger (Captain Marvel, Lois Lane, Superman)
DECEMBER 16
1918 First appearance of Somebody's Stenog (A.E. Hayward)
1934 First appearance of Dragon Lady in Terry and the Pirates (Milton Caniff)
1935 Gus Edson takes over as artist on The Gumps
1940 First appearance of Spunkie (Loy Byrnes)
DECEMBER 17
1949 Birthday of Greg Walker (Beetle Bailey)
1989 First Simpsons TV special, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (Matt Groening)
DECEMBER 18
1905 Birthday of Ferd Johnson (Moon Mullins)
DECEMBER 19
1918 First appearance of Ripley's Believe It or Not
1919 First appearance of Thimble Theatre (Elzie Segar)
DECEMBER 20
1908 Birthday of John Duncan (Strangely Enough, Jungo)
1940 Captain America Comics #1 hit the newsstands
1949 Clark Kent marries Lois Lane in the "Superman" newspaper strip
DECEMBER 21
1921 Birthday of John Severin (Two-Fisted Tales, Cracked)
1937 Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs debuted in Hollywood
1950 First appearance of Charlie Brown's famous zigzag-striped shirt
1994 "Richie Rich" movie released in theaters
DECEMBER 22
1941 Pep Comics #22 hit the stands, the first appearance of Archie Andrews
1963 End of Pete the Tramp (Clarence D. Russell)
DECEMBER 23
1900 Birthday of Otto Soglow (Little King)
DECEMBER 24
1880 Birthday of Johnny Gruelle (Raggedy Ann)
1949 Wedding of Dick Tracy & Tess Trueheart (Chester Gould)
DECEMBER 25
1911 Birthday of Burne Hogarth (Tarzan, Miracle Jones)
DECEMBER 26
1894 Birthday of Russell Patterson
DECEMBER 27
1918 Birthday of John Celardo (Kaanga, Tarzan, Lassie, Buz Sawyer)
DECEMBER 28
1888 Birthday of Martin Branner (Winnie Winkle)
1922 Birthday of Stan Lee (Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Dr. Strange)
DECEMBER 29
1913 First appearance of Jerry on the Job (Walter C. Hoban)
1946 George Wunder took over Terry and the Pirates from Milton Caniff
DECEMBER 30
2001 First appearance of Pearls Before Swine (Stephan Pastis)
DECEMBER 31
1933 First appearance of Smilin' Jack (formerly On the Wing) (Zack Mosley)
1995 End of Calvin and Hobbes
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