View source for Beetle Bailey

{{short description|American comic strip}}
{{mi|
{{inuniverse|date=August 2025}}
{{essay-entry|date=August 2025}}
}}
{{Infobox Comic strip
|title = Beetle Bailey
|image = Recruta zero 03.png
|creator = [[Mort Walker]] (1950–2018)
|illustrator = [[Mort Walker]] (1950–2018)
|current = Neal, Brian & Greg Walker (1982–present)<ref name="usa100526"/>
|status = Running daily and Sunday
|syndicate = [[King Features Syndicate]]
|genre = Humor, [[Gag-a-day]]
|first = {{start date and age|1950|09|4}}
|last =
}}
[[File:Beetle Bailey Comic Panel.png|thumb|right|A page from the comic book version of ''Beetle Bailey'']]
'''''Beetle Bailey''''' is an American [[comic strip]] created by [[cartoonist]] [[Mort Walker]], published since September 4, 1950.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Walker | first1= Mort |author-link1= Mort Walker |editor1-first=Alf |editor1-last= Thorsjö |title= Beetle Bailey 1950–1952 |year= 2008 |publisher= [[Egmont Kärnan AB]]/Checker Book Publishing Group|isbn= 978-1-933160-71-9 |oclc= 191244495 |page= 6}}</ref> It is set on a fictional [[United States Army]] post. In the years just before Walker's death in 2018 (at age 94), it was among the oldest comic strips still being produced by its original creator.<ref name="usa100526">{{cite news |first=David |last=Colton |work=[[USA Today]] |title='Beetle Bailey' marches on, with artist Mort Walker leading |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-05-27-Beetle27_ST_N.htm |date=May 26, 2010 |access-date=June 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530043117/http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-05-27-Beetle27_ST_N.htm |archive-date=2010-05-30 |url-status=live}}</ref> Over the years, Mort Walker had been assisted by (among others) [[Jerry Dumas]], [[Bob Gustafson]], Frank Johnson and Walker's sons, Neal, Brian and Greg Walker, who are continuing the strip after his death.

==Overview==
Beetle was originally a college student at Rockview University, as of September 4, 1950. Although he was as lazy in college as he would be in the service, he did have a broken down [[Decrepit car|jalopy]] and was the star of the track team (apparently on a scholarship).<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 pp.8-9,41</ref> He had four friends: Bitter Bill; Diamond Jim; Freshman and Sweatsock.<ref>"Ibid p.40</ref> He also smoked a pipe.<ref>Ibid.pp:8-9; 41</ref> The characters in that early strip were modeled after Walker's [[Kappa Sigma]] fraternity brothers at the [[University of Missouri]]. On March 13, 1951, during the strip's first year, Beetle quit school and enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he has remained ever since. His reason for enlisting was because he was running away after being nearly trapped by both his angry jealous first girlfriend "Buzz" and a second girl who was chasing him.<ref>Ibid.p.9</ref>

[[File:BeetleBailey1950.jpg|thumb|The very first Beetle Bailey comic strip circa September 4th, 1950. Copyright not renewed in 1977.]]

Most of the humor in ''Beetle Bailey'' revolves around the inept characters stationed at Camp Swampy (inspired by [[Camp Crowder]], where Walker had once been stationed while in the Army), which is located near the town of Hurleyburg<ref name="hurleyburg">{{cite web|last=Fruhlinger|first=Josh|author-link=Josh Fruhlinger|title=She already has a crown, General, you'd better watch yourself|work=The Comics Curmudgeon|date=June 18, 2014|url=http://joshreads.com/?p=21659|access-date=June 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626135013/http://joshreads.com/?p=21659|archive-date=2014-06-26|url-status=live}}</ref> at "[[Parris Island, South Carolina|Parris Island, S.C.]]" (a real-life Marine Corps base).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://hiandlois.com/comics/december-28-2014/| title=Hi and Lois| work=hiandlois.com| date= December 28, 2014| access-date=2014-12-28| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105090030/http://hiandlois.com/comics/december-28-2014/| archive-date=2015-01-05| url-status=live}}</ref> Private Bailey is a lazy sort who usually naps and avoids work, and thus is often the subject of verbal and physical chastising from his senior NCO, Sergeant Snorkel. The characters never seem to see combat themselves, with the exception of mock battles and combat drills.

Beetle is always seen with a hat or helmet which covers his forehead and eyes. Even on leave, his "civvies" include a [[pork pie hat]] worn in the same style. He can be seen without it only once—in the original strip, when he was still a college student. The strip was pulled and never ran in any newspaper. It has been printed only in various books on the strip's history.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=4342143 | title=anyone have an image of Beetle Bailey strip where his eyes are shown? | website=collectors-society.com | date=2010 | access-date=May 17, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816205734/http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=4342143 | archive-date=2016-08-16 | url-status=live}}</ref> One daily strip had Sarge scare Beetle's hat off, but Beetle was wearing sunglasses.<ref name="ReferenceA">"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.87</ref> In a 3/27/1966 dream sequence by Sgt. Snorkel (a parody of the 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'', with Sgt. Snorkel as "Fatman" and Beetle as "Slobber"), the heroes try to stop the infamous "Pizza Pete"; Beetle/Slobber wears a mask but his eyes can be seen<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.48</ref> The only acknowledged picture of Beetle Bailey's eyes (two black dots on a piece of paper held by Beetle and Snorkel) was published in 2000.<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.128</ref> In his 1975 memoir ''Backstage at the Strips'', Walker addressed the question of Beetle's eyes, saying:
<blockquote>I constantly get inquiries as to the color of Beetle's eyes. As if ''I'' knew. Black as ink, I suppose, if he ''has'' any. Maybe there's ''nothing'' under the hat. Why should there be? There is nothing until I draw it, and I've never drawn his eyes. Why, then, should he have any?<ref name=Backstage>''Backstage at the Strips'', by Mort Walker; p. 131; published 175 by Mason Charter; LCCN: 76-49696' ISBN" 0-89104-057-9</ref></blockquote>

