Held annually in May is National Cartoonist Day, an occasion to recognize and appreciate the myriad of artists and creators who bring our favorite comic book characters to life, including those who work on the Phantom.

National Cartoonist Day is celebrated annually on the 5th of May, having been established in the 1990s by the National Cartoonists Society to promote the cartooning industry and recognize the significant impact cartoonists have on society and culture. The date was specifically chosen to commemorate the first appearance of a color comic strip featuring The Yellow Kid in the New York World newspaper on the 5th of May 1895, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the medium.

From the daily chuckle of comic strips to the epic sweep of graphic novels and the vibrant energy of animation, cartoonists hold a unique power. They make us laugh, ponder and see the world through fresh eyes, often taking us to different worlds or on adventures otherwise unthought of. Cartooning has a way of creating moments in our memory, from a perfectly drawn expression conveying a thousand words, or a witty caption landed with pinpoint accuracy. Stories in our comic books unfold panel by panel, creating unforgettable and instantly recognizable characters, depicted as both friend and foe.

Lee Falk stands as a towering figure in the history of cartooning. In 1936, he gifted the world the Phantom, creating a new mold for future characters of an image of a superhero. The Phantom is a mysterious and enduring figure who has thrilled generations with his jungle and worldly adventures, continuing a unique family legacy commitment to upholding justice. Falk’s masterful storytelling was brought to life by talented artists like Ray Moore, Wilson McCoy, Sy Barry and countless others from around the world, proving the timeless appeal of a well-crafted comic strip.

Cartoonists are more than just artists; they are weavers of worlds, sharp social observers, and pioneers of visual storytelling. They can capture profound emotions in a single frame, deliver biting satire with a clever turn of phrase, and whisk us away to thrilling adventures with a simple line.

In commemoration of this occasion, the comic digital platform of King Features, Comics Kingdom, disseminated a series of images on social media that underscore both the characters and the individuals responsible for their creative realization. Among these posts, the Phantom was acknowledged, highlighting the current creators of the Phantom daily and Sunday comic strips.

Featured in the image above are Tony DePaul, the writer for both the daily and Sunday Phantom comic strips, alongside daily comic strip artist Mike Manley and Sunday comic strip artist Jeff Weigel. The Phantom’s adventures, as rendered by these three accomplished artists, can be accessed daily at no cost on the Comics Kingdom website or may be found in select newspapers around the globe.

National Cartoonist Day is a fantastic reminder of the profound impact and artistry found within the world of cartoons and within the pages of our comic books. Let’s give a special shout-out to the legendary Lee Falk who created the Phantom, and all the talented cartoonists who enrich our lives with their creativity, their stories and their unforgettable illustrations.

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