Barney Baxter

Barney Baxter in the Air is an American comic strip by Frank Miller. It started its run on September 30, 1935, for the Denver's Rocky Mountain News. Starting on December 7, 1936, it was syndicated by King Features. Barney Baxter was an "adventure strip" involving heroic exploits centering on aviation.
The strip was drawn by Miller until 1943 when Bob Naylor took over the duties for a short period. In 1943, the title was shortened to Barney Baxter. Miller returned to the strip in 1946. The strip was discontinued by King Features on January 22, 1950, following Miller's death on March 12, 1949.

Characters and story

Young aviator Barney Baxter experienced numerous airborne adventures, and during World War II, he battled both German and Japanese villains. Baxter was often accompanied by his sidekick Gopher Gus, who was drawn with the exaggerated facial features of a "humour strip" character. Other characters were Barney's mother, his rival love interests, Patricia and Maura, and his buddy Hap Walters. Comic strip historian Don Markstein noted: