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Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics were mans first known forms of writing. The ancient egyptians used hieroglyphics to tell stories through picture. For thousands of years the majority of people were illiterate. Pictures and cartoons were the best way of spreading information to large groups of people. -
Earliest North American Cartoon
The Earliest documented American Cartoon was The Burning of Mr. John Rogers. It was published in the Puritan Era Children's Book in 1646. -
Poor Richards Almanac
Poor Richards Almanac was published by Ben Franklin. The publication used satircal cartoons to advance the cause of the American Revolution. This was the start of political cartoons in newspapers and other publications. -
Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck
Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck The first major graphic novel was the Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck. The novel was created by Rodolphe Jonathan. This comic first appeared in a weekly humor magazine called Brother Jonathan. The cartoons were captioned. -
The Little Bears and Tigers
The Little Bears and Tigers was the first newspaper comic strip to be published. It was run by the San Francisco Examiner. The cartoon was created by Jimmy Swinnerton. -
Down in Hogan's Alley
Down in Hogan's Alley, created by Richard Outcault, was the first successful comic series- Richard Outcault. The comic appeared in Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World. The comic consisted of a single picture of an Urban Slum. This "slum" was the central character also known as "The Yellow Kid". The character was a bald,mischeivious child. -
The Katzenjammer Kids
Example of Katzenjammer Kids Cartoon Rudolph Dirk created the comic strip, The Katzenjammer Kids, in 1897. This was the first comic strip to make regular use of speech balloons. The comic was about a set of twin brothers named Hans and Fritz. It tells the story through a series of different panels. Katzenjammer Kids is still running in some publications today. -
Lyonel Feininger and Winsor McCoy
In 1906, Lyonel Feininger and Winsor McCoy, began creating many different cartoons. “Wee Willie Winkie’s World” and “The Kinder Kids” were two of their strips created at this time.
Little Nemo in Slumberland was the first comic with a continuing story. There is now a movie that is loosely based off of this comic strip.
◦one of the most richly illustrated comic strips of a ll time -
Mutt and Jeff
Animated Mutt and Jeff Clip Mutt and Jeff, created in 1907 was the first successful daily comic strip. This comic strip became a series of animated films in 1913.For its first year, the strip was called A. Mutt. Jeff was introduced in 1908. Mutt and Jeff was published until 1982. -
Krazy Kat
Animated Krazy Kat Clip The comic strip Krazy Kat started as filller drawings at the bottom of the Dingbat Family.In 1913, George Herriman made the comic its own published strip. The strip was based on the characters Ignatz Mouse, Krazy Kat, and Offissa Pup. This strip had a small fan based and was carried by Kress Sydnicate until 1944. -
Gasoline Alley
In 1919, Frank King created Gasoline Alley. This was the first comic strip that the characters aged with the times. For example, the comic strip showed the characters getting married, going to war, having children and so on. -
Gasoline Alley 2
Example of Progression -
Winnie Winkle
Winnie Winkle was a comic strip that demonstrated the idea of women working to support their families. It was not the first comic strip to address this issue but it was the first strip to gain widespread attention. A couple of examples of the Winnie Winkle Comic -
Little Orphan Annie
Video of Comic Strips In 1924 the comic strip, Little orpahn Annie, was created by Harold Gray. It was a story of an orphan that goes from Rags to Riches. The comic strip has also now been made a movie, musical, and radio show.