One [[running gag]] has Sergeant Snorkel hanging helplessly from a small tree branch after having fallen off a cliff, with the first instance running on August 16, 1956. While he is never shown falling off, or even walking close to the edge of a cliff, he always seems to hold on to that same branch, yelling for help.
[[File:Beetle running gag 20071121.png|frame|center|''Beetle Bailey'' (November 21, 2007): In this running gag, Sergeant Snorkel hangs from a small tree growing out of a cliff, while Private Bailey is seen trying to help him—and himself]]

==Publication history==
During the first two years of ''Beetle Bailey''{{'}}s run (1950–1952), Walker did all work on the strip himself, including writing, penciling, inking and lettering; however, in 1952 he hired cartoonist [[Fred Rhoads]] as his first assistant.<ref>{{cite book| last= Whiton| first= Jason |year= 2005| title= Mort Walker: Conversations | publisher= Univ. Press of Mississippi| pages= 245–46| isbn= 978-1-578-06700-8}}</ref> After that, numerous people assisted Walker on the strip through the years.

As of 2016, the strip was being [[Comic strip syndication|syndicated]] (by [[King Features]]) in 1,800 papers in the United States and the rest of the world.<ref>Dwyer, Ed. [https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2016/11/the-funny-papers/ "CULTURE: The Funny Papers: Newspapers may be in trouble, but the comic strip is alive and well—and flourishing online"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025070947/https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2016/11/the-funny-papers/ |date=2018-10-25}} ''Saturday Evening Post'' (November 7, 2016).</ref>

In [[Sweden]], the strip received [[:sv:Knasen (serietidning)|a dedicated magazine]] in 1970, with a Norwegian version being added the following year, which is published to this day as of 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.storyhouseegmont.no/billy|title=Billy|language=nb|access-date=2021-02-09|archive-date=2021-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117113343/https://www.storyhouseegmont.no/billy|url-status=live}}</ref> Denmark also has dedicated (albeit not exclusive) magazine,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basserne.dk/|title=Basserne|language=da|access-date=2021-10-11|archive-date=2021-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011065124/https://www.basserne.dk/|url-status=live}}</ref> named "Basserne", first published in 1973.

