Why you love the funny pages.

One of several reasons why you people love comic strips is the characters. Take me for example, my alligatory eyes, my alligatory disposition, you love me!

Ahem, seriously now. When you first begin reading a specific comic strip, you find humor in it or you like the drawings or you relate to the situation somehow. But at first, you don't truly know the characters. Sure you might be able to immediately perceive certain characters' qualities like stupidity, snobbery or laziness but you still don't know him. After reading a comic strip daily or weekly or as often as you may, you eventually get to know the them like a good friend. This may take at least several months of reading.

Think of a strip that you've read for years. I assume you know its main players quite well, how they think, act and relate to each other. No other character driven artform achieves this kind of bond between you and itself. Certain kinds of literature accomplishes it, few movies do it. Comic strips can last years, even decades and it is this longevity that allows you to get to know the characters in a unique way.

What are your favorite characters?