Milton Caniff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milton Caniff |
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Milton Caniff in 1982
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| Born | Milton Arthur Paul Caniff February 28, 1907 Hillsboro, Ohio, US |
| Died | April 3, 1988 (aged 81) New York City, US |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist |
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Notable works
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Dickie Dare Terry and the Pirates Steve Canyon |
| Awards | Full list |
Milton Arthur Paul Caniff (February 28, 1907 – April 3, 1988) was an American cartoonist. He was famous for creating the popular comic strips Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon.
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About Milton Caniff
Milton Caniff was born in Hillsboro, Ohio. He was an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. He even received a special award from them later on.
While in high school in Dayton Ohio, Caniff drew cartoons for local newspapers. He studied at Ohio State University and continued drawing for student magazines. After graduating in 1930, he worked for a newspaper called the Columbus Dispatch. However, he lost his job during the Great Depression, a time when many people struggled to find work. A famous cartoonist named Billy Ireland told him to "Stick to your inkpots, kid, actors don't eat regularly," which helped Caniff choose cartooning over acting.
Milton Caniff passed away on April 3, 1988. He was buried in Mount Repose Cemetery in Haverstraw, New York.
His Famous Comic Strips
In 1932, Caniff moved to New York City to work for the Associated Press. He drew different comic strips and panel cartoons. A panel cartoon is a single drawing, often with a funny caption.
Dickie Dare
In 1933, Caniff started an adventure comic strip called Dickie Dare. It was inspired by other adventure stories like Flash Gordon. The main character, Dickie Dare, was a young boy who dreamed of adventures with famous characters like Robin Hood.
Later, the strip changed. Dickie no longer dreamed his adventures. Instead, he traveled the world with an adult writer named "Dynamite Dan" Flynn. They had real adventures together.
Terry and the Pirates
In 1934, Caniff began his most famous comic strip, Terry and the Pirates. The publisher wanted an adventure story set in Asia, which was seen as a mysterious place. Caniff learned about the history of China and how some families were pirates for generations.
The story began with a young boy named Terry Lee and his adult friend, Pat Ryan. They went on many adventures. As the years passed, Terry grew older. During World War II, he even joined the Army Air Force.
Caniff created many interesting characters for this strip. Some were "pirates" and others were allies. These included Connie, their helpful interpreter, and Big Stoop, a quiet giant. Other characters were Burma, a mysterious blonde, and Hotshot Charlie, Terry's friend during the war.
Caniff's most well-known character was the Dragon Lady. She was a powerful pirate queen who seemed tough and smart. Readers often wondered if she had a secret crush on Pat Ryan.
Male Call
During World War II, Caniff created another comic strip called Male Call. This strip was special because it was only for military newspapers. Caniff gave his work on this strip for free to help the armed forces.
The main character was Miss Lace, a beautiful woman who lived near military bases. She was friendly with the soldiers and called them "Generals." Caniff said she was there to remind the servicemen what they were fighting for.
Male Call showed the lives of soldiers in an honest way. One strip showed Miss Lace dating a soldier who had lost an arm in battle. She got angry when a civilian made fun of him. Another strip showed her dancing with a man who was blind from battle. Caniff continued Male Call until March 1946, after the war ended.
In 1946, Caniff decided to leave Terry and the Pirates. Even though it was very popular, he did not own the rights to his own creation. This was common for comic strips back then. He wanted to own his work. So, he started a new strip for a different publisher, Marshall Field. Caniff drew his last Terry and the Pirates strip in December 1946.
Steve Canyon
Caniff's new comic strip, Steve Canyon, began in January 1947. Like Terry and the Pirates, it was an action strip with a pilot as the main character. Steve Canyon started as a civilian pilot. But he joined the Air Force during the Korean War and stayed in the Air Force for the rest of the strip's run.
Steve Canyon was very successful and was published in more newspapers than Terry and the Pirates. There was even a short-lived Steve Canyon television show in 1958. Steve Canyon was often called the "unofficial spokesman" for the Air Force.
However, during the Vietnam War, some readers did not like Steve Canyon's strong support for the military. The strip's popularity went down. Still, Caniff was highly respected in the cartooning world. He continued drawing Steve Canyon until he passed away in 1988. The strip ended a few months later because Caniff had decided that no one else should continue his work.
Caniff often based characters on real people. For example, Charlie Vanilla was based on his friend Charles Russhon. Miss Mizzou was inspired by Marilyn Monroe.
Awards and Recognition
Milton Caniff helped start the National Cartoonists Society. He was president of the society in 1948 and 1949. He won their first Cartoonist of the Year Award in 1947 for his work on both Steve Canyon and Terry and the Pirates. He won this award again in 1972. The award's trophy is called the Reuben. He also received an Inkpot Award in 1974.
In 1988, he was added to the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for people who have made a big impact on comic books. The National Cartoonists Society has even named an award after him, called the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 1977, Milton Caniff's collection of papers and original artwork became the start of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. This huge collection includes his drawings, letters, photos, and awards.
His Influence on Other Artists
Milton Caniff passed away in 1988. His drawing style had a huge impact on many other cartoonists. Artists like Jack Kirby and John Romita, Sr. were influenced by him. His style also inspired artists in Europe, like Jijé and Hugo Pratt.
Caniff as a Comic Character
Since 1995, a series of French-Belgian comics has featured a fictional version of Milton Caniff. These comics are mainly for adults. They tell the adventures of an artist's model named Dottie Partington during and after World War II.
In these comics, Milton is an artist who draws a strip called Poison Ivy to cheer up the troops during the war. Later, he is shown working on Steve Canyon. This version of Caniff is not always shown in a positive light.
Images for kids
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Milton Caniff's birthplace at 149 East North Street in Hillsboro, Ohio.
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Milton Caniff Ohio Historical Marker at the Highland County District Library in Hillsboro, Ohio.
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A panel from Dickie Dare.
See also
In Spanish: Milton Caniff para niños
