Like most things in pop culture, comics depend on the public’s collective memory to help maintain an awareness of even the most well-loved characters. Yet a number of strips that were once widely read—and also adapted into live-action films—have long faded away with only the most die-hard fans and comic historians able to recall them. Here are few gems you’ve likely never heard of.
The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack Originally titled On the Wing, creator Zack Mosley’s aviation adventure strip debuted on October 1, 1933 and was remamed within three months. For the next 40 years, highflying pilot Jack Martin took on all sorts of baddies including the Claw, the Mongoose, and the Head. A decade after its debut, Universal Pictures released a 13-episode movie serial based on the comic with Tom Brown in the lead role. In 1973, Mosley retired and so did Jack.
Harold Teen In 1919, long before Archie and the gang from Riverdale became the flag-bearers for teen comics, cartoonist Carl Ed introduced high school student Harold Teen along with girlfriend Lillums Lowell and best buddy Shadow Smart. The strip’s success led to two eponymous titled, live-action films: a silent version in 1928 starring Arthur Lake (who would later portray Dagwood Bumstead in the Blondie movies) and one in 1934 featuring Harold Le Roy. In 1959, Ed passed away and the strip ended.
Toots and Casper In December of 1918, artist Jimmy Murphy began chronicling the antics of husband and wife Casper and Toots Hawkins, who were joined by dog Spare-Ribs and later baby Buttercup. Between 1927 and ’29, Bud Duncan and Thelma Hill portrayed the couple in a handful of silent shorts. A forerunner of strips such as Blondie and Hi and Lois, the comic continued until 1958 with Murphy passing away seven years later.
(Image: Toots and Casper by Jimmy Murphy, 1949, King Features)
