Beetle Bailey, Still Going Strong
The longevity and continuing appeal of Beetle Bailey was apparent this fall (2011) in Manhattan where Bloomingdale’s flagship store devoted Third Avenue windows and floor space to a multi-piece clothing line, designed by Darren Romanelli, featuring two military icons from the comic strips: Beetle Bailey and Popeye. While some items, like t-shirts, featured the characters front and center, others used graphics from the comic strips in the lining of the clothing.
Beetle Bailey, created by Mort Walker (1922- ), first appeared 62 years ago. It is among the oldest comic strips still being produced by the original creator. Walker who also draws other strips, has had assistance from other cartoonists, including his sons Neal, Brian and Greg. Greg is currently credited on the strip.
In the Beginning
Mort Walker began sending out cartoons as a young teenager, and his first published cartoon appeared when he was only 15. After high school, he took a staff job at Hallmark Cards (based in Kansas City, Missouri) but in 1943 he was drafted. During his military service, Walker kept a diary in which he drew sketches of many of the soldiers with whom he served, and this was to prove useful later on.
Despite the success that European countries had with the dogs used during World War I, the U.S. government had never proceeded with organizing a canine military unit.