A national jury has voted these cartoonists into The International Museum of Cartoon Art Hall of Fame.  View samples of the work of these classic cartoonists and read  Brian Walker's profiles of the artists behind the strips.

PETER ARNO (1904 - 1968)

  Tall, urbane and handsome, Curtis Arnoux Peters was the spitting image of the quintessential jazz-age playboy when he sold his first drawing to the fledgling New Yorker magazine in 1925. For the next 43 years, Arno's cartoons defined the wit and sophistication of America's leading showcase of graphic and literary talent. A self-taught draftsman, Arno's bold watercolor compositions captured the world of speakeasies, flappers, society dames, drunks and phonies. Among the many book collections of Arno's work are the best-selling Man in the Shower (1945), named after one of the artist's most memorable cartoons from the pages of the New Yorker.

CARL BARKS (1901-)
A master of graphic storytelling, Carl Barks was responsible for anonymously writing and drawing the Walt Disney Donald Duck comic books between 1942 and 1966 and creating such classic characters as Gyro Gearloose. Barks worked as a story man in the Disney animation department for seven years before beginning his long, productive comic book career. After his retirement, Barks entered a new place of creativity, portraying his duck characters in oil paintings, and it was these works which eventually led to his discovery by fans, who had known him for years simply as "the Good Artist." Barks is now recognized around the world as the genius behind the Disney Duck legacy and well as an elder statesmen of the cartooning profession.(Visit Gallery)

DIK BROWNE (1917 - 1989)

  Affectionately known by his peers in the profession as the "cartoonist's cartoonist," Dik Browne was universally loved by his family, friends, and fans as a gentle, wise and generous soul. After gaining experience in the 1940s as a magazine and advertising illustrator, Dik broke into the comics field when he teamed up with Mort Walker on his then-new creation, Hi & Lois , in 1954. In 1973, he launched his own strip, Hagar the Horrible,  which skyrocketed in popularity in a few short years and is now one of the top features in the business. Dik won the Reuben Award from the National Cartoonists Society  as the best cartoonist of the year in 1962 and again in 1973, the only comic strip artist ever honored for his work on two different features.Hagar has been continued by Dik's son, Chris, while his other son, Chance, draws Hi & Lois, which is written by Mort Walker's sons, Brian and Greg. (Visit Gallery)

MILTON CANIFF (1907 - 1988)

 The "Rembrandt of the Comics," Milton Caniff is responsible for creating two masterpieces of graphic adventure, Terry and the Pirates in 1934 and Steve Canyon in 1947. His cinematic sense of composition and bold use of light and shadow influenced generations of illustrative comic artists, revolutionizing the style of the story strip. Caniff's richly woven plots, exotic settings and memorable characters also established him as one of greatest storytellers ever to work in the comics. An original founder of the National Cartoonists Society and the winner of its Reuben Award as the best cartoonist of the year in 1946 and 1971,  Milton Caniff worked until his death in 1988, a significant force in cartooning for more than half a century. (Visit Gallery)

AL CAPP (1909 - 1979)

 Dogpatch, U.S.A., Sadie Hawkins Day, Kickapoo Joy Juice, Schmoos and Kigmies  are just a few of the lasting inspirations that Al Capp contributed to  American folk legend. His comic strip creation, Li'l Abner, which debuted in 1934, became Capp's vehicle for lampooning the shortcomings of the human race. A volatile and controversial personality, Capp attacked the protest movement of the 1960s as vehemently as he denounced McCarthyism in the 1950s, earning him enemies as well as admirers. Political comment was only one of Al Capp's many tools, however. He also used suspense, slapstick, satire, strong characterization and occasional surrealism in making Li'l Abner one of the most hilarious and unpredictable comic strips in cartoon history. (Visit Gallery)

ROY CRANE (1901 - 1977)

 Roy Crane's contributions to the cartoon art form spanned over half a century. During the 1920s, years before the introduction of such acknowledged  classics as Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, and Terry and the Pirates, he defined the adventure strip genre as we know it today. His three memorable creations, Wash Tubbs, Captain Easy andBuzz Sawyer , featured innovative rendering, dramatic perspective, clever characterization and a unique blend of humor and suspense. The strips earned Roy Crane a reputation as one of the legendary craftsmen of cartoon storytelling and won him the Reuben Award as the best cartoonist of the year in 1950. (Visit Gallery)

BILLY DeBECK (1890 - 1942)

 Once described as "the comic-strip poet of America's big-city and sporting life of the Jazz Age and the Depression," Billy DeBeck  created the hilarious Barney Google in 1919. DeBeck is responsible for adding such slang terms as "heebie-jeebies'" "sweet mama" and "horse feathers" to our vernacular. Throughout the 1920's, DeBeck and his main character wandered the  country with his racehorse, Spark Plug, winning and loosing fame and fortune  by getting involved in an endless series of questionable pursuits. Finally, in 1934, Barney headed for the Kentucky hills. There, he encountered his match in the hillbilly clan of Snuffy Smith. After DeBeck's death in 1942, Fred Lasswell, a longtime assistant, took over the strip and allowed Snuffy to gradually "rassle" center stage away from Barney.

RUDOLPH DIRKS (1877 - 1968)

 One of the founding fathers of American cartooning, Rudolph Dirks was hired by William Randolph Hearst in 1897 to create a new feature to compete with rival Joseph Pulitzer's successful comic features. The result, based on Wilhelm Busch's Max and Moritz, was entitled The Katzenjammer Kids, and starred the equally  mischievous Hans and Fritz. Dirks was the first newspaper cartoonist to regularly use speech balloons and the comic strip panel format, innovations that are now standard practices in the field. In 1912, after taking some time off, Dirks was fired by Hearst, who brought in Harold Knerr to draw The Katzenjammer Kids. Dirks went on to win a famous court battle to continue his creation under the name The Captain and the Kids, which he did until his son, John, took over in 1958.

WALT DISNEY (1901 - 1966)

 Although he gave up drawing at an early point in his career,  Walt Disney was a visionary whose impact on the art form cannot be overestimated. From the early silent films he produced during the 1920s, to the design of theme parks he devoted himself to later in his life, Disney changed the face of American culture. His artistic direction, choice of talented staff and technical innovations established him as a creative  genius of the first rank. His studio's achievements in comic strips, comic books,  and animated films brought new levels of excellence to cartoon art. His 1928 creation, Mickey Mouse, whose film voice for many years was done by the great Disney himself, still reigns today as one of the most recognizable personalities in the world. (Visit Gallery)

WILL EISNER (1917 - )

 At the leading edge of innovation in cartooning for over half a century, Will Eisner is still breaking new ground in the art form. Starting out in the fledgling comic book field in the late 1930s, Will soon had his own production shop and in 1940 he launched The Spirit, a sixteen-page syndicated newspaper insert  that soon became a classic. After leaving The Spirit in 1950, Will spent 25 years in educational and promotional comics and has been a teacher at the School of Visual Arts for many years. More recently, he has revived The Spirit as well as  becoming one of the leading artists in the graphic novel medium. With the success of A Contract with God, The Dreamer, and his other acclaimed graphic novels, this gifted cartoonist has proven that his talents are as sharp today as they have ever been. (Visit Gallery)

BUD FISHER (1885 - 1954)

 The first successful daily comic strip, Mutt and Jeff , initially appeared under the title A. Mutt on the sports page of the San Francisco Chronicle on November 15, 1907. By 1915, when Mutt and Jeff creator Bud Fisher left the Hearst papers for the Wheeler Syndicate, the strip had become a  national sensation, inspiring a series of animated cartoons and  making Fisher the highest paid cartoonist in the country. While talented assistants continued the strip during the 1920s  and 1930s, Fisher pursued a colorful high-spending lifestyle, hobnobbing with actors and writers and providing numerous scandals for the newspaper gossip pages. In 1934, Al Smith took over Mutt and Jeff, while Fisher loosely supervised until his death in 1954.

 The era of the adventure strip was underway in 1929, when Hal Foster, already a successful commercial illustrator, was commissioned to do the first newspaper adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan . By 1937, Foster had decided it was time to try his hand at launching an  original creation -- Prince Valiant. More ambitious than the conventional adventure strips of the time, Foster's Prince Valiant is an epic tale of Arthurian legend, weaving history, romance and chivalry into a seamless narrative  continuity. It is considered by many to be the most beautifully illustrated and brilliantly written comic feature of all time. Foster went into semi-retirement in 1970; the Prince Valiant legacy has been carried on by John Cullen Murphy and his son, Cullen. (Visit Gallery)

 One of the most widely imitated and socially influential artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Charles Dana Gibson's first nationally published illustration was in Life magazine in 1886. By 1905, he had become so successful that he was offered a $100,000 contract to draw exclusively for Collier's magazine, which he accepted, although he kept his loyalty to his original employer, Life, throughout his career. Gibson's graphic depiction of the ideal American woman came to be  known as "the Gibson girl," and his cartoons dictated the fashions and social behavior of the times. An adept satirical cartoonist as well, Gibson's drawings of sports fans, low-life types and social climbers are often overlooked in praise for his more delicate artistry.

