Chic Young

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Murat Bernard Young (9 January 1901 – 14 March 1973), known as Chic Young, was an American cartoonist known primarily as the creator and original artist of the comic strip Blondie. His other works include the strip Colonel Pottersby and the Duchess, which ran from 1935 through 1963. He received the Reuben Award for Blondie in 1948.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Young attended high school in St Louis before working in offices and the Chicago railways while attempting to find work in the art world. In 1923, Young moved to New York to work with King Features syndicate and in 1924 created the cartoon Dumb Dora, which ran for six years.

Seeking a change, Young created Blondie in 1930, which almost immediately became the most popular comic strip in America. Called by former King Features President Joseph Connelly as "the greatest story teller of his kind since the immortal Charles Dickens", at his peak popularity, Young received more fan mail than any other cartoonist.

Young married Athel Lindorf, a former professional harpist and had two children, Dean and Jeanne. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The strip Blondie is currently written by his son Dean Young. Chic Young's older brother Lyman Young was also a comic strip artist, most famous for the strip Tim Tyler's Luck.

[edit] References

• Strickler, Dave (1995) Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924-1995: The Complete Index, Cambria, CA: Comics Access. ISBN 0-9700077-0-1.
• _________ (1949) Famous Artists and Writers, King Features Syndicate.