| A syndicated comic strip created by Mort Walker. Beetle
Bailey first appeared in 1950 and was the last comic strip to
be approved for publication by William Randolph Hearst for
King Features.
Beetle Bailey started his comic strip career as a college student
from Kansas City, MO. As the United States entered the
Korean War, Beetle accidently signed up for service and has
served in the U.S. Army since then. Beetle is also known as
being one of the few comic strip characters to appear in other
strips, appearing in Hi and Lois, since he is the brother of the
wife in the strip Lois Flagstaff.
Beetle has been under the command of Sgt. Orville Snorkle for
the majority of his time in the service. His fellow soldiers include
Julius (the nerd), Plato (the philospher), Killer (the ladies' man) and Zero (the dim one). Sgt. Snorkle
is under the command of Lt. Fuzz and Lt. Flapp. The
base commander of Camp Swampy is General Amos Halftrack. General Halftrack's secretary is the blonde-haired beauty Miss Buxley.
The humor in the comic strip does not generally run
to biting social commentary or witty plays on words. The
humor is more situational and predictable in its nature,
but enjoyable as lighter fare. | 