==Characters and story==
===Main characters===
*'''Private Carl James "Beetle" Bailey'''—the main character and the strip's namesake, a feckless, shirking, perpetual goof-off and straggler known for his chronic laziness and generally insubordinate attitude. Slack, hapless, lanky and freckled, Beetle's eyes are always concealed, whether by headgear or, in the rare instance of not wearing any (e.g., in the shower), by his hair.{{efn|Beetle's eyes are seen in the animated cartoon "Son of a Gun of a Gun" (1963) at 4:42. His wide-open eyes are seen in the dark mouth of the cannon blinking.<ref>''beetle bailey ® The Complete Collection: 13 Episodes on 2 DVDs!'', Disc One, Episode 6, "Son of a Gun of a Gun", Hearst Entertainment by Mill Creek Entertainment.</ref>}}{{efn|A 1966 spoof of ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' called "Fatman and Slobber" shows Beetle Bailey's eyes in a face mask.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.66batman.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=196&p=32536#p32536| work=Beetle Bailey| title=Beetle Bailey, 3/27/66-'Fatman And Slobber'| via=66 batman.com; posted March 6, 2015| access-date=May 17, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825074055/http://www.66batman.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=196&p=32536#p32536| archive-date=2018-08-25| url-status=live}}</ref>}} He is an expert in camouflage as he is often hiding from Sarge. He is also a better card player than Sgt. Snorkel, once winning Snorkel's stripes in a poker game.<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p. 22.</ref> His nickname was given to him by his aunt who thought his [[freckles]] made him look like a [[Coccinellidae|ladybug beetle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/comics-king/?feature_id=beetle-bailey-1/2024-02-05|title=Beetle Bailey |work=[[Seattle Times]]|date=February 5, 2024|access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref> In early strips, it was revealed that he is the brother of Lois Flagston (née Bailey) of the ''[[Hi and Lois]]'' comic strip, which Mort Walker wrote, and [[Dik Browne]] drew. Although many of the early comics show Beetle ''et al'' are from "Company A",<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.6,42</ref> by 2014 the designation had been changed to "Kilo Company" 3rd Battalion of the [[9th Infantry Regiment (United States)|9th Infantry Regiment]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://hiandlois.com/comics/december-28-2014/| title=Hi and Lois| date=December 28, 2014| via=hiandlois.com| access-date=2014-12-28| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105090030/http://hiandlois.com/comics/december-28-2014/| archive-date=2015-01-05| url-status=live}}</ref> in the fictional 13th Division.<ref>{{cite web | title=Beetle Bailey | date=January 27, 2015 | url=https://www.dailyrepublic.com/comics/beetle-bailey-jan-27-2/ | access-date=7 June 2023 | archive-date=8 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608152808/https://www.dailyrepublic.com/comics/beetle-bailey-jan-27-2/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Beetle's and Lois's grandmother came from Dublin, Ireland.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://hiandlois.com/comics/march-17-2015/| title=Hi and Lois| date=March 17, 2015| via=hiandlois.com| access-date=2015-03-19| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324042900/http://hiandlois.com/comics/march-17-2015/| archive-date=2015-03-24| url-status=live}}</ref> He has an enforced chef's palate from being forced to taste Cookie's questionable preparations. A running gag is that Beetle is sent to peel potatoes as punishment for screwing up - after 38 years in the army, as of 8-21-1989, he has peeled 50,000 potatoes.<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" p.103</ref> On one occasion on field exercises when his "782 gear" was supposed to be laid out for inspection by Halftrack, Beetle was the only soldier to have none of his gear with him; a running gag is Beetle lying down to take a nap anywhere, even in front of Sgt Snorkel.<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey".p.79, 86</ref> A second gag is Beetle's bungling of any simple assignment, even trying to fill the sugar bowls in the mess hall during his first year.<ref>"50 years of Beatle Bailey", p.11</ref> Beetle has a brother Chigger.<ref>{{cite web|url=
https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2025-07-03|title=Beetle Bailey |work=[[Comics Kingdom]]|date=July 3, 2025|access-date=July 3, 2025}}</ref>
*'''Sergeant 1st Class Orville P. Snorkel'''—Beetle's [[platoon sergeant]] and nemesis, introduced in 1951. Sarge is known to frequently beat up Beetle for any excuse he can think of, leaving Beetle a shapeless pulp. Once, in the February 2, 1971 strip, he even shoved Beetle through a knothole in the floorboard. Sarge is too lovable to be a villain, however. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Obese, snaggle-toothed and volatile, Sarge can be alternately short-tempered and sentimental. He and Beetle seem to have a mutual love/hate relationship; much of the time there is an implied truce between them. They share an uneasy alliance that sometimes borders on genuine (albeit unequal) friendship. Sarge is also a helpless foodie, loves food like crazy and does not miss even a single chance where he can lay his hands on food. He is seen gobbling up cookies and cakes that Beetle's mother lovingly sends him. Sarge is sometimes also seen at a pub drinking several glasses of beer. In some early strips Sarge was married, but he was later [[retcon]]ned into an unmarried army lifer, who knows next to nothing about civilian life. Despite his grouchiness and bossiness, Sarge ''does'' have a soft side, which he usually keeps concealed. He is from Pork Corners, Kansas. He is also known to be foul-mouthed, even compared to the rest of the cast. Sarge's mother's maiden name is "Papadopoulos".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://beetlebailey.com/comics/november-19-2017/|title=Beetle Bailey|date=November 19, 2017|work=BeetleBailey.com|access-date=2017-11-19|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121162942/http://beetlebailey.com/comics/november-19-2017/|archive-date=2017-11-21|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''Otto'''—Sgt. Snorkel's [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]], look-alike bulldog whom Sarge dresses up the same as himself, in an army uniform. Otto is fiercely protective of Sarge and seems to have a particular antipathy toward Beetle. His first appearance was July 17, 1956; originally he was a regular dog who walked on all fours, but Mort Walker finally decided to make him more human-like, believing he would be "funnier that way.". Otto got his army uniform in the June 6, 1958 strip.
*'''Brigadier General Amos T. Halftrack'''—the inept, frustrated, alcoholic commander of Camp Swampy, introduced in 1951. He is 78 years old, from [[Kenner, Louisiana]]—though according to Capt. Scabbard he was born in China (April 28, 1971). As of April 26, 1980 he was married to his wife Martha for 30 years (Halftrack says ruefully after being married to his wife for so long that she must take mental telepathy lessons as she can know whatever he thinks about.<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.82</ref>) He loves to golf, much to his wife Martha's dismay; although he is a terrible golfer and scored a hole in one only once<ref name="ReferenceA"/> likewise his golfing clothes are so ridiculous his wife compares him to clown [[Ronald McDonald]].<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.92</ref> He sometimes dreams about his secretary, Miss Buxley. At his home, the only one who likes him is his pet dog.<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.122;126</ref> He also has a "General Halfrack Fan Club" (1 member) <ref>Comic 5-26-2007</ref> An actual "[[Half-track]]" is a military vehicle.
*'''Miss Buxley'''—Halftrack's blonde, buxom civilian secretary—and occasional soldier's date (as well as a constant distraction for Halftrack).<ref>{{cite web|author=Walker, Mort |title= Beetle Bailey|via=chron.com, ''Houston Chronicle''|date=2008-04-02 |url=http://www.chron.com/apps/comics/showComick.mpl?date=20080402&name=Beetle_Bailey|access-date=2013-09-03}}{{dead link|date=December 2023}}</ref> Miss Buxley has an apparent interest in Beetle and later becomes his girlfriend, but is constantly pursued by Killer. Although she officially became part of the comic strip 11-17-1971; she made an earlier cameo in 1964 as that of woman who refused to date Killer because she dated officers only.<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.43,62</ref>
*'''Lieutenant Sonny Fuzz'''—very young (with noticeably pointy eyebrows and very little facial hair), overly earnest, anal-retentive and "by the book" and highly susceptible to squeaky furniture. The apple-polishing Fuzz is always trying to impress uninterested superiors (especially Halftrack), and "rub it in the noses" of his subordinates. He was introduced March 7, 1956 and even then he was so naive that Pvt Cosmo actually won Fuzz's uniform in a dice game.<ref>50 years of Beatle Bailey .p.21</ref> Mort Walker said he modeled the character and personality of Lt. Fuzz on himself, having taken himself too seriously after completing Officer Training.<ref name="edrants.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.edrants.com/segundo/mort-walker/ |title=Mort Walker (BSS #216) &#124; The Bat Segundo Show & Follow Your Ears |date=21 May 2008 |publisher=Edrants.com |access-date=2013-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105175047/http://www.edrants.com/segundo/mort-walker/ |archive-date=2013-11-05 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lt. Fuzz has also managed to get on Sarge's bad side, albeit not as much as the enlisted men. A strip had Lt. Fuzz discussing with Sarge about the fact that Beetle Bailey has been a private for a long time and recommends he be sent before a promotion board. Sarge flashes back to all of Beetle's errors, then yells in fury at Lt. Fuzz, who has no idea what he did to infuriate Sgt. Snorkel.<ref>50 years of Beatle Bailey .p.68;89;111</ref>