RUBE GOLDBERG (1883 - 1970)

 An inspired genius, Rube Goldberg was the creator of such notable comic features as Boob McNutt, Foolish Questions, Mike and Ike, I'm the Guy, Lalapalooza and Foolish Inventions. He was also the founder of the National Cartoonists Society and winner of the highest award, the Reuben -- which,  naturally, was named for him. He received the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning in 1948 and became a highly acclaimed sculptor in his later years. A "Rube Goldberg device" is commonly defined as a contraption that accomplishes by complex means what seemingly could be done simply. This lasting contribution to the English language sums up Rube Goldberg's zany comic view of the world in which he lived. (Visit Gallery)

CHESTER GOULD (1900 - 1985)

 A two-time Reuben Award winner as the best cartoonist of the year in 1959 and 1977, Chester Gould's classic plain-clothes detective, Dick Tracy, first started his endless battle against crime back in 1931. Gould retired on Christmas Day, 1977, after 46 years, 2 months, and 21 days of single-minded devotion to his creation, but still worked as a consultant to the cartoonists who continued the strip until his death in 1985. A meticulous researcher when it came to depicting accurate police procedures in Dick Tracy , Gould received many awards from police departments and law enforcement agencies around the country. He was also highly respected by his fans and peers as one of the  greatest storytellers in the history of comics. (Visit Gallery)

HAROLD GRAY (1894 - 1968)

 The feisty, red-haired Little Orphan Annie first appeared in the funnies August 5, 1924. She's gone on to become one of the most popular cartoon  characters of all time. Harold Gray's creation inspired movie adaptations, a radio serial and an award-winning stage play. Frequently using the strip to express his conservative political views, Gray is still regarded by both his critics and his fans as a master storyteller and creator of powerful characters. Orphan Annie and her wealthy benefactor, Daddy Warbucks, were more than just vehicles for Gray's gripping tales. Over the course of the last seven decades, they have transcended newspaper ink to become heroic figures in the legacy of modern American Mythology. (Visit Gallery)

In 1929 when Herbert Lawrence Block was hired by the Chicago Daily News at the age of nineteen, the career of one of the most influential practitioners of the ungentlemanly art of political cartooning was launched. Herblock joined the Washington Post in 1946 and has continued to be a powerful graphic commentator in the nations capitol ever since. Mr. Block has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize three times (more then any other journalist in history), and also won the Reuben Award as the Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year from the National Cartoonists Society in 1956. Herblock's editorial cartoons are currently distributed to over 300 news papers, four days a week, by Creators Syndicate.
 

GEORGE HERRIMAN (1880 - 1944)

 In 1924, Gilbert Seldes, the noted art critic, praised the comic strip, Krazy Kat, as "the most amusing, fantastic and satisfactory  work of art produced in America today."  George Herriman, the modest creator of this poetic masterpiece, responded to Seldes by complaining that, "Now I've got an inflated 'mouse' -- a 'kop' busting with Ego -- and a 'kat' gone clean KooKoo -- on my hands." Although Herriman was, and still remains, the darling of the intellectuals, his strip -- which first appeared regularly in 1913 -- was never a commercial success. By 1944, it could be found in only 35 newspapers. Fortunately for future generations of comic lovers, Herriman's greatest fan was his publisher, William Randolph Hearst, who put aside financial considerations and allowed one of America's truly gifted graphic geniuses a forum to express  his unique fantasies.

LYNN JOHNSTON (1947-)

Canadian cartoonist Lynn Johnston owns the distinction of being the first woman to win the Reuben Award for the Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year (1985) from the National Cartoonists Society. Her autobiographical creation, "For Better or For Worse," debuted on September 9, 1979, and has mirrored Johnston's own changing family life as her characters have aged and matured. Johnston has courageously tackled tough issues in her strip, including child abuse and homosexuality, earning her widespread criticism and praise. One of the most popular newspaper features on the 1980's and 90's, "For Better or For Worse" consistently shows up at the top of the readership polls and is among the most widely distributed strips in syndication. Johnston's work has been reprinted in numerous best-selling collections and has been adapted to animation in an acclaimed series of television specials. (Visit Gallery)

CHUCK JONES (1912-)

