United States.
United States
1895
American comics began in the newspapers with Richard F. Outcault's Yellow Kid in 1895, and Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938.
Fredric Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent (1954) led to the Comics Code, which lasted until 2011, and from the 1980s alternative comics and graphic novels grew from Art Spiegelman's Maus to Alison Bechdel's Fun Home.
1,819
1,260
1895
2000s
Artists from United States in the archive.
Comics from United States in the archive.
The Yellow Kid, the earliest comic from United States in the archive.
The decade when the most new comics from United States began.
comics
United States in 4 chapters
A short history you can leaf through. Click a page, use the arrow keys, or press Turn the page to read on.
United States.
4 chapters
1895
to 1937
Chapter 01
Newspaper strips
Richard F. Outcault's Yellow Kid appeared in the New York World in 1895, followed by Rudolph Dirks's Katzenjammer Kids (1897), Winsor McCay's Little Nemo in Slumberland (1905) and Mutt and Jeff (1907), the first daily strip. George Herriman's Krazy Kat ran from 1913 to 1944, and Chester Gould's Dick Tracy debuted on 4 October 1931.
1938
to 1953
Chapter 02
The comic book
Action Comics #1, cover-dated June 1938, introduced Siegel and Shuster's Superman, and Detective Comics #27 introduced Batman. Harvey Kurtzman founded Mad in 1952.
1954
to 1979
Chapter 03
The Comics Code and Marvel
Seduction of the Innocent (1954) led to the Comics Code, which disappeared only in 2011. The Fantastic Four #1 (November 1961) started the Marvel era, and Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's Spider-Man appeared in August 1962.
1980
to today
Chapter 04
Alternative comics and graphic novels
Art Spiegelman serialised Maus from 1980 to 1991, Love and Rockets was among the first alternative comics of the decade, and Watchmen's first issue appeared in 1986. Later landmarks include Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan (2000) and Alison Bechdel's Fun Home (2006), and since 2024 early versions of Mickey Mouse, Popeye and Blondie have entered the US public domain.
The comics to know
- The Yellow KidRichard F. OutcaultUnited States, 1895Richard F. Outcault. Ran in the New York World.
- Little NemoWinsor McCayUnited States, 1905Winsor McCay
- Krazy KatGeorge HerrimanUnited States, 1913George Herriman. Ran in the New York Evening Journal until 1944.
- Dick TracyChester GouldUnited States, 1931Chester Gould. Debuted on Sunday 4 October 1931 in the Detroit Mirror.
- Action Comics #1Jerry SiegelUnited States, 1938Siegel and Shuster. Introduced Superman; cover date June 1938.
- MadUS, 1952Harvey Kurtzman. Founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman.
- Fantastic Four #1Stan LeeUnited States, 1961Cover date November 1961; started the Marvel era.
- MausArt SpiegelmanUnited States, 1980Art Spiegelman. Serialised from 1980 to 1991.
- Calvin and HobbesBill WattersonUnited States, 1985Bill Watterson. Ran from 18 November 1985 to 31 December 1995.
- Fun HomeUS, 2006Alison Bechdel
The people to know
- Richard F. OutcaultComics artist, 1863 to 1928The Yellow Kid (1895).
- Winsor McCayComics artist, 1869 to 1934Little Nemo in Slumberland, which grew out of his Dream of the Rarebit Fiend.
- George HerrimanComics artist, 1880 to 1944Krazy Kat.
- Jack KirbyComics artist, 1917 to 1994Described as one of the medium's major innovators.
- Carl BarksComics artist, 1901 to 2000Created Scrooge McDuck and wrote and drew the core Donald Duck comic stories.
- Harvey KurtzmanComics artist, 1924 to 1993Founding editor of Mad.
- Charles M. SchulzComics artist, 1922 to 2000Peanuts.
- Art SpiegelmanComics artist, born 1948Maus.
- Chris WareComics artist, born 1967Jimmy Corrigan (2000).
- Alison BechdelComics artist, born 1960Fun Home (2006).
More artists from United States
All 1,819 artists- Frank MillerComics artist, Born 1957
- Stan LeeComics writer, 1922 to 2018
- Mike MignolaComics artist, Born 1960
- Brian Michael BendisComics artist, Born 1967
- John ByrneComics artist, Born 1950
- Jim StarlinComics artist, Born 1949
- Daniel ClowesComics artist, Born 1961
- Ed BrubakerComics artist, Born 1966
- Randall MunroeComics artist, Born 1984
- Will EisnerComics artist, 1917 to 2005
- Bill WillinghamComics artist, Born 1956
- Al FeldsteinComics artist, 1925 to 2014
More comics from United States
All 1,260 comics- GarfieldJim DavisUnited States, 1978
- Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesKevin EastmanUnited States, 1984
- PeanutsCharles M. SchulzUnited States, 1950 to 2000
- WatchmenAlan MooreUnited States, 1986
- xkcdRandall MunroeUnited States, 2005
- The Walking DeadRobert KirkmanUnited States, 2003
- DilbertScott AdamsUnited States, 1989
- The SandmanПісочний чоловікNeil GaimanUnited States, 1988
- Sin CityFrank MillerUnited States, 1991
- The Dark Knight ReturnsFrank MillerUnited States, 1986
- The Amazing Spider-ManStan LeeUnited States
- Judge DreddJohn WagnerUnited States, 1977
