The More You Know Monday (“This Curious World” by William Ferguson):

In "Dick Tracy," femme fatale Breathless Mahoney first appeared on May 11, 1945. (Madonna portrayed her more than four decades later in the 1990 theatrical movie.) Here’s her introductory sequence:

Fritzi and Nancy Before Sluggo (“Fritzi Ritz” strips from May 1-6, 1933):

Slice-of-Life Sunday:

Art Sansom's "The Born Loser" first appeared on May 10, 1965. The strip certainly had quite a different look at first than it had at its peak popularity in the years to come! Here’s the first week of dailies:

Our tribute to great cartoon mothers (and mother figures). Happy Mother’s Day!

Sluggo Saturday (“Nancy” strips from April 23-28, 1945):

Ben Franklin’s “Join, or Die”—arguably US history’s most iconic political cartoon—was first published in his Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754. It has been endlessly reinterpreted over the years, but its message of strength through unity remains timely and essential, perhaps today more than ever.

Riverdale Week in Review (“Archie” strips from May 9-14, 1949):

Preach, sister.

The Friday Flop:

Wonder Woman's debut as a newspaper comic strip came on May 8, 1944 (following her blockbuster 1941 comic book debut). Here’s the first strip:

"Betty Brown, Ph.G." by Boody Rogers, originally published on May 16, 1938, and titled "Bargain Day." Go to bettybrownbook.com and enter the code BOOKMARK15 at checkout—valid through tomorrow—to get 15% off your copy of The Complete Betty Brown, Ph.G. in paperback or hardcover.

Wordless Wednesday:

In Roy Crane's "Wash Tubbs," Captain Easy first appeared (at least, his face did) on May 6, 1929. The charismatic Easy would soon take over the Sunday page (as "Captain Easy, Soldier of Fortune") and come to dominate the strip. Here’s his initial sequence:

Vintage ad (Mort Drucker for General Electric):

Topper Tuesday (“Babe ‘n’ Horace,” topper to “Boots and Her Buddies”):

R.F. Outcault’s Hogan’s Alley first appeared in color on May 5, 1895, in the New York World. (The character who would develop into the iconic Yellow Kid is visible—in a blue tunic—at the lower right. He wouldn’t appear in yellow until November of that year.)

The More You Know Monday (“This Curious World” by William Ferguson):

In "Dick Tracy," Bonny Braids--Tracy's firstborn daughter--was born (in the backseat of a police car) 75 years ago, on May 4, 1951. Her popularity soon afterward spawned a doll.

“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it all started with a mose.”

Fritzi and Nancy Before Sluggo (“Fritzi Ritz” strips from April 24-29, 1933):

Slice-of-Life Sunday:

Wimpy first appeared in "Thimble Theatre" (unnamed, and then as a boxing referee) 95 years ago, on May 3, 1931.

Sluggo Saturday (“Nancy” strips from April 16-21, 1945):

Morrie Brickman's "The Small Society" first appeared 60 years ago, on May 2, 1966. (He produced it until 1985, when Bill Yates took it over until it ended in 1998.) Here are the first dailies:

It’s Free Comic Book Day, and we’ll help you take part from home! Send us an e-mail ([email protected]) TODAY with your mailing address, and we’ll mail you a FREE issue of Hogan’s Alley! (We MUST receive your request on May 2. This offer is valid for all US addresses, whether you subscribe or not.)

Riverdale Week in Review (“Archie” strips from May 2-7, 1949):

The Friday Flop:

Jackie Ormes's strip "Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem” first appeared on May 1, 1937. Torchy wasn’t syndicated in the usual sense, but because her paper--the Black-owned Pittsburgh Courier--had national editions, she basically was syndicated. Here are the first two strips:

It’s almost May! Courtesy of Morrell’s, a May 1942 calendar that works in 2026.

"Betty Brown, Ph.G." by Boody Rogers, originally published on May 9, 1938, and titled "Psychic Papa."

In Sidney Smith’s “The Gumps,” Mary Gold died on April 30, 1929. Her death was one of the first to occur in a major comic strip, and it precipitated a huge reader reaction. Here’s that strip and the ensuing days’ strips:

Some relationship advice as valid in 2026 as it was in 1933. You’re welcome, ladies.

Wordless Wednesday:

"Sparky Watts," Boody Rogers’ take on superhero comics (and arguably the first superhero parody), debuted on April 29, 1940. Here are some examples (note the final panel, to give newspapers formatting flexibility). Note how Miss Cobra resembles Boody’s depiction of Betty Brown, and also his Babe.

Millie the Model delivers your periodic reminder that kerning matters.

The folks behind the Eisner Awards are requiring prospective voters to apply to vote in this year's competition. The cutoff is May 13, before this year's nominees are announced. If you're qualified and interested in voting, here's the application URL: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Topper Tuesday (“Laura,” topper to “Felix”):

Bill Blackbeard, founder of the San Francisco Academy of Comic Art and a seminal figure in the preservation of early newspaper cartooning, was born 100 years ago, on April 28, 1926.

The More You Know Monday (“This Curious World” by William Ferguson):

Stan Lynde's "Rick O'Shay" first appeared (initially as a Sunday-only strip) on April 27, 1958. Here’s the premiere:

Fritzi and Nancy Before Sluggo (“Fritzi Ritz” strips from April 17-22, 1933):

Slice-of-Life Sunday:

Charles Schulz wrote a letter to schoolteacher Harriet Glickman on April 26, 1968, addressing the challenge of adding a black character to the cast of "Peanuts." Although Franklin first appeared that July, Schulz's letter then sounded anything but optimistic.

Good ol’ Charile Brown.

Sluggo Saturday (“Nancy” strips from April 9-14, 1945):

“Sylvia” cartoonist Nicole Hollander was born on April 25, 1939.

Riverdale Week in Review (“Archie” strips from April 25-30, 1949):

The Friday Flop: