Bob Bolling, born June 9, 1928, is an American cartoonist whose six-decade-plus association with Archie Comics stands as one of the most enduring relationships between a single creator and a publisher in the medium's history. He is best remembered for conceiving *Little Archie*, a spin-off series that recast the Riverdale gang as young children, giving the Archie universe a gentler, more whimsical corner that proved durably popular with younger readers.
Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #25 (1956)
Bolling joined Archie Comics in 1956 and over the following decades demonstrated remarkable versatility, working as writer, artist, inker, colorist, and letterer — often wearing several of those hats on the same project. That breadth of craft is reflected in credits spanning 633 issues across titles including *Archie's Pals 'n' Gals*, *Archie and Me*, *Betty*, *Laugh Comics Digest*, and *Betty & Veronica Double Digest*, among others. His linework carried a clean, warm expressiveness well-suited to the humor and heart that defined Archie's publishing identity.
Pat the Brat #15 (1956)
Where many contributors passed through Archie Comics briefly, Bolling remained a consistent creative presence well into the twenty-first century, with credits extending to 2025. His creation of *Little Archie* alone secures his place as a significant figure in mainstream American humor comics, having expanded a beloved franchise in a direction that entertained generations of readers.