*'''Lieutenant Jackson Flap'''—the strip's first black character, often touchy and suspicious but effortlessly cool, introduced in 1970. Originally wore an [[afro]] hairstyle, but later shaved it off as later regulations disallowed many hairdos. Has often been seen with a beard, and is in most ways the total opposite to Lt. Fuzz, even though they share the same rank. Walker created Flap due to critique of the all-White crew of the comic strip, and was immediately censored by US Army newspaper ''Stars and Stripes'' until criticism made the publication revert the decision and publish strips with Flap in them along with the rest.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
*'''Cookie (Cornelius) Jowls'''—the mess sergeant, who smokes cigarettes while preparing the mess hall's questionable menu (infamous for rubbery meatballs and tough-as-rawhide steaks). He practices no sanitary food preparation measures aside from wearing a chef hat, and is almost always seen wearing a [[Tank top (shirt)|tank top]]. Walker once described him as "the sum of all Army cooks I've met in my life." He bears a striking resemblance to SFC Snorkel and has also been known to occasionally beat up on Beetle. Like Sarge, he also loves food, though he is not above using Beetle as a [[guinea pig]] (which Beetle loathes). Although similar to Sarge, Cookie has had the most tension with Snorkel, particularly when Sarge raided the mess hall after Cookie stopped working and the kitchen was off-limits. In the strip of February 8, 2022, he reveals his real first name to be Cornelius. He also revealed that his sense of taste was nonexistent.
*'''Private "Killer" Diller'''—the notorious ladies' man and Beetle's frequent crony—introduced in 1951. His garrison cap wiggles whenever he gets excited about a woman.
*'''Private Zero'''—the buck-toothed, naïve farm boy who takes commands and comments literally and misunderstands practically everything. Sometimes Zero, although not lazy (and therefore never assaulted as Beetle often is), infuriates Sarge more than anyone else. He was raised in Cornpone, Nebraska<ref>{{cite web| url=https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2017-06-09| via=comicskingdom.com| title=Beetle Bailey| date=June 9, 2017| access-date=2017-06-09| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725052603/http://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2017-06-09| archive-date=2017-07-25| url-status=live}}</ref> and worked as a farmhand; A running gag that Zero can't do anything right-he literally painted Sarge's jeep black and white checkered; on a parachute practice jump he ended up upside down; on a routine route march he got separated from his company and asked a farmer if he'd seen a military company missing a rifleman "who looks just like me"; on Sentry Duty he can't remember to give the traditional challenge "Halt! Who Goes there-Friend or Foe".-Whats the Password?<ref>50 Years of Beetle Bailey pp.38, 18;28,33</ref>
*'''Private Plato'''—the Camp's resident intellectual; bespectacled, given to scrawling long-winded, analytical, often philosophical graffiti.<ref>50 Years of Beetle Bailey p.71; comic 6-13-2010</ref> Named after [[Plato]] but based on Walker's pal, fellow cartoonist [[Dik Browne]]. Plato is the only character other than Beetle to evolve from the early "college" months of the strip<ref name= "edrants.com"/> (unlike Beetle he actually graduated from Rockview University before enlisting in the army).<ref>50 Years of Beetle Bailey pp.9;38</ref> His full name is Aristotle Anaximenes Heraclitus Papagelis.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.seattlepi.com/comics-and-games/fun/Beetle_Bailey/2018-03-06/| title=Beetle Bailey| date=March 6, 2018| via=seattlepi.com| access-date=2018-03-21| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322021408/https://www.seattlepi.com/comics-and-games/fun/Beetle_Bailey/2018-03-06/| archive-date=2018-03-22| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Supporting characters===
*'''Private Blips'''—Gen. Halftrack's competent, jaded, not-at-all-buxom secretary. She resents Halftrack's constant ogling of Miss Buxley, and though envious of the latter's appearance maintains a polite working relationship with her.
*'''Chaplain Stainglass'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beetlebailey.com/comics/november-25-2018/|title=Beetle Bailey strip|date=November 25, 2018|access-date=2018-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005820/http://beetlebailey.com/comics/november-25-2018/|archive-date=2018-11-26|url-status=live}}</ref>—"He's praying... he's looking at the food... he's praying again!" According to ''Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook'', Walker based the chaplain on Irish actor [[Barry Fitzgerald]]'s priest character from ''[[Going My Way]]'' (1944). He often tries to get Sarge to not beat up Beetle or the men but his efforts either backfire or are futile.
*'''Martha (Knips) Halftrack'''—the General's formidable, domineering wife. She is 70 years old and is from Morganfield, Kentucky.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://beetlebailey.com/comics/november-29-2015/ |title=Beetle Bailey comic November 29, 2015 |access-date=2015-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202054628/http://beetlebailey.com/comics/november-29-2015/ |archive-date=2015-12-02 |url-status=live}}</ref> she also has a pet cat that ignores General Halftrack<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey" 2000 p.126</ref> Her brother Sgt Knips is the senior NCO at Camp Swampy <ref>{{cite comic
| cartoonist=[[Mort Walker|Walker, Mort]] | strip=Beetle Bailey | date=February 14, 1956 | syndicate=[[King Features Syndicate]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://beetlebailey.com/2015/11/20/top-sergeant-snorkel/ | title = Top Sergeant Snorkel | last = Walker | first = Brian | date = 2015-11-20 | website = beetle baileyⓇ | publisher = King Features Syndicate | access-date = 2019-04-12 | archive-date = 2019-04-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190411145653/http://beetlebailey.com/2015/11/20/top-sergeant-snorkel/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
*'''Private Rocky'''—Camp Swampy's long-haired, disgruntled social dissident, a former biker gang member<ref>50 Years of Beetle Bailey p.38</ref> (with a sideline as a shady used car salesman [see comic below]) and rebel-without-a-clue, introduced in 1958. Is the editor of the "Camp Swampy Muckateer".
*'''Private Cosmo'''—Camp Swampy's sunglass-wearing, resident "shady entrepreneur" and huckster. Loosely based on [[William Holden]]'s Sefton character from ''[[Stalag 17]]''.
*'''Captain Sam [[Scabbard]]'''—hard-nosed, [[flat-top]] wearing officer, commander of A Company and usually depicted as competent. Can be firm with Sarge, but also trusts him over Lt. Fuzz. Sometimes Captain Scabbard is as tough on Sarge as Sarge is on Beetle. Mort Walker has said that there needed to be at least one normal person in the comic.
*'''Major [[Verdigris|Greenbrass]]'''—staff officer and golf partner of Gen. Halftrack. He is most often simply a sounding-board for the general, reacting to his superior's shenanigans instead of causing his own. In March 2023 he was redesigned with dark skin, making him Black.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/comics-and-games/fun/Beetle_Bailey/2020-01-29/ |title=Beetle Bailey comic January 29, 2020 |access-date=2020-02-09 |archive-date=2023-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827193947/https://www.seattlepi.com/comics-and-games/fun/Beetle_Bailey/2020-01-29/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2023-03-24 | title=Beetle Bailey | access-date=2023-03-31 | archive-date=2023-03-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331055508/https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2023-03-24 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2023-03-31 | title=Beetle Bailey | access-date=2023-03-31 | archive-date=2023-03-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331055508/https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2023-03-31 | url-status=live }}</ref> Since then the strip's color department has been inconsistent about his race, at times reverting him to White.
*'''Private Julius Plewer'''—fastidious fussbudget, who eventually became Halftrack's [[chauffeur]].
*'''Corporal Yo'''—the strip's only Asian character, introduced in 1990, who tries to help Sarge bring efficiency to Company A. Like Major Greenbrass' relationship to General Halftrack, Cpl. Yo is most often a conversation partner for Sarge or one of the lieutenants. He is rarely presented as a goof like the other enlisted men frequently are. After 30 years in the strip he was redesigned with an olive complexion and less slanted eyes.
*'''Dr. Bonkus'''—Camp Swampy's staff psychiatrist, a little "crazy."
*'''Sergeant 1st Class Louise Lugg'''—a tough soldier who hopes to be Sarge's girlfriend, introduced in 1986. It bears a strong resemblance with Martha (Knips) Halftrack (the General Amos's wife). Lt. Flap wondered why Lugg was sent to the camp; Halftrack commented that she showed up after he called the Pentagon to request an overseas assignment—"I asked them to send me abroad." Has romantic interest in Sarge.
*'''Bella'''—Sgt. Louise Lugg's female cat.
*'''Specialist Chip Gizmo'''— Camp Swampy's resident computer [[geek]], was named by a write-in contest in 2002. The contest, sponsored by [[Dell Computer]] Corp., received more than 84,000 entries. It raised more than $100,000 for the [[Fisher House Foundation]], a non-profit organization that provides housing for families of patients at military and veterans hospitals.<ref name="govtnews" /> Due to his expertise in [[information technology]], he was often seen working near General Halftrack's office aiding him and Miss Buxley.

