155) Sam’s Strip…

I was ten years old when I was gifted a copy of Stephen Becker’s Comic Art in America. That book was the catalyst for my lifelong interest in the history of comic strip art. So, I was quite delighted when I first discovered Sam’s Strip.

Sam’s Strip, created by Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, only lasted from 1961 to 1963. It was a self referential effort that often guest starred characters from the vast history of comic strip art, such as Krazy Kat, Happy Hooligan, and the Yellow Kid. While popular among cartoonists and those in love with the history of the art form, it never gained a wide audience. 

The strip was reincarnated in 1977 as Sam & Silo, but it was transformed into a more conventional joke-a-day feature without the appearance of classic comic strip characters.

Sam’s Strip by Jerry Dumas 12-4-1961 (original from my collection)

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