Makin' B'lieve

In this Sunday comic strip by Dwiggins, children enact an elaborate pirate initiation ritual, complete with blindfolded plank-walking and treasure-hunting. The narrative unfolds across six panels using sequential art conventions—speech balloons, consistent character design, and varied composition—that had become standard in newspaper comics by the early 1900s. Young Flossy nearly drowns during the final 'water test,' turning imaginative play into unexpected physical peril. Dwiggins employs sight gags and dramatic timing typical of the era's newspaper strips, which served as a primary source of visual storytelling before the comic book format emerged as a distinct medium.