[[File:GizmoNamingContest20020506.png|frame|center|The contest to name the new character Gizmo first appeared in this May 6, 2002, strip when Gen. Halftrack walks into Mort Walker's studio demanding a new character to help him with computer related stuff. In the July 4, 2002, strip, the entry sent in by Earl Hemminger of Springfield, Virginia, was announced as the winner from 84,725 entries.<ref name="govtnews">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.gcn.com/print/21_17/19173-1.html?topic=coop_telework
 |title=Here's Chip Gizmo
 |access-date=2007-11-28
 |publisher=Government Computer News
}}{{dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>]]

===Retired characters===
*'''Bunny Piper'''—Was Beetle's seldom-seen girlfriend (from 1959<ref name="buzz">{{cite web |url=http://vermont-archives.org/publications/voice/pdf/InSearchOfBunnyPiper.pdf |title=Voice from the Vault |access-date=2013-06-30 |author=Gregory Sanford}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>), before he started dating Miss Buxley.
*'''Buzz'''—Was Beetle's girlfriend before 1959.<ref name="buzz" /> She was later mentioned in a 2010 comic as being with Beetle's old friend Bitter Bill.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://beetlebailey.com/comics/may-2-2010/|title=Beetle Bailey|date=May 2, 2010|work=BeetleBailey.com|access-date=2010-05-02|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223062302/http://beetlebailey.com/comics/may-2-2010/|archive-date=2017-12-23|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Canteen''' (early 1950s)—always eating.
* '''Snake Eyes''' (early 1950s)—the barracks gambler, replaced by Cosmo, Rocky and others.
* '''Big Blush''' (early 1950s)—tall, innocent, and a great attraction to the girls; many of his characteristics incorporated into both Sarge and Zero.
* '''Fireball''' (early 1950s)—neophyte who always seems to be in the way, forerunner of both Zero and Lt. Fuzz.
* '''Bammy''' (early 1950s)—the southern patriot from Alabama who is still fighting the Civil War.
* '''Dawg''' (early 1950s)—the guy in every barracks who creates his own pollution.
* '''Ozone''' (late 1950s)—Zero's bigger, even more naïve friend. Appeared in a January 6, 1971 cartoon of Company A having an official group photograph <ref>"50 Years of Beatle Bailey".p.6]</ref>
* '''Moocher''' (early 1960s)—stingy and always borrowing things.
* '''Pop''' (1960s)—married private: gets yelled at by Sarge all day and goes home at night for more abuse from his wife.
* '''Sergeant ("Glotis") Webbing'''—variously described as being from either B Company or D Company. He somewhat resembles Snorkel, except that he lacks the trademark wrinkles in Snorkel's garrison cap and has wavy hair and thick eyebrows. He has pointy teeth. On at least two separate occasions, Webbing engaged Sgt. Snorkel in a [[profanity|cussing]] duel.<ref>February 17, 1957 Sunday strip, reprinted in Walker, ''The Best of Beetle Bailey,'' February 10, 1963 Sunday strip, reprinted in Walker, ''At Ease, Beetle Bailey'' (New York: Grosset & Dunlap/Tempo, 1970).</ref> He also attempted to one-up Snorkel in anthropomorphizing dogs, leading to Otto's first appearance in uniform, and was most recently seen (recognizably, but not mentioned by name) in 1983.<ref>June 26, 1958 and December 19, 1983 strips, reproduced in Walker, ''The Best of Beetle Bailey.''</ref> On one occasion Beetle tried to win [but failed] a 5 cent bet by having a sleeping Sgt Snorkel outsnore the loudest snoring by Sgt "Glotis"<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey".p.27</ref> on one occasion Sgt Snorkel was shocked that Beetle was "cheating" when Beetle allowed himself to be beaten up by Sgt Webbing instead of Sgt Snorkel<ref>"50 Years of Beetle Bailey".p.97</ref>
* '''Rolf''' (early 1980s)—civilian tennis instructor, very popular with the female cast (including both Mrs. Halftrack and Miss Buxley, much to General Halftrack's consternation). Originally introduced in response to complaints about the constant ogling of Miss Buxley by the male characters. First appearance was in the September 9, 1982 strip, disappeared completely by the mid-1980s.<ref>Various strips reproduced in ''ibid.''</ref>

