Nancy
Nancy was a comic strip character created by Ernie Bushmiller and first appearing as a supporting character in the 1920s flapper strip Fritzi Ritz. Introduced in 1933 as the title character’s run-amok niece, Nancy was a hit with depression-era audiences from her first appearance and gradually began to take over the strip. Achieving considerable success over the next three decades, the character was a contemporary of Little Iodine and Little Lulu, and is today seen as a template for many later Little Girl strips.
Initially, Nancy and her Aunt featured as a kind of double act complete with slapstick gags and one-liners (clearly influenced by radio and vaudeville), but as Nancy’s conduct grew ever more brat-like, spanking became a recurring motif in the strip, reminiscent of the Katzenjammers interminable clashes with the Captain (unlike Little Iodine, Nancy was incredibly naughty, frequently matching Hans and Fritz blow for blow). By 1938, Nancy had taken over the strip’s title and adopted a partner-in-crime – Sluggo Smith – pushing Fritzi further into the wings. ‘Aunt’ Fritzi wasn’t written completely out of the storyline however, as someone had to administer discipline when Nancy’s behavior got out of hand (which it did in practically every episode).
Notes
Although Ernie Bushmiller originated the Nancy character, the actual Fritzi Ritz strip was created by cartoonist Larry Whittington.
See also
Notable "Little Girl" Strips
External links
- Nancy gallery on the Handprints site
Chat rooms • What links here • Copyright info • Contact information • Category:Root