Mutt & Jeff, which appeared in American newspapers from 1907 to 1983, was the first successful daily comic strip. Created by Harry "Bud" Fisher (1885–1954), the strip revolved around the comic misadventures of two mismatched friends—Augustus Mutt, who was tall and smart, and Jeff, who was short and simple minded. Where earlier strips appeared only sporadically, Mutt & Jeff was the first feature to run six days a week, use the multiple panel format, and present a regular cast of characters. In 1911, the strip was seen in one of the first comic books (see entry under 1930s—Print Culture in volume 2).

Fisher's strip made its debut on the San Francisco Chronicle sports page on November 15, 1907. Initially, Mutt was the feature's solo star and its stories revolved around the born-loser's hapless attempts to become wealthy. The focus of the strip changed forever on March 27, 1908, when Mutt encountered Jeff in...