When Sally Forth first appeared on the comics pages, not many newspaper readers suspected its creator was a man (and they certainly never suspected creator Greg Howard was a lawyer-turned-cartoonist).
Over the years, Sally Forth has made a consistent impressive growth in popularity. Why? Because it's every working mother's story! And because, as one reader wrote to her newspaper, it's about "a nuclear family whose trials and tribulations my husband and I repeatedly could relate to. We enjoyed sharing many strips with our children since we felt the strips depicted values we hope to instill in them." The National Women's Political Caucus presented Howard with its "Good Guy" Award for his "sensitive and humorous portrayal of the conflicts and victories that touch the lives of working women." As one newspaper editor said, "It's one of our top strips in every age bracket. It's amazing. Our readers have a real personal attachment to Sally."
Cartoonist Greg Howard created Sally Forth in 1982 and wrote and drew the strip for nearly 10 years until professional cartoonist, Craig Macintosh began drawing. Howard continued writing the strip until 1999, when he decided to pursue other creative interests. The talented Francesco Marciuliano now writes the popular strip with artist Jim Keefe.
Today, Sally Forth appears in nearly 700 newspapers some as far away as Iceland! In 1999, the comic strip gained nearly 80 new newspaper clients, and its popularity continues to rise.
Sally juggles the daily challenges of excelling at her middle-management career, keeping her marriage intact, and finding enough quality time to raise her child. She only suffers an occasional twinge of guilt that she's not quite the mother and wife her traditional upbringing tells her she ought to be. But somehow, through it all, she manages to keep her sanity and her sense of humor!
Ted is sensitive and supportive. Like many husbands, he's an inveterate control freak with the TV-remote, a trait indicative, perhaps, of his continuing struggle to figure out his role in this modern world of the two-career family! While he keeps his wife and daughter in shape with the perfect blend of dry, witty barbs and loving, good-natured humor, he keeps himself balanced with his basketball in hand.
A very precocious 10-year-old, Hilary is just old enough to goad her parents, and smart enough not to suffer any dire repercussions from her smart-aleck remarks. She plays soccer, softball and the piano (under duress). Like many kids, she might have a blue carpet underneath all the stuff in her room.
Sally's secretary and her salvation at the office organization game. Marcie also manages to make Sally a bit envious at times by reminding her of what it was like to be single.
Like Sally, Alice is a middle manager, and although she works for a different boss, she and Sally have many common areas for commiseration. Alice is divorced and the mother of two boys.