The early strip was set at Rockview University. When Beetle joined the army, all of the other characters were dropped (although both incarnations of the strip include a bespectacled intellectual named Plato). Four characters from the original cast ('''Bitter Bill, Diamond Jim, Freshman''', and '''Sweatsock''') made at least one appearance, in the January 5, 1963 strip.<ref>Quotations and documentation of characters from: Mort Walker, ''The Best of Beetle Bailey'' (New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1984)</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Walker|first=Mort|title=Billy|editor=Alf Thorsjö|publisher=Egmont Serieforlaget|year=2008|edition=1|series=Den komplette samlingen striper og søndagssider|volume=1963–1964|page=12|isbn=978-82-429-3693-6|language=no}}</ref>

===Extras, one-shots and walk-ons===
Beetle's family, etc.:

* Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, parents of Beetle, Lois, and Chigger. (The 2/7/52 strip names Beetle's father as Gurney.)
* Lois Flagston (née Bailey), Beetle's sister; she and her husband are the title characters of the ''[[Hi and Lois]]'' comic strips. Beetle was shown in a crossover where he is first telling Zero and Plato he has taken leave to visit his sister and brother-in-law. He then appears the next day in ''Hi & Lois'', wearing civilian clothes.
* Chigger, the younger brother of Beetle and Lois. In a March 2023 appearance, he is short and looks pre-teen.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2023-03-25 | title=Beetle Bailey | access-date=2023-03-31 | archive-date=2023-03-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331055509/https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2023-03-25 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* Hiram "Hi" Flagston, Beetle's brother-in-law and Lois's husband.
* Chip, Dot, Ditto, and Trixie Flagston, Hi and Lois's children, Beetle's nephews and nieces.
* Mr. and Mrs. Piper, Bunny's parents
Camp Swampy:
* A camp doctor whose appearance is consistent, but who is unnamed <!--is his name Dr. Dormond Dingleberry?-->
* An unnamed officers' club bartender, frequent intermediary between the Halftracks
* An unnamed Secretary of Defense who has made numerous appearances.
* Popeye the Sailor once made an indirect appearance in the form of a Halloween mask worn by Zero. He made a one-time appearance in a strip dated July 16, 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://justcartoonsonly.blogspot.in/2012/07/beetle-bailey-arcamax-publishing-beetle_16.html | title=Beetle Bailey | date=July 16, 2012 | via=Justcartoonsonly.blogspot.in | publisher=ArcaMax Publishing | access-date=2013-09-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017030236/http://justcartoonsonly.blogspot.in/2012/07/beetle-bailey-arcamax-publishing-beetle_16.html | archive-date=2015-10-17 | url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2012 NCS Cartoonist of the Year [[Tom Richmond (illustrator)|Tom Richmond]] made an appearance in a Sunday page.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tomrichmond.com/blog/2012/12/30/mad-about-beetle/ |title=MAD About Beetle |work=tomrichmond.com |date=2012-12-30 |access-date=2013-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101134351/http://www.tomrichmond.com/blog/2012/12/30/mad-about-beetle/ |archive-date=2013-01-01 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Numerous one-shot characters have appeared over the years, mostly unnamed, including an [[inspector general]] who looks like [[Alfred E. Neuman]],<ref>Beetle Bailey, March 27, 1967; reprinted in {{cite book |last=Walker |first=Mort |title=I Don't Want to be Out Here Any More Than You Do, Beetle Bailey |location=New York |publisher=Grosset & Dunlap/Tempo |date=1970 |isbn=0-448-12256-1}}</ref> and various officers and civilians. Among the few to be given names is Julian, a nondescript chauffeur eventually replaced by Julius.<ref>Beetle Bailey, July 5, 1964; reprinted in {{cite book |last=Walker |first=Mort |title=At Ease, Beetle Bailey |location=New York |publisher=Grosset & Dunlap/Tempo |date=1970 |isbn=0-448-12255-3}}</ref>

