R.F. Outcault (1863-1928) is considered the father of the comic strip, having created the full-color series called "The Yellow Kid" (giving rise to the phrase "yellow journalism") which was published in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World.Exactly 90 years ago today, a strip by Outcault revealed his more philosophical side through his thoughts on imagination, saying "without [it] nobody can be real happy," and recognizing how inherently imaginative children are.
Before becoming a comic strip artist, Outcault worked for another expert in the creative process, Thomas Edison.
(DETAIL ABOVE: "Buster Brown" strip, January 18, 1920.)
A tip of the hat to Larry Harnisch, editor of the wonderful "Daily Mirror" blog at
The Los Angeles Times.