A veteran of seven decades in the animation profession, Chuck Jones is the creator of Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Marvin the Martian, Pepe Le Pew, Gossamer and many other memorable cartoon characters. He also directed Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig in many of their most acclaimed performances. Jones joined the Leon Schlesinger Studio in 1936, later sold to Warner Bros., and was still working there when the cartoon unit was closed in 1962. In 1966, Jones directed one of the most beloved television specials ever produced, "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Jones has created over 300 animated films in his illustrious career, earning him two Academy Awards, including an honorary Oscar in 1996, and is still actively producing today.(Visit Gallery)

WALT KELLY (1913 - 1973)

 Like a number of other successful newspaper cartoonists of his day, Walt Kelly learned his craft as an animator at the Walt Disney Studios between 1935 and 1941 and the Disney style was always evident in his work. After a brief stint as a comic book artist and an editorial cartoonist, Kelly launched his masterpiece, Pogo, in 1949. The strip featured a colorful cast of furry and not-so-furry  creatures who inhabited the Okefenokee Swamp, including Pogo, Albert, Howland Owl, P.T. Bridgeport, Beauregard and Churchy la Femme. Out of the mouths of these innocent animals came everything from  profound musings on the human condition to downright nonsense. The superb artistry, satirical humor and playful language of Pogo enchanted millions of readers and even now, years  after his death in 1973, Kelly still has a loyal following. (Visit Gallery)

WINSOR McCAY (1869 - 1934)

Little Nemo in Slumberland is universally acclaimed as one of the true inspirational masterpieces of comic art. The fantastic imagery and superb draftsmanship that Winsor McCay lavished on his brainchild has rarely been equaled in the art form. He created numerous other memorable features including Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend, Hungry Henrietta and Little Sammy Sneeze . McCay was also an early pioneer in the field of animation, producing the historic film, Gertie the Dinosaur, in 1909. Late in his career this prolific and versatile artist went on to become an influential editorial cartoonist for the Hearst newspapers, while continuing his comic strip animation. McCay penned his own epitaph when he wrote, "Simply, I could not keep myself from drawing."

GEORGE McMANUS (1884 - 1954)

 Legendary for his difficulties in meeting deadlines and for his uncanny resemblance to his main character, George McManus was also among the most prolific of the early cartoonists. The most notable of his many experiments on the comic pages were:The Newlyweds, one of the first family features; Rosie's Beau, a prototype of the popular pretty-girl strip; and Spare Ribs and Gravy, a classic of pure slapstick. The stars of these pioneering creations were ultimately overshadowed by the popularity of Maggie and Jiggs, the chief protagonists of Bringing Up Father , which debuted in 1913. Maggie and Jiggs, rags-to-riches Irish immigrants, were the first in a  long line of squabbling couples in the eternal battle of the sexes fought out in the funny pages. (Visit Gallery)

THOMAS NAST (1840 - 1902)

 When the father of American political cartooning retired at the turn of the  century, a newspaper correspondent wrote: "The pressures of the great issues of the Civil War raised up a Lincoln, a Grant and a Nast.  Lincoln broad in love, firm in purpose; Grant brave and unyielding;  Nast an inspired artist to encourage the hearts of the rulers and the soldiers of the people." This was a fitting tribute to the man who created or popularized the visual symbols of the Republican elephant, the Democratic donkey and Uncle Sam, and who brought the powerful Boss Tweed and his infamous  Tammany Ring to justice. But Nast's creation of the modern image of Santa Claus still remains his most fondly remembered contribution to our culture.

FREDERICK OPPER (1857 - 1937)

 Starting his career in the 1870s as a magazine illustrator, Frederick Burr Opper was the chief political cartoonist for Puck when William Randolph Hearst hired him in 1899 to draw comics for the New York Journal. A year later, Opper introduced the immortal slapstick clown, Happy Hooligan, who starred in his own strip until 1932. During that time, the prolific Opper also created a number of other features, including Alphonse and Gaston and Maud the Mule. He also turned out a daily political cartoon for the Hearst papers. During the 1920s, Opper was known as the "dean emeritus" of  American cartooning for his talent and longevity in the field. He is still regarded as one of the founding fathers of the art form.

RICHARD OUTCAULT (1863 - 1928)

 Richard Outcault is credited with the creation of the first newspaper comic strip superstar -- a nightshirted street urchin known as Yellow Kid. The Yellow Kid, who debuted in the New York World in 1895, was the first successful character to appear in color, with a regular supporting cast, in a continuing titled series, with the written word integrated into the picture. The combination of these important elements in Outcault's creation dramatically proved that comics could sell newspapers. The Yellow Kid's success launched a publishing war between William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, giving birth to the term "yellow journalism". In 1902, Outcault further distinguished himself by creating a second successful comic feature, Buster Brown, which he produced until 1920.

