Beetle Bailey

This year marks a monumental milestone in comics history—Beetle Bailey celebrates its 75th anniversary! First published on September 4, 1950, Mort Walker’s creation has grown from a college-campus strip into one of the most beloved military-themed comics of all time. Over the decades, Beetle has gone from slacking off in class to dodging Sarge’s orders at Camp Swampy, all while winning the hearts of millions of readers worldwide. To celebrate the occasion, Inside the Kingdom host Alex sat down with Brian Walker—cartoonist, historian, and part of the Walker family team that has carried Beetle’s legacy forward. Brian shared stories about Beetle’s origins, including how Mort made the pivotal decision to enlist Beetle in the Army during the Korean War era—a move that saved the strip from cancellation and ultimately defined its identity. He also recalled the time Stars and Stripes banned Beetle Bailey in the Pacific for “disrespecting officers,” a controversy that only boosted the strip’s popularity. Beyond the history, Brian reflected on Beetle Bailey’s enduring appeal. Though the setting is military, the strip has always been about people working together in an organization, poking fun at authority, and finding […]

Seventy-five years. That’s how long Mort Walker’s Beetle Bailey has been making readers laugh, wink, and occasionally nod in recognition at life’s small absurdities. From his very first shuffle onto the comics page in 1950, Beetle wasn’t so much a hero as he was a reflection of us—the perpetually tired, sometimes rebellious, always relatable underdog. Now, to celebrate this milestone, Fantagraphics has released Beetle Bailey: 75 Years of Smiles—a gorgeous collection that captures the strip’s history, evolution, and enduring humor. Why Beetle still works today Beetle’s charm has always been his ability to stay consistent while the world changes around him. He’s still dodging Sarge, still napping when he probably shouldn’t be, still finding ways to survive camp life without much effort. And yet, the backdrop has shifted—reflecting decades of cultural changes, all while keeping the laughs grounded in timeless character dynamics. For long-time readers, this collection is a trip down memory lane. For new readers, it’s a chance to see how a strip can stay funny, fresh, and relevant for three-quarters of a century. The Comics Kingdom connection Of course, you don’t have to wait for the book to […]

Hi, all! I hope you are recovering from your Thanksgiving feasts if you celebrate! Today, Saturday, November 26, is a very important day for comics history: the 100th birthday of Charles “Sparky” Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, one of the most beloved comic strips of all time. Usually, we only post about birthdays related to King Features comics, but Mr. Schulz was such an inspiration and good friend to so many of our cartoonists and had so much influence on the direction of not just comics but pop culture in the 20th century that we wanted to celebrate his legacy. Patrick McDonnell, the creator of MUTTS, spearheaded this project in collaboration with the Charles M. Schulz Museum to celebrate this special birthday! As you look around Comics Kingdom today, you will see many of cartoonists have contributed to this celebration by honoring Mr. Schulz in their comic strips. Here is a collection where you can see them all together! Todd the Dinoaur by Patrick Roberts Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis Rhymes With Orange by Hilary Price & Rina PIccolo The Lockhorns by Bunny Hoest and John Reiner Daddy […]