Curtis (comic Strip)

Curtis (comic Strip)

Curtis is a nationally syndicated comic strip written and illustrated by Ray Billingsley. It began on October 3, 1988, and is syndicated by King Features.

The strip mostly involves the title character, Curtis, getting in trouble at home and school, trying in many attempts to make his father, Greg, quit smoking (a storyline which earned Billingsley the American Lung Association's President's Award in 2000), trying to win the heart of aspiring diva singer Michelle and stuffing his face.

Curtis will often fantasize at school (rather than paying attention to his teacher, Mrs. Nelson) about his favorite superhero, "Supercaptaincoolman" (a superhero who is constantly defending the city against the insidious schemes of the evil "Doctor Horsehead").

Once a year, Billingsley has Curtis and the gang take a hiatus one day after Christmas (or first Monday after Christmas, if Christmas falls on a Saturday or Sunday) and focus on a special two-to-three week inspirational story to celebrate the Festival of Kwanzaa. Also, around the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday, the strip will discuss some aspect of Dr. King's life. The month of February is also dedicated to Black History Month, in which Mrs. Nelson assigns her class to write about various African-American figures in history.

Curtis featured Dagwood of the Blondie comic as part of the 75th anniversary celebration for Blondie. Unlike Dennis the Menace, Hi and Lois, B.C., Family Circus or Baby Blues, the other comic strips that participated in the anniversary crossover, Curtis took an extended storyline lasting from August 29 to September 3, like Hägar the Horrible. Curtis was also featured in the 75th Anniversary strip on September 4.