Cathy Guisewite to end Cathy comic in October
Sad to hear that Cathy Guisewite, creator of the "Cathy" comic strip, is stepping away from the drawing board. The strip, which is perched atop the Baltimore Sun's comics page, will end on Sunday, October 3.
Guisewite's strip started in 1976 (yes, I was amazed that it has been that long, too) and readers laughed along with a character who was chronically worried about relationships, weight and getting organized. When she strayed, her mother was always there to offer for advice -- even if it was the last thing Cathy wanted.
Guisewite's syndicate, Universal Uclick, said she wants to "spend more time with family and pursue new creative venues."
“After almost 34 years of meeting newspaper deadlines,” Guisewite said in a statement, “I’m facing some personal deadlines whose requirements simply exceed my ability to procrastinate any longer: an 18‐year‐old daughter who needs a full‐time mom to help her through her last year of high school and beyond ... beloved parents I want to be able to visit more often … and a creative biological clock, which is urging me to try something else while I can.”
We can all identify with those feelings. Though I'll miss her strip -- as I've missed other favorites such as "The Far Side" and "Calvin and Hobbes" -- I wish her all the best.
Cathy image via Universal Uclick
Comments
Guisewite tells the story of how "Cathy" began. She was working in Detroit as a young advertising writer and sent the pictures to her mother to explain how he felt as a single woman alone in the big city. Cathy Guisewite http://usspost.com/cathy-guisewite-14771/
Posted by: susan | August 12, 2010 1:18 PM
Awe... that's sad.. I love the "wake me up when I'm size 5" of Cathy... :-)...
-Kelly
www.neverendingthoughts.com
Posted by: Kelly Thomson | August 12, 2010 2:32 PM
She might as well end it; she hasn't come up with a single new idea for over 30 years (it's easy to meet deadlines when you basically just keep repeating the same joke over and over.) The strip was never that great to begin with, so it's really no great loss. In fact, maybe now this will open up some space for new up-and-coming cartoonists who (a) have some talent and (b) can come up with some new ideas now & then.
Posted by: Paul | August 12, 2010 3:52 PM
Now if only we could get Jim Davis (Garfield) to stop beating his dead horse, too.
Posted by: Joe | August 12, 2010 4:26 PM
Another something I have loved as long as I can remember, gone. Wow. Thank you for sharing your life with the world. It was hilarious, and touching, wonderful and real. I remember wanting to be able to understand the jokes when I was very young, and sharing them once I was old enough to say I knew what Cathy was going thru. I know whatever you try next will be awesome as well!
Posted by: BlackMamba77 | August 13, 2010 8:13 AM
Now, pleeeease tell me that The Sun is going to find a replacement strip, and NOT subject us to Classic Cathy for the next 30 years!
Posted by: bluzdude | August 13, 2010 10:56 AM
No word yet on the replacement strip. The Sun was taken by surprise by Guisewite's announcement, but it was only a matter of hours before we were called by a rival syndicate aiming to take over the empty slot. If anyone has suggestions for a new strip, now's the time to make them.
Posted by: Dave | August 13, 2010 11:15 AM
How about 9 Chickweed Lane or Mutts? NO "classic Cathy," puleeze!
Posted by: Dahlink | August 14, 2010 7:34 AM
While "Cathy" is ending, "Hurbi" is just getting started! Check him out at GoHurbi.com
Posted by: Sean | August 22, 2010 7:10 PM