Origins...
The origins of the very first comic strip is foggy, but Rodolphe Töpffer is often credited with being the first.
Rodolphe Töpffer was a Swiss schoolmaster, born in 1799 and died in 1846.
His first creation, The Loves of Mr. Vieux Boismade was created in 1827 and published in 1837 was the first comic strip created, but his Story of Mr. Jabot, was credited in 1835 as the very first comic strip.
How can the Comic Strip be identified?
The comic strip style is typically minimalistic, with little to no complicated details. The comic strip contains panels, or squares that each part of the comic or story is illustrated in.
A comic can have as little as 1 panel, which is called a Splash Page.
Comics can be about anything, and more often than not rely on visuals instead of text to get the message or story across.
A simple way to describe the Comic Strip style is an illustrated story.
How is it used Today?
Comic Art is used in ways such as Newspaper comics, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, or one-off Comics.
Some of the most popular Comic books are Marvel and DC comic books.
Some of the most popular comic series are Garfield, Blondie, Pickles, Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, For Better or For Worse and Doonesbury.
Many of these artists use this style to represent worlds they've created and stories they've written, especially if they struggle with descriptive literature.
Why do we care?
Well, the comic art style is one that many people enjoy. It is an easy way to tell a story visually, and many of our most beloved stories started out as comics! After all, we wouldn't have Charlie Brown or Garfield without them.
A Major Event
On April 1st, 1997, multiple comic artists decided they wanted to create an April Fool's Day to remember.
To do this, many Comic Artists and Writers traded strips without the knowledge of their editors.
This prank was masterminded by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott, creators of Baby Blues and had at least 46 artists participate.
Fun Facts: Peanuts
Did you know Peanuts, made by Charles M. Schulz, began publication on October 2nd, 1950? Peanuts is 72 years and one month old as of November 2nd, 2022. Isn't that incredible!
Fun Fact: Garfield
Garfield made a guest appearance in comic Blondie in 2005 in honor of their 75th anniversary.
A few years before, Blondie and Garfield both made cameos in the others comic as a part of the Comic strip switcheroo.
Fun Fact: Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes won Bill Watterson the Humor Comic Strip Award for 1988, along with the Sproing Award in 1988, the Adamson Award in 1991 and the Harvey Award, from 1993 to 1996.
The History of American Comics
The History of Newspaper Comics