graphic novels

The Press Democrat ⁢newspaper in Santa Rosa, California, is ⁣expanding its comics ​offerings, adding two new strips to its daily lineup starting October ⁣20, 2025. The announcement comes as newspapers nationwide continue⁢ to navigate ‌evolving readership habits ‌and seek ways to enhance reader ⁣engagement.

The Press Democrat’s daily comics⁣ page​ currently features 21⁢ strips,‌ including The family Circus,⁢ Bizarro, Bliss, The Argyle Sweater, Peanuts, Zits, Non sequitur, Pearls Before Swine, Doonesbury, Baby Blues, For Better or For Worse, Baldo, Curtis, Rhymes with Orange, Luann, ​ Mutts, Hägar the Horrible, Blondie, Pickles, Sally ​Forth, Rex Morgan, M.D., and Garfield. Readers who believe a‍ favorite strip is missing from the current selection are encouraged to‌ contact the newspaper directly at onlineideas@pressdemocrat.com.

Notably, the paper highlights that Peanuts and Pearls Before​ Swine are created by local cartoonists. A technical⁤ issue prevented Non Sequitur from displaying correctly at‌ the time the comics page was published.the updated comics page can be viewed ‌on The Daily Cartoonist website, with⁤ images captured ‍on ⁢October 20, 2025.

Comics Kingdom Expands “The Phantom” Universe with New Series Amidst Strip Nostalgia

Comics Kingdom has launched “Phantom 2040,” a new comic strip installment featuring the iconic hero, bringing the total number of “phantom” titles on the platform too five. The expansion arrives alongside reflections on the legacy of classic strips like “Gasoline Alley” and “nancy,” and a noted omission in a recent discussion of influential cartoonists.

The addition of “Phantom 2040” – joining the existing daily strip, Sunday strip, and reprint series – highlights Comics kingdoms investment in the property. This nearly matches the platform’s offerings for “Popeye,” which boasts six titles including the original “Thimble Theater” strip. The news comes as cartoonist bill Griffith expressed skepticism towards “Nancy” artists following ernie Bushmiller, and surprisingly omitted John Stanley, creator of “Little Lulu,” when discussing influential comic artists.

A recent post on The Daily cartoonist also touched on the personal connection readers have to the scents associated with rural life, sparked by a comic panel depicting a dairy farm. This illustrates the enduring power of comic strips to evoke nostalgia and personal memories.The platform continues to showcase both new developments and the rich history of syndicated comics.

“Calvinball” Officially Enters the Lexicon as New Comic “The Ancients” Debuts

The imaginary game of “Calvinball,” born from the mind of cartoonist Bill Watterson in his beloved comic strip Calvin and ⁢Hobbes, has officially been recognized by the Oxford‍ English ⁤Dictionary. Added in March 2025, the⁤ dictionary defines “Calvinball” as “Activity reminiscent of the imaginary game of Calvinball … in⁢ not following any discernible rules,‍ or in which individuals act in a self-servingly inconsistent manner.” The inclusion ⁣signifies the ‌cultural impact of Watterson’s work and⁣ the enduring resonance of the concept of arbitrary,​ ever-changing rules.

This recognition comes as​ the term finds its way into unexpected arenas, including legal discourse. Justice ⁣Ketanji ⁢Brown Jackson‌ recently invoked “Calvinball jurisprudence” in a dissenting opinion in National Institutes of Health v. American Public Health​ Association,criticizing ⁣shifting legal​ standards. Simultaneously, a new comic strip, The Ancients by ⁣Joe Berger, has⁣ launched ⁢on GoComics, offering ‌a fresh voice to the comics landscape.

The Ancients, which previously ran on Substack, originated from ‌a moment of parental frustration in February 2023, according to Berger. The comic explores⁢ themes‌ relatable to a broad audience, marking a notable addition to GoComics’ roster of strips.

Luann comic strip from July 28, 2025″ class=”wp-image-99016″ srcset=”https://www.dailycartoonist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Luann-by-Greg-Evans-and-Karen-evans-for-July-28-2025-GoComics.jpg 647w,https://www.dailycartoonist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Luann-by-Greg-Evans-and-Karen-Evans-for-July-28-2025-GoComics-350×161.jpg 350w” sizes=”auto,(max-width: 647px) 100vw,647px”/>

Teh geographical settings of popular comic strips have sparked discussion, with a particular focus on the perceived locations of “Luann” and “The Family Circus.”

The comic strip “Luann,” created by Greg and Karen Evans, is understood to be set in Southern California. In contrast, “The Family Circus,” by Bil Keane and now continued by his family, has historically been associated with Arizona. This geographical difference raises questions about the logistics of characters from these strips interacting,