286) Tumbleweeds…

Original Tumbleweeds by T.K. Ryan 3-13-1977

T.K.Ryan (1926-2019) created the comic strip Tumbleweeds, which ran in newspapers from 1965 until Ryan’s retirement in 2007. Inspired by tales of the Old West, Ryan decided to poke fun at all the cliches and stereotypes of the genre.

The strip had a huge cast of characters led by Tumbleweeds, a cowboy of few words and little ambition. He often served as witness to the crazy shenanigans of the denizens of the town of Grimy Gulch and the surrounding area that included Fort Ridiculous, which housed the 6 7/8 Cavalry, and the village of the Poohawk Indian tribe.

The comic strip had a favorable response from the Native American population because Ryan always treated his fictional Poohawks with respect. The strip’s publication history of over 300 newspapers included the Pacific Northwest, a newspaper of the Nez Perce which was distributed to many tribal communities.

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