Real America Comic Strip News – Afternoon Edition with Updates
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Featuring Beetle Bailey (now updated), Peanuts (this too has an update), Hogan’s Alley, Nemo, Comics Revue, Extra Ordinary Comics, MazeToons, Popeye, and I Hate Fairyland with corresponding cartoonists.
75 Years of Beetle Bailey
“Beetle Bailey” is the rare popular culture touchstone that has been embedded in daily life since its debut on Sept. 4, 1950.
CT Insider publishes the Hearst Media press release on Beetle Bailey‘s 75th anniversary. (Or here.)
Seventy-five years later, “Beetle Bailey” now follows orders from Walker’s sons, Brian, Greg and Neal.
“Beetle Bailey began on September 4, 1950 and was produced by my father for 67 years, three months and 12 days — that’s 24, 576 strips — making it the longest tenure of any cartoonist on his original creation. It is an honor to continue this classic comic with my brothers Greg and Neal,” Brian Walker said Wednesday.
“Beetle Bailey” debuted a month before “Peanuts” in an era when comic strips were transitioning from storylines to punchlines.
Perhaps in another month Comics Kingdom will get their Beetle Bailey page in a tighter formation:
Beetle Bailey Update:
When “Beetle Bailey” debuted in 1950, it was a college strip about a lanky underachiever who wanted to do as little as possible. Six months later, creator Mort Walker had Beetle enlist in the Army during the Korean War.
From that moment on, the reluctant private became one of the most recognizable characters in American comics, embodying the frustrations, absurdities and humor of military life.
Clay Beyersdorfer at the Military Times celebrates Mort Walker’s 75 year old boot camp private.
“It’s our entire life, almost,” Greg Walker said. “The strip was created soon after I was born. I’ve been here from the beginning. I started writing when I was in college more than 50 years ago, and it’s always been a part of us.”
For Neal Walker, who joined the strip’s creative process later, the evolution of characters like Miss Buxley showed how the strip could adapt.
“She started as more of a one-dimensional secretary,” Neal said. “Over time, we responded to feedback, made her more independent, more of a real person. That was important. The strip has always had to evolve.”
“The syndicate really played it up,” Brian Walker said. “There was all this publicity about whether the military had a sense of humor. That’s when the strip really took off.”
“People always ask why Beetle hasn’t deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan,” Brian said. “We keep him in basic training because that’s the one thing everyone in the military can relate to.”
From Camp Swampy to Hogan’s Alley
This is no longer a preorder. We’ve received the printing and are busy preparing the mailing. Please act now to ensure that you get a copy!
Hogan’s Alley #24 has arrived! Well, not in my mailbox but at the massive Bull Moose distribution facility. Perhaps it will arrive on Rosh Hashanah and we can read Tom Hientjes’ editorial appeal of forgiveness for making us wait this long on the next issue of the world’s greatest current comics fanzine.
Hogan’s Alley #24 features a fascinating history of Tijuana bibles, a look at little-known aspects of “Peanuts” and Charles Schulz, an exploration of the very first superhero, the comics career of Laurel and Hardy, Bob Hope’s side gig in comic books, and so much more. And who was the first superhero? Trust us, you don’t want to miss this issue!
So Rick Marschall – where’s the new issue of Nemo?
As for Rick Norwood’s Comics Revue we get an update from Chronicle Chamber:
… it has basically been confirmed that the magazine will not continue publication. Thanks to some eager fans we have been able to find the covers that were created for the last two magazines that never saw distribution. The last cover (April 2025) was drawn by Phantom artist Jeremy Macpherson.
Interlude
The Amazing Mr. Wos
… but ultimately they teach us patience and persistence. I think those are the most important qualities to succeed at anything. Solving a simple maze gives us a sense of accomplishment, we are rewarded for patience and persistence. That’s an important lesson to learn.
Famed MazeToons and the Cartoon Academy cartoonist Joe Wos is interviewed by Sue at PghLesbian.
You are a man of many talents – mazes, cartoons, museum curator, educator, author, and more. Do you remember your first drawing?
Snoopy. Charles M. Schulz is the reason I became a cartoonist. I loved snoopy and still do.
Special note that Joe created a custom maze to celebrate our 15th blogiversary which was a great honor. Can you solve it?
From Hearst’s Kingdom to Young’s Fairyland
PORTLAND, Ore. 09/03/2025 — Eisner Award winning Skottie Young will bring Popeye the Sailor Man aboard the upcoming I Hate Fairyland #45. This spinach-fueled issue will feature guest cartoonist Jay Fosgitt (Marvel Fairy Tales, Bodie Troll [and Luann]) and will weigh anchor in October from Image Comics.
Public domain Popeye (I’m guessing, though the “spinach-fueled” mention confuses me) guest stars in issue number 45 of I Hate Fairyland by Scottie Young and Jay Fosgitt.
I Hate Fairyland #45’s inclusion of Popeye is just the latest in a series of cameo appearances made by some of the most beloved, iconic characters of all time. Young has also featured Dorothy and Toto from The Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Steamboat Willie’s Mickey Mouse, and more.
Peanuts Activities for the 75th Update
A press release from Peanuts Worldwide via Street Insider:
New York, New York–(Newsfile Corp. – September 4, 2025) – Peanuts, the beloved comic strip by Charles Schulz, celebrates its 75th anniversary on October 2, 2025. On its debut, the strip appeared in just seven newspapers around the U.S. then went on to become a universally loved global phenomenon (and Snoopy quickly became an international icon!).
You undoubtedly have many Peanuts fans among your readers, viewers, and listeners, who would enjoy celebrating this momentous anniversary through the diverse activities that allow them to engage with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gangand all of which have roots in Charles Schulz’ original comic strip.
ACTIVITIES
- Hospital Art Program
- Launched five years ago as part of Take Care With Peanuts…
- Red Cross x PEANUTS t-shirt promotion
- From now through September 21, anyone who comes to a Red Cross location to donate blood will receive an exclusive Red Cross x PEANUTS mystery bag…
- 75 years of Peanuts trivia
- All Peanuts activities, initiatives, promotions, and events derive directly from themes found in Charles Schulz’ comic strip, including fashion, politics, the environment, sports, health and fitness, and much more…
- Peanuts/Canine Companions/Goodyear Blimp event
- In a unique partnership between Canine Companions (celebrating its 50th anniversary of training and pairing service dogs with clients with disabilities), Peanuts (75th anniversary) and the Goodyear Blimp (100th anniversary), a group of puppies will travel via the Goodyear Blimp from…
- Take Care With Peanuts
- This initiative launched in 2020 as part of Peanuts’ 70th anniversary activities, and culminating with the 75th encourages everyone to be good global citizens by taking care of yourself, taking care of others, and taking care of the earth…
- Specialty and retro merchandise
- A number of seasonal Peanuts-themed products evoke the nostalgia and humor of the strip’s earliest daysincluding a specialty Peanuts x Red Flyer wagon; Peanuts-themed UNO and Clue games; and a Charlie Brown Christmas tabletop decoration…
- You Don’t Know Peanuts podcast
- Now in its third season, this podcast reveals the unknown stories behind Peanuts’ great successes, such as the creation of A Charlie Brown Christmas, Peanuts’ collaborations with NASA, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, and much more…
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