This Day in Comic Book History: July 3
This Day in Comic Book History: July 3
July 3 belongs above all to one man: Rube Goldberg, the cartoonist who became so famous for his absurdly complicated machines that his name entered the English language as an adjective. Comics' most prestigious award is named after him.
July 3, 1883: Birth of Rube Goldberg, Cartoonist and Cultural Icon
Rube Goldberg Born — July 3
Creator of absurdly complicated machine cartoons · Pulitzer Prize winner · The Reuben Award is named after him · His name became a dictionary word
Rube Goldberg was born on July 3, 1883, and became one of the most culturally influential cartoonists in American history — so influential that "Rube Goldberg machine" became a permanent part of the English language, used to describe any needlessly complex device that accomplishes something simple. His newspaper cartoons featuring elaborate, multi-step contraptions delighted millions of readers and demonstrated that cartoonists could achieve cultural impact far beyond the pages of their publications. The National Cartoonists Society's highest honor, the Reuben Award, is named after his most famous character, Reuben the Kibitzer. Goldberg won a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1948.
July 3, 2007: Death of Doug Marlette, Pulitzer-Winning Cartoonist
Doug Marlette — July 3
Pulitzer Prize editorial cartoonist · Creator of Kudzu comic strip · Charlotte Observer and Newsday · Died in car accident 2007
On July 3, 2007, the comics world lost Doug Marlette, the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist and creator of the beloved Kudzu comic strip, who died in a car accident in Mississippi at age 57. Marlette was one of the sharpest political cartoonists of his generation, known for provocative, incisive work that frequently stirred controversy while maintaining artistic integrity. His Kudzu strip, set in the American South and centered on a Baptist preacher's congregation, was warm, funny, and surprisingly literary — a reminder that great comic strip art can encompass both political fire and gentle human comedy.
July 3: The Reuben Award — Comics' Highest Honor
The Reuben Award
Named after Rube Goldberg's character · Given annually by the National Cartoonists Society · Comics' equivalent of the Oscar
The Reuben Award — named after the character Reuben the Kibitzer from Rube Goldberg's (born this date, 1883) cartoons — is the highest honor in American cartooning, presented annually by the National Cartoonists Society to the Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year. Past winners include Charles Schulz (multiple times), Milton Caniff, Hal Foster, Bill Watterson, Gary Larson, and Dav Pilkey, among many others. The award's continued existence is a testament to Goldberg's enduring cultural legacy more than a century after his birth.
🏆 Top 10 Key Comics Tied to July 3 History
- Rube Goldberg's Inventions (various) — The legendary newspaper cartoons of Rube Goldberg (born this date, 1883); so culturally impactful that "Rube Goldberg machine" became a dictionary entry.
- Kudzu #1 (1982 collection) — Doug Marlette's (died this date, 2007) beloved Southern comic strip; a warm, funny, literate portrait of small-town American faith.
- Peanuts: The Complete Collection (various years) — Charles Schulz, multiple Reuben Award winner; the award named after Rube Goldberg (born this date) that Schulz dominated.
- Calvin and Hobbes: Complete (Andrews McMeel) — Bill Watterson's masterpiece; Watterson won the Reuben Award in 1986 and 1988 — the award named after Goldberg, born this date.
- The Complete Far Side (Andrews McMeel) — Gary Larson's definitive collection; Larson won the Reuben Award in 1990 and 1994 — comics' Oscar, named after Goldberg.
- Mad #1 (October 1952) — The satirical institution that absorbed Goldberg's tradition of comedic absurdism and applied it to American pop culture.
- Bloom County: A Complete Opus (various) — Berkeley Breathed's Pulitzer-winning strip; Breathed won the Reuben Award in 2008, honoring Goldberg (born this date).
- Doonesbury: The Complete Collection (various) — Garry Trudeau's political strip; Trudeau won a Reuben in 2005. The award Doug Marlette (died this date, 2007) never won despite his Pulitzer-winning work.
- For Better or For Worse: The Complete Library (various) — Lynn Johnston's multigenerational epic; Johnston won the Reuben Award in 1985, named after today's birthday cartoonist.
- Funky Winkerbean Complete (various) — Tom Batiuk's strip; Doug Marlette (died this date, 2007) was a contemporary of Batiuk's generation of newspaper cartoonists who carried cartooning's prestige forward.
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