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Our 9 Favorite Classic Comic Strips for Both Kids and Adults
As time goes on, it seems like it’s becoming less and less likely that your children will ever hold a newspaper in their hands or read the funnies at the breakfast table, but that doesn’t mean the wonder of comic strips has to go away. The fact that some of my favorite comics began in the 1930s is a testament to how timeless this form of art is and how many generations have loved following comic strips. They have just the right amount of illustrations and words to make you laugh out loud, fall in love with a character, and feverishly flip the pages hoping for just one more panel.
We’re all in luck now, however. I’ve rounded up nine of our favorite classic comic strips and the best part? They’re all available in volumes, so your children don’t have to know what it’s like to suffer seven days waiting for the next strip of Charlie Brown or Garfield to show up over their cereal bowls. Pick a few of your favorits and share the magic of comic strips all over again with the next generation.
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Celebrating Peanuts: 65 Years, by Charles M. Schulz
You can’t talk about comic strips without talking about the king, right? Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts gang is absolutely timeless, as evident by the recent movie and how nearly every kid has had some connection to Charlie Brown and his crew. Absolutely perfect and still as hilarious and heartwarming as ever.
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Garfield, by Jim Davis
Fix a bowl of lasagna, put off Monday, and introduce your children to Garfield, the original grumpy cat. It doesn’t get much better than his funny quips to Odie and his obvious disdain for his hapless owner, Jon.
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The Essential Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson
Is there anything more lovely than the relationship between Calvin and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes? While the rest of the world sees an inanimate object, Calvin sees his very best friend, and the adventures they go on together will be loved by everyone in your family.
Dennis the Menace, by Hank Ketcham
Mischievous, lovable, and prone to getting in trouble no matter how much he tries to be good, Dennis the Menace probably reminds you of your own littles. The comic strip is too adorable, and your kids will love laughing at all of the antics Dennis finds himself in, especially when poor Mr. Wilson is the victim.
Complete Little Orphan Annie, by Harold Gray
Your children probably know the musical version of Annie, but do they know the original comic strip? Little Orphan Annie has been around since the 1920s, but is still a favorite all over the world. The best part of these comics is that they followed each other carefully, creating an entire story through weekly panels. Missing one meant having no idea what was going on the following Sunday, so reading them in book form? The best.
The Best of Beetle Bailey, by Mort Walker
Beetle the Bailey was always one of my dad’s favorites and I loved laughing at this strip with him. Beetle’s antics in the army, along with his bumbling friends, will have you and your children cracking up, too.
Popeye: The Classic Newspaper Comics by Bobby London, Volume 1: 1986-1989, by Bobby London
Having trouble getting your kids to eat their spinach? Obviously they need the Popeye collection. Full of adventure, a love triangle with Bluto and Olive Oyl, and beating impossible odds, Popeye is an adventurous comic strip for your kiddos.
Family Circus Library, by Bil Keane
Aw. Family Circus is pretty perfect, right? Sweet, innocent, and hilarious for parents, Family Circle comic strips were always covering our refrigerator when I was a kid.
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No Yelling!: A Baby Blues Collection, by Rick Kirkman
And my absolute favorite comic strip? Baby Blues. I love seeing the exhausted looks on the parents’ faces as the children rule the house, and your family will find something totally relatable in every strip. Especially the zombie faces.
What are your favorite classic comic strips?