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Beetle Bailey

Beetle Bailey

102 appearances Β· Golden Age Β· 1953–2015 Β· 1 key issues
Who is Beetle Bailey?

Beetle Bailey is the comic-strip soldier created by Mort Walker, adapted into comics form by Charlton. A lazy private stationed at Camp Swampy, he perpetually dodges work and endures the wrath of Sergeant Snorkel in classic military comedy situations.

Few comic characters have the sheer staying power of Beetle Bailey, whose comics journey stretches an remarkable 62 years from a 1953 Golden Age debut in Four Color #521 β€” brought to life by the legendary Mort Walker β€” all the way through 2015. Published through Charlton, this lovable slacker has shared countless pages with the likes of Sarge Snorkel, General Halftrack, Zero, Cookie, and Killer Diller, a roster of personalities that gives you a pretty clear sense of the comic's warm, barracks-humor world. With 102 catalog appearances and a key issue to his name, Beetle Bailey is a genuine institution of American comic history β€” the kind of character who reminds collectors just how much heart and longevity a great comedic creation can carry.

β˜… First appearance
Four Color #521
Dec 1953

Trivia

  • Mort Walker occasionally drew racier Beetle Bailey strips purely for his own amusement and kept them under wraps β€” though a handful eventually found their way to Scandinavian publishers after editors got hold of them.mentalfloss.com

Top series

Covers through the years β€” 1953–2012

Four Color #521 β˜… 1953
Four Color #521
Walt Disney Uncle Scrooge #44 1963
Walt Disney Uncle Scrooge #44
Shape Up or Ship Out, Beetle Bailey #9 (12177) 1976
Shape Up or Ship Out, Beetle Bailey #9 (12177)
Shape Up or Ship Out, Beetle Bailey #12659-1 [9] 1981
Shape Up or Ship Out, Beetle Bailey #12659-1 [9]
Cracked #267 1991
Cracked #267
The Comics: Since 1945 #[nn] 2002
The Comics: Since 1945 #[nn]
The Comics: The Complete Collection #[nn] 2008
The Comics: The Complete Collection #[nn]
The Comic Book History of Comics #[nn] 2012
The Comic Book History of Comics #[nn]

Appearances

Four Color (1942)
The American Legion (1926)
Beetle Bailey and Sarge (1958)
Walt Disney Uncle Scrooge (1963)
#44
TV Comic (1951)
Popeye (1966)
Beetle Bailey [Cerebral Palsy Association Edition] (1970)
At Ease, Beetle Bailey (1970)
Infinity (1970)
#3b
What Is It Now, Beetle Bailey (1971)
Mad Special [Mad Super Special] (1970)
#9
Beetle Bailey on Parade (1972)
I'll Throw the Book at You, Beetle Bailey (1973)
The Menomonee Falls Guardian (1973)
Sarge Snorkel (1973)
Take Ten, Beetle Bailey (1975)
New Terrytoons (1962)
#35
Shape Up or Ship Out, Beetle Bailey (1974)
Is That All, Beetle Bailey (Beetle Bailey, Is That All?) (1976)
About Face, Beetle Bailey (Beetle Bailey, About Face) (1976)
The Little Monsters (1964)
Underdog (1975)
#7
Gold Key Spotlight (1976)
#2
The Menomonee Falls Gazette (1971)
I'll Flip You for It, Beetle Bailey (1977)
King Reading Library (1973)
Bugs Bunny (1962)
I've Got You On My List, Beetle Bailey (1975)
Give Us a Smile, Beetle Bailey (1979)
Beetle Bailey in the Soup (1981)
Peace, Beetle Bailey (1981)
Beetle Bailey Potato Fancakes! (1982)
Miss Buxley: Sexism in Beetle Bailey? (1982)
Mad (1952)
Ninja High School Yearbook (1989)
#1
Cracked (1985)
Beetle Bailey Giant Size (1992)
#1
Beetle Bailey Tattle "Tail" (1992)
Beetle Bailey Big Book (1992)
#2
The Comics: Since 1945 (2002)
Negative Burn (2007)
#14
The Comics: The Complete Collection (2008)
Sam's Strip: The Comic About Comics (2009)
The Comic Book History of Comics (2012)
Mad's Greatest Writers: Frank Jacobs (2015)
Toyfare: The Toy Magazine (1997)
#48