Nancy (comic strip): Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Nancy is an American daily comic strip written and drawn by Ernie Bushmiller. The character of Nancy, a precocious, pre-pubescent little girl, originated in the strip Fritzi Ritz, about the air-headed flapper title character. This strip was started in 1922 by Larry Whittington, and taken over by Bushmiller three years later. In 1933, Bushmiller introduced her niece, Nancy, who took over the strip, which was renamed Nancy in 1938.

Bushmiller refined and simplified his drawing style over the years to create a uniquely stylized comic world.

Bushmiller won the Reuben Award for Best Cartoonist of the Year in 1976.

Although Bushmiller passed away in 1982, his strip continues to the present day, done by different writers and artists. Since 1995, the strip has been written and drawn by Guy Gilchrist and Brad Gilchrist.

Nancy was honored with a U.S. postage stamp in 1995.

Characters

• Nancy
• Aunt Fritzi, Nancy's aunt, with whom she lives.
• Sluggo, Nancy's best friend. Sluggo is Nancy's age and is a poor child from the wrong side of the tracks.
• Rollo, the rich kid
• Irma, Nancy's friend

There were also a bevy of various other children who made semi-regular appearances.

• Nancy was the subject of Andy Warhol's 1961 painting, Nancy.
• Nancy was the subject of several pop art works by Joe Brainard:
  • If Nancy Was an Ashtray, 1972
  • If Nancy Was a Boy, 1972
  • If Nancy Was a da Vinci Sketch, 1972
  • Nancy Diptych, 1974
  • If Nancy Was a Painting by de Kooning, 1975
• Cartoonist Bill Griffith has used the characters and emulated Buchmiller's drawing style sporadically in his own Zippy the Pinhead comic strip.