Abe Martin | |
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![]() First recognized Abe Martin cartoon | |
Author(s) | Kin Hubbard |
Current status/schedule | Concluded gag-a-day strip |
Launch date | December 17, 1904 |
End date | 1937 |
Syndicate(s) | John F. Dille Co. (c. 1916–1937) |
Publisher(s) | The Indianapolis News |
Genre(s) | Humor comics |
Abe Martin was an American newspaper gag-a-day comic strip, drawn by Kin Hubbard and published from 1904 until 1937 in The Indianapolis News and other newspapers.[1]
Abe Martin was an anti-hero character, making wisecracker jokes and uttering sayings which became popular over the country. He made his first appearance on December 17, 1904.[2] Originally the character's locality wasn't specified, but in a strip from February 3, 1905, he announced: "I'm goin' ter move ter Brown County Tewmorrow", which he did.[3] At the time the character's popularity was such that by 1910 over 200 newspapers carried the strip and special almanacs were made.[4] Notable fans were George Ade, Will Rogers, and James Whitcomb Riley.[2] In an interview with Dick Cavett, S. J. Perelman said Groucho Marx read and quoted Hubbard's writing.[5]
The Indianapolis News published a cartoon by Hubbard on September 15, 1904, featuring another character named Abe Martin.