ALEX RAYMOND (1909 - 1956)

 One of the most talented and versatile illustrative cartoonists ever to work in the modern medium, Alex Raymond is credited with creating an unprecedented four successful adventure strips -- Flash Gordon, Jungle Jim, Secret Agent X-9 and Rip Kirby.  From 1934, when he introduced the first three of these classic features for King Features Syndicate, until 1956, when he died tragically in an automobile accident, Alex Raymond refined his elegant style and  literate scripts to become one of the great virtuosos of graphic storytelling. His most famous work, Flash Gordon, is still regarded as one of the best of all adventure strips. Although many gifted artists have continued Raymond's creation, none have equaled the master's achievements. (Visit Gallery)

CHARLES SCHULZ (1922 - )

 Charles "Sparky" Schulz launched his comic strip creation, Peanuts, in 1950 with a modest list of seven newspapers. It has since become one of the most successful cartoon features of all time, appearing  in more than 2000 newspapers. Its characters, Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Pig Pen, and of course, Snoopy are international superstars. Schulz has won countless awards including the Reuben as the best cartoonist of the year in 1955 and 1964, as well as a number of Emmys for his Peanuts television specials. In spite of all the financial success and critical acclaim he has received, Charles Schulz remains a modest man, proud of the fact that he still writes, draws, inks and letters his beloved creation and that Peanuts will never be produced by other hands. (Visit Gallery)

ELZIE SEGAR (1894 - 1938)

 E.C. Segar's Thimble Theater comic strip was a decade old before Popeye the Sailor joined Olive Oyl, Castor Oyl and Ham Gravy as a regular cast member in 1929. Popeye rapidly became one of the most popular characters of the 1930s. The success of the strip -- as well as the series of animated cartoons produced by Max Fleischer and the countless products bearing the salty sailor's crusty image -- helped make Popeye's creator a wealthy man. Tragically, in 1938 at the height of his success, Segar passed away. A succession of artists continue his creation in the newspaper, film, television and merchandizing media. It is a tribute to the genius of E.C. Segar that today, nearly half a century after the cartoonist's death, Popeye remains one of the most universally recognized of all comic characters.

 One of the true unsung pioneers of the art form, Jimmy Swinnerton started his career as a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle in 1892. He ended it as a famed western landscape painter at the ripe old age of 98. In the intervening years Swinnerton created the first regular newspaper comic series, Little Bears, in 1892, the immensely popular Mr. Jack in 1902, and Little Jimmy, a classic strip that ran almost continuously  from 1904 until 1958. After recuperating from tuberculosis in the Arizona desert in 1902, Swinnerton became fascinated with the American West. Most of his subsequent work reflected this passion, including the Canyon Kiddies series, which appeared in Good Housekeeping during the 1920s.

 The most prolific newspaper cartoonist of all time, Mort Walker has created and collaborated on nine syndicated comic strips, including Beetle Bailey, Hi and Lois, Boner's Ark and Sam and Silo, all of which are still in circulation. Mort started out as a designer for Hallmark Cards at the age of eighteen and after serving in World War II and graduating from college, he became the top-selling magazine freelance cartoonist in the country in 1948. In 1950, he launched Beetle Bailey, which began as a college strip. When Beetle enlisted in the Army in 1951, it started a steady rise in circulation and is now one of the top features in the business. Mort won the Reuben Award as the best cartoonist of the year 1954 and is the founder and guiding force behind both the original Museum of Cartoon Art  and the new International Museum of Cartoon Art. (Visit Gallery)

 Perhaps the most successful comic strip of all time, Blondie was created by Murat (Chic) Young in 1930. In the early years, Blondie Boopadoop, a bird-brained flapper, was pursued by Dagwood Bumstead, a tycoon's bungling son. When Dagwood married Blondie in 1933, his father disinherited him. He was condemned to a life of middle-class drudgery, chasing buses, getting chewed out by his boss and grabbing lunch in a greasy diner. The Bumstead family has delighted generations of readers,  inspiring film, television and book adaptations. The strip won Young the Reuben Award as the best cartoonist of the year in 1948. Today, Chic Young's son, Dean, continues Blondie, which remains among the very top  strips in the comic business. (Visit Gallery)

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