Readers sound off on comic strip history, fairy tale updates and corporate stock buybacks

Yorktown, N.Y.: The Daily News missed an opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its color Sunday comics supplement, first appearing on Feb. 25, 1923. Given that The News’ original publisher, Joseph Medill Patterson, hand-picked and often named the comics he wanted, and that The News has one of the richest comics histories in the industry, it’s an omission that speaks to the sad state of interest in comic strips today.

The debut color section ran eight pages (it grew to 24) and featured “The Gumps,” “Winnie Winkle,” “Gasoline Alley,” “Smitty,” “Harold Teen,” “Pigtails,” “The Teenie Weenies” and “Mama’s Angel.” After hundreds came and went, it’s gratifying to see “Gasoline Alley” still here.

A short list of top strips that ran include, in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, “Terry and the Pirates,” “Moon Mullins,” “Little Orphan Annie,” “Dick Tracy,” “Smilin’ Jack,” “Tiny Tim,” “Brenda Starr, Reporter,” “Hopalong Cassidy,” “Beyond Mars,” “Davy Crockett,” “On Stage,” “Closer Than We Think” and “Coloring College.” When the New York Daily Mirror shut down in 1963, The News picked up “Li’l Abner,” “Kerry Drake,” “Rex Morgan, M.D.” and “Louie.” The 1960s gave us “Flubs & Fluffs,” “Hapless Harry” and “Tales of the Green Beret,” with “Beetle Bailey” and “Blondie” coming over from the Journal-American. The 1970s brought “Broom-Hilda,” “Hägar the Horrible,” “The Family Circus,” “Dunagin’s People,” “Doonesbury,” “Motley’s Crew,” “Cathy,” “Peanuts,” “Marmaduke” and “Shoe.” The 1980s gave us “Herman,” “Heathcliff,” “For Better or for Worse,” “The Born Loser,” “Mother Goose and Grimm,” “The Far Side” and the greatest of all, “Calvin and Hobbes.”

The 1990s to present saw the shrinking and institutionalized neglect of the Sunday comics, to the detriment of readers who grew up with “the funnies.” It’s a century legacy to be celebrated. Michael J. Vassallo

Bloomfield, N.J.: Re “Note from the editor: Daily News is dropping ‘Dilbert,’ ” (Feb. 26): Thank you for your decision. Bigoted and racist behavior deserves severe consequences. As a white woman with Black relatives, I’m really glad you drew the line. If only Walt Kelly were still with us, I could recommend a replacement. Pam Peterson

Rahway, N.J.: I just read Voicer Don Bruce’s letter complaining about the Crossword II puzzle of Feb. 12 and I have to agree with him. Referring to Jesus’ last meal as “Last sup” is downright blasphemous. Also, the answer next to it‚ “per crust,” is also completely wrong. Everyone knows that high society is known as upper crust. And what about those circles inside the boxes? What are they, some kind of satanic symbols? I could go on but it’s time for Fox News now. Robert Varady

Cogan Station, Pa.: Puffin Publishing and The Roald Dahl Story Company have come under great criticism for changes made to a number of Dahl’s classic children’s books. These changes brought howls of protest claiming these stories are being sanitized by “snowflakes” who are offended by the original language. Those howlers should take a look at the changes fairy tales have gone through over the centuries. In the earliest Rapunzel tales, Prince Charming convinces her to let down a lot more than her golden hair. Another example: Concerned parents would tell their children that a little elf with a pair of pinchers (think pliers) would go around at night looking for children who chew their fingernails. When he found any naughty nail nibblers, he would pull their fingernails out. Does skipping these two stories at your child’s bedtime make you a snowflake? It did at one time. A larger timeline helps put current events in perspective. David Bros

Bronx: Silly me! All this time, I just assumed that the black bear walking through my neighborhood had flour on his face. Sandy Harris

Fresh Meadows: As the calendar flips from February to March, everyone thinks that spring is just around the corner. But this has been a very messed up winter season, with just a few inches of snow and only a few very cold days between December and February. March can deliver crippling blizzards and extremely cold temperatures, and in 1888, that is exactly what happened. On March 12, New York City was buried under 21 inches of heavy, windblown snow, which paralyzed the city for weeks and killed 200 people. Then in March 1896, a total of 30.5 inches of snow fell during the entire month, wreaking havoc on commerce and industry in the city. On March 3, 1960, nearly 14 inches of snow paralyzed the city for days, along with record cold temperatures after a relatively mild and below-average snowfall winter. So, anyone who thinks that March is springtime, think again. Winter is not about to leave without giving us a blast before spring finally does arrive. John Amato

Brooklyn: Now that Mayor Adams has advised the people of New York City that he got his message to run for mayor from God (“Putting God in gov’t,” March 1), he must keep the public advised. Does he get further messages about budgetary items in dreams? In visions? Does God come to him in images or speak to him in words, or both? And when Hizzoner gets another sign from up high on policy matters , will he let us all know? Steven Rosenzweig

Brooklyn: If Don Lemon thinks Nikki Haley at 51 is “past her prime,” I have to wonder what he thinks of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, both in their 80s and active members of Congress. Or do they get a pass because they are Democrats? Dennis Middlebrooks

Brooklyn: It seems that the Federal Reserve Board, with their frequent and over-the-top rate increases, are determined to increase unemployment and significantly hurt the retirement funds of millions of Americans. These interest rate hikes are doing very little to control inflation because they are an indirect attack on the problem. Instead of putting people out of work and destroying 401(k)s by depressing the stock market, why doesn’t the government just put into place price controls? Many corporations have billions of dollars in additional profits and are now using that money to buy back their stocks, which is an insult to the American public. In addition, they could put in windfall corporate profits taxes and increase the tax on buybacks from 1% to 4%, as suggested by the White House. It is time for elected officials and not the Federal Reserve to face this problem. Robert Mascali

Astoria: Despite all his fabrications, I think we should ease up on George Santos. After all, didn’t he once safely land a plane in the Hudson River? How soon we forget. Dan Rygor

Plainview, L.I.: It’s nice to know that Donald Trump will never have to worry about a place to live. Why do I say that? Because he’s residing rent-free inside Bramhall’s head, along with all those others who have Trump Derangement Syndrome. At least Trump went to East Palestine, Ohio. Joe’s still trying to find it on the map, if he even knows what a map is. John Cilento

Central Islip, L.I.: To Voicer Richard Simon, who made a Trump comment in comparison to my Biden comment: Yes, Richard, and Trump was/is a certified lunatic too! Thomas Sarc

Brooklyn: To Voicer Bob Pascarella: I assume you are being sarcastic when saying Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the physician who examined President Biden, specialized in paleontology, the study of fossils. Your aim was clearly to mock not only the exam, but our president. O’Connor is a licensed doctor of osteopathic medicine, which takes a holistic approach to the human body and focuses on healing and medical care as warranted. He is also a fellow of the Academy of Family Physicians with a specialty in cardiology. O’Connor has legitimate credentials and areas of expertise and is eminently qualified to exam the president. Try to focus more on reality (not Fox News) and spend less of your time disparaging others — especially our president and his physician. Oh, and us “liberals.” Allan Guberman