Raymond, Caniff, Foster, Watterson…the list of great illustrators who made lifelong careers out of the daily strip is a long one. And all tragic stories aside (re: death, rights, $$$), the comic strip has has brought immeasurable joy to millions of people. What is morning-Twitter “doomscrolling”, but morning-newspaper “doomperusing”? Nothing has changed in that regard between 1921 and 2021. We are always looking for rescue in that sea of misery, and the comic strips were (still are?) that much needed life preserver.
Our salvation can come in many forms: high-flying adventurers, ace female reporters, a boy and his stuffed animal, or even a secret agent and his demon girlfriend. These stories can all reflect subject, artist, and audience alike. They can be raw as moonshine or distinguished as Cognac. My own journey now begins upon these uncharted waters carried by the inimitable talents of the comic chameleon and steady supplier of salacious styles: Nickolej Villiger. All of his work shines with a love of illustration and a deep appreciation of the medium.
The economy of line and the distillation of story are the hallmarks of the daily strip. A picture is worth a thousand words, and one word still has the ability to elicit a thousand pictures.