From the exhibition
Having Fun in the Jungle
· July 23, 1905

This Sunday strip follows a group of characters through six panels of escalating jungle mishaps. The narrative unfolds through sequential art—a visual storytelling method still central to comics today. Speech balloons anchor dialogue and internal thoughts, while consistent character design across panels allows readers to track the action. The gag progression, from initial setup through physical comedy to climactic payoff, became standard to newspaper comic strips. Early 1900s strips like this established the visual grammar of modern comics: bordered panels, varied angles, and expressive linework that conveyed movement and emotion. Published in Sunday papers nationwide, these strips reached millions and proved comics viable entertainment, laying groundwork for the medium's explosive growth.
Public domain, restored and presented by comicbooks.com public-domain