==Censorship==
[[File:Beetle Bailey - censored - 2006-01-12.png|frame|right|A censored comic strip of ''Beetle Bailey'', from [https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1/2006-01-12 {{Start date|2006|01|12}}]. Uncensored strip at top, censored strip in the middle. The Norwegian translation of the comic strip is shown at the bottom, to show that it was not censored in Norway.]]
[[File:Beetle Bailey - selfsensored.png|frame|right|Self-censored comic strip at sketch stage]]

{{blockquote|text=For the most part, Walker's relationship with the real-life US Army has been cordial. But not always. During the early 1950s, the strip was dropped from the [[Tokyo]] edition of ''[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]'' because it allegedly encouraged disrespect for officers. The civilian press made a huge joke of that, and the ensuing publicity gave the young strip its first big boost in circulation.
:— [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia|Don Markstein]]<ref>[http://www.toonopedia.com/beetle.htm ''Beetle Bailey''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20120523224724/http://www.toonopedia.com/beetle.htm Archived] from the original on February 22, 2018.</ref>}}

In 1962, the comic strip was censored because it showed a [[belly button]], and in 2006, the description of Rocky's criminal past was replaced with a non-criminal past.

===Self-censoring===
Sometimes Mort Walker created strips with raunchy subject matter for his own amusement. This was done at the sketch stage, and those strips were never meant to be published in the U.S. They "end[ed] up in a black box in the bottom drawer", according to Walker. These sketches were sometimes published in [[Scandinavia]], however, with a translation underneath. In [[Norway]], they appeared in the Norwegian ''Beetle Bailey'' comic book, ''Billy'', with the cover of the comic marked to show it contained censored strips. To offset any possible negative reaction, the publisher experimented with "scrambling" the strips in the mid-1990s. To see them, the reader had to view them through a "de-scrambling" plastic card. This was discontinued soon afterward, and the strips later were printed without scrambling. In [[Sweden]], some of these strips were collected in the ''[[Alfapocket]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comics.org/issue/70782/cover/4/ | title=''Knasen'' 1993 cover | via=comics.org, [[Grand Comics Database]] | publisher=Alfapocket | access-date=May 17, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129141358/https://www.comics.org/issue/70782/cover/4/ | archive-date=2018-01-29 | url-status=live}}</ref>

==Animation==
A television series based on the strip, consisting of 50 six-minute [[animated cartoon]] shorts produced by [[King Features Syndicate]], was animated by [[Paramount Cartoon Studios]] in the U.S. and Artransa Film Studios in Sydney, Australia. The series was first broadcast in 1963 as part of ''The King Features Trilogy''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |pages=476–477}}</ref> 50 episodes were produced.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Crump |first1=William D. |title=Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476672939 |page=66}}</ref>

The opening credits included the sound of a bugle [[reveille]], followed by a [[theme song]] specifically composed for the cartoon.
In the closing credits [[Geoff Pike (author)|Geoff Pike]] was listed as Director.

Beetle was voiced by comic actor and director [[Howard Morris]] with [[Allan Melvin]] as the voice of Sarge. Other King Features properties, such as ''[[Snuffy Smith]]'' and ''[[Krazy Kat]]'', also appeared in the syndicated series, under the collective title ''Beetle Bailey and His Friends''. [[June Foray]] did the voice of Bunny, plus all of the female characters involved.

Beetle and Sgt. Snorkel were featured prominently in the animated [[television film]] ''[[Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter]]'', which debuted on October 7, 1972, as an episode of ''[[The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie]]''. In the beginning of the show, General Halftrack, and Lt. Flap also appeared in the Chinese Restaurant scene.

===1989 special===
A 30-minute animated TV special co-written by Mort Walker and Hank Saroyan was produced for [[CBS]] in 1989, but did not air due to management changes at the CBS network.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=Brian|title=Beetle Bailey TV Cartoons – Part 3|url=http://beetlebailey.com/2016/04/15/beetle-bailey-tv-cartoons-part-3/|access-date=2016-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026163426/http://beetlebailey.com/2016/04/15/beetle-bailey-tv-cartoons-part-3/|archive-date=2016-10-26|url-status=live}}</ref> It has been released on DVD alongside the 1960s cartoons. Greg Whalen played Beetle, [[Bob Bergen]] portrayed Killer, [[Henry Corden]] was Sgt. Snorkel, [[Frank Welker]] was both Zero and Otto, [[Linda Gary]] voiced both Miss Buxley and Ms. Blips and General Halftrack was [[Larry Storch]]. This special was one of a number of specials made in the same timeframe by King Features/Hearst for TV as potential series pilots; others included ''[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie & Dagwood]]'' (co-produced with [[Marvel Productions]], who had also collaborated with King Features for the ''[[Defenders of the Earth]]'' series a few years before) and ''[[Hägar the Horrible]]'' (co-produced with [[Hanna-Barbera Productions]]).

