August 9th, 2017

Ask A Cartoonist: Happy Boop-Day To You!

by Tea

Today’s a very special King Features birthday– our First Lady of Fabulous, the Booptacular Betty Boop, is celebrating her special day today!

In honor of our favorite femme fatale, I asked our cartoonists to send along their reflections and boopalicious birthday wishes to Betty.

David Reddick, Intelligent Life:

Happy Birthday, Betty Boop!

Bill Griffith, Zippy the Pinhead:

I love the old Fleischer Betty Boop cartoons—they make Zippy’s “surrealism” look like Mom and Apple Pie normality. Back in ’05, it was Zippy to the rescue when Betty was decapitated–an heroic feat few are aware of.

Happy Birthday, Betty—and keep making cuteness and weirdness (and weird sexiness) safe for mass consumption!

Bill Holbrook, Kevin & Kell, on the Fastrack, and Safe Havens:

I’ve been a fan of Betty from way back, and I give her a shout-out at every opportunity. Here’s a picture from a while ago of Dethany in full Betty cosplay, and a slightly more unconventional panel from a Sunday strip.

Ron Ferdinand, Dennis the Menace:

Happy Birthday to Betty Boop from Dennis and the gang at Hank Ketcham Enterprises!

John Rose, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith:

Bodacious Birthday Wishes To Betty Boop From Her Pal, Snuffy Smith!!

Jeff Parker, Dustin:

Happy Birthday, Betty Boop! I first remember seeing this legendary fever-dream of a Betty Boop cartoon, “Minnie the Moocher,” on one of those 1960s after school kids shows, and being a little creeped out, but totally blown away — Cab Calloway, bad parenting, Bimbo, a droopy-pantsed walrus, electric chairs — I defy anyone to describe this cartoon to someone who’s never seen it. Hi-dee hi-dee hi-dee hi!

Watch the whole thing here:

Mort Walker, Beetle Bailey: