8 comic strips everyone read in the '70s

It doesn't have to be a Sunday in order for you to appreciate this colorful list of comic strips!

The Everett Collection

Many comic strip fans used to look forward to grabbing a newspaper, sitting down with a hot cup of coffee and reading PeanutsArchie and other famous comic strips that gripped us from week to week. It is true nostalgia. 

Comic strips are a chance for readers to not only experience the words on the page, but the art too. In celebration of Charles M. Schulz 100th birthday, let's take a look back at eight of the best comic strips in the '70s.

In this decade, Peanuts, wasn't the only popular comic strip. Which comic strip was your favorite read?

1. 'Peanuts,' by Charles M. Schulz

 

Image credit: The Everett Collection

The Peanuts has gone down in history for being one of the greatest and longest stories ever created. Charles M. Schulz had much success during his long career.

The Peanuts followed the story of its main character, Charlie Brown. But, there was also Lucy, Pigpen and Snoopy, too. 

In total, Schulz had around 17,000 comic strips published. It was also published in over 75 countries and in 21 different languages. 

From newspapers to movies and more, Peanuts really made an impact.

2. 'Doonesbury,' by Garry Trudeau

 

Image credit: TIME Magazine

Doonesbury was first published in 1970. This comic strip captures the adventures and the lives of a wide variety of characters. Over the many years of this comic strip's publication, the strip went from a handful of characters to generations of families.

The lead character, Mike Doonesbury, has progressed from a college student to an old man over the past few decades.

Doonesbury tends to cover more hot topics, such as politics. In 1975, Doonesbury won a Pulitzer Prize Award for Editorial Cartooning.

3. 'Garfield,' by Jim Davis

 

Image credit: Garfield.com

This is a obvious favorite from any decade, not just the '70s. Garfield was published nationwide starting in 1978.

The comic strip follows the adventures of a big, orange, tabby cat named Garfield. He's lazy and loves lasagna. Who knew that would be the premise that would change history?

Garfield takes place in Jim Davis's hometown of Munice, Indiana. Davis got inspiration from his personal life when making Garfield.

Garfield even has the world record for the most syndicated comic strip, ever.

4. 'Hagar the Horrible,' by Dik Browne

 

This comic strip first appeared in 1973 and quickly became a huge success. Hagar the Horrible was originally created by Dik Browne but after his death in 1989, his son Chris Browne, took over the beloved comic strip.

This comic strip comments on everyday life through a very loose interpretation of Viking Age Scandinavian Life.

Hagar the Horrible is distributed in 19,000 newspapers in 56 countries and is translated in 12 other languages. Were you a fan of Hagar the Horrible?

5. 'B.C.,' by Johnny Hart

 

B.C. has (no pun intended) been around for quite some time. Maybe not since B.C., but definitely before the 1960s.

The comic strip was set in prehistoric times, and featured an assortment of quirky characters. B.C. follows a gag format, featuring mostly unrelated jokes, shameless puns and slapstick comedy.

Although B.C. had a few controversial issues, it still remains as many people's favorite comic strip.

6. 'Blondie,' by Chic Young

 

Image credit: Gamespot.com

Blondie became one of the most iconic comic strips very quickly, it even surpased the long-time favorite, Dagwood, which was also created by Chic Young.

Blondie tells the story of a blonde-haired woman and her sandwich-loving husband. This simple storyline has led to a long-running film series and a popular radio program, both titled Blondie.

Blondie has appeared in over 2,000 newspapers in 47 countries and has been translated into 35 different languages. 


7. 'Nancy,' by Ernie Bushmiller

 

Image credit: Gamespot.com

Nancy was originally called Fritzi Ritz, but over several years the focus of the comic strip changed from Fritzi to her niece, Nancy.

This is one of the most popular comic strips of all time, so we had to add it to our list. 

It's so iconic, in fact, that Nancy was the subject of one of Andy Warhol's 1961 painting, of course titled, Nancy.

8. 'The Born Loser,' by Art Sansom

 

Image credit: dailycartoonist.com

The Born Loser was created by Art Sansom in 1965 and his son, Chip Sansom, started assisting on the strip in 1989.

The Sansoms won the 1987 National Cartoonist Society Humor Comic Strip Award and the 1990 Newspaper Comic Strip Award.

Have you read this classic comic strip?

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78 Comments

Moverfan 10 months ago
I've read all of these...and The Lockhorns and BC and Hagar The Horrible (he's not, really)...and why hasn't anybody mentioned Hi & Lois and Beetle Bailey and Mandrake The Magician?
KirwoodDerby 11 months ago
No one cared for Doonesbury. I never knew anyone that did.
Tresix 11 months ago
“BC” kind of predicted the future: I’ve seen a number of people riding on those one-wheel.
WilliamJorns 11 months ago
One thing I'd like to point out: You misspelled the name of Jim Davis's hometown. It's M-U-N-C-I-E, that's MUNCIE, Indiana, not MUNICE. Do your research, MeTV!
MalachiCrunch 21 months ago
My favs from youth were; Wizard of Id, BC, Spider-Man, The Lockhorns, Family Circus, Hagar, Peanuts and Herman a little later.
Lillyrose 23 months ago
"Peanuts" is my favorite comic strip of all time. I had "Peanuts" comic books when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's.
Runeshaper 23 months ago
I know Peanuts, Garfield, Hagar, and Blondie! (-:
15inchBlackandWhite 23 months ago
B.C. didn't run in my local paper. All of the others, yes.
JimmyD 23 months ago
Never cared for Doonsebury, and never heard of The Born Loser. There were so many comic strips in the Sunday paper in the 70s, in color no less.
TheSentinel 23 months ago
Peanuts, Garfield, Blondie, Hagar the Horrible and B.C. are the ones I'm most familiar with (but my personal favorite, of course, is Peanuts). Didn't care much for Doonesbury because of its political bent.
anniarki 23 months ago
I remember those plus L'il Abner and Broom Hilda.
Tresix anniarki 11 months ago
I had a mad crush on Daisy Mae!
Brownie24 23 months ago
Alley Oop
TheSentinel Brownie24 23 months ago
That's another one I remember from the '70s.
Barry22 23 months ago
I don't know if anybody noticed this, but today (saturday) most of the comic strips in today's newspaper honored Charles Schulz. Really touching.
Michael Barry22 23 months ago
I noticed "Snoopy" in another strip, wondered. Then I noticed other references in most of the strips.

Then I remembered his birthday, and it made sense.

They did this before, either when he retired or when he died. Itwas neat then, and it's still neat. Itwas so.ething the cartoonists decided to do, no orders from above.
marmetv20 23 months ago
Loved the Born Loser!
Coldnorth marmetv20 23 months ago
I love that and maybe it was the 80’s but I loved Calvin and Hobbs. Really can’t remember the yer for Calvin
GrandPaWalton 23 months ago
Is it ironic that most people don’t remember The Born Loser?
Coldnorth GrandPaWalton 19 months ago
I still read the born loser
shortstuff64 23 months ago
I enjoyed all of them. I miss reading peanuts and Blondie
DocForbin 23 months ago
I certainly have read and continue to read all of the above strips as well as Heathcliff. However, there is one rather groundbreaking strip that should also be mentioned: Luther by Brumsic Brandon, Jr., which was among the first to feature a black person as the lead character. I certainly enjoyed reading that in Newsday when I was growing up on Long Island in the 1970s.
MightyMezzo 23 months ago
I love “Blondie”. Cruises right along like a beautifully restored classic car.
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