==Musical theatre==
In 1988, a [[musical theatre|musical]] based on the comic strip premiered at Candlewood Playhouse in [[New Fairfield, Connecticut|New Fairfield]], [[Connecticut]] for a limited run. Music and lyrics were by Neil and Gretchen Gould. In addition to the familiar characters from the strip, the plot introduced a wayward computer that promoted Bailey to three-star general.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/12/nyregion/theater-pvt-beetle-bailey-breaking-into-song.html| title=THEATER; Pvt. Beetle Bailey, Breaking Into Song| work=[[The New York Times]]| date=June 12, 1988| first=Alvin| last=Klein| access-date=May 17, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517163034/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/12/nyregion/theater-pvt-beetle-bailey-breaking-into-song.html| archive-date=2018-05-17| url-status=live}}</ref>

==Licensing==
* Over the years, ''Beetle Bailey'' characters have been licensed for dolls, T-shirts, salt and pepper shakers, toys, telephones, music boxes, handpuppets, coffee mugs, cookie jars, neckties, lunchboxes, paperback books, games, bobblehead nodders, banks, lapel pins and greeting cards. The Multiple Plastics Corporation manufactured a 1964 Camp Swampy [[playset]], a tie-in with the cartoon TV show, with character figures accompanying the usual MPC toy GIs and military vehicles.
* In 2000, [[Dark Horse Comics]] issued two collectible figures of Beetle and Sarge as part of their line of Classic Comic Characters—statues No. 11 and 12, respectively. In honor of the strip's 50th anniversary, DHC also produced a boxed PVC figure set of seven ''Beetle Bailey'' characters (Beetle, Sarge, Gen. Halftrack, Miss Buxley, Otto, Lt. Flap and Cookie).
* [[BCI Eclipse]] has released 20 episodes of ''Beetle Bailey'' as part of ''Animated All Stars'', a 2-DVD set (BCI 46952). [[Rhino Home Video]] also released a DVD containing 10 episodes, along with a couple of ''[[Hägar the Horrible]]'' and ''[[Betty Boop]]'' cartoons. In 2007, ''Beetle Bailey: The Complete Collection'' was released to DVD, containing all 50 shorts grouped randomly into 13 episodes, plus a previously unaired 1989 TV special.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}<ref>{{cite web| url=http://animatedviews.com/2007/beetle-bailey-the-complete-collection/| website=animatedviews.com| title=Beetle Bailey: The Complete Collection| date=December 9, 2007| first=Randall| last=Cyrenne| access-date=May 17, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517152814/http://animatedviews.com/2007/beetle-bailey-the-complete-collection/| archive-date=2018-05-17| url-status=live}}</ref>
* For ''Beetle Bailey''{{'}}s 50th anniversary in 2000, Gate offered a 1/18th [[Willys MB]] with figurines of Beetle, Sarge and Otto. The figures were the same scale as the Jeep and were molded in seated poses, so they could be placed in the seats of the model. The Jeep could also be ordered without the figures, with figurines of [[Laurel and Hardy]], or figurines of Laurel and Hardy in sailor suits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/wwii-mb-gpw-beetle-bailey-jeep-die-19709060 |title=WWII MB GPW BEETLE BAILEY JEEP DIE CAST 1:18 SCALE N (04/05/2011) |work=Worthpoint.com |access-date=2013-09-03 |archive-date=2015-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601030228/http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/wwii-mb-gpw-beetle-bailey-jeep-die-19709060 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://scale18.org/cgi-bin/page/make/Willys |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415181603/http://scale18.org/cgi-bin/page/make/Willys |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-15 |title=Willys Diecast Cars, 1:18 Scale - Scale18 1/18 Scale Diecast Model Cars, Since 1997 |work=Scale18.org |access-date=2013-09-03}}</ref>
* In 2010, fashion designer Dr. X and [[Bloomingdale's]] unveiled a limited edition retro/punk rock style line of clothing including T-shirts, leather jackets, Beetle-themed [[Chuck Taylors]] shoes and various accessories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beetlebaileydrx.com/ |title=Beetle Bailey |work=beetlebaileydrx.com |access-date=2013-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903063140/http://www.beetlebaileydrx.com/ |archive-date=2013-09-03 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* In 2012, [[Rolex]] and Bamford Watch Department created a Beetle Bailey Rolex watch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://luxuryes.com/2012/06/dr-romanelli-x-bamford-popeye-vs-beetle-bailey-rolexes/ |title=Dr. Romanelli x Bamford : Popeye vs Beetle Bailey Rolexes |work=Luxuryes.com |date=2012-06-12 |access-date=2013-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907052130/http://luxuryes.com/2012/06/dr-romanelli-x-bamford-popeye-vs-beetle-bailey-rolexes/ |archive-date=2013-09-07 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Further reading==
(All titles by Mort Walker. Published by Ace Tempo/[[Grosset & Dunlap]], unless otherwise noted. Year of publication is often based on King Features Syndicate copyright dates for lack of a book date. Book numbers for mass-market paperbacks (from the cover of the earliest available copy) are given before year of publication, for chronological purposes.

{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* ''Beetle Bailey and Sarge'' (1958) Dell (trade PB; illustrations, reprinted 1954-58 strips)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/542858/ |title=Beetle Bailey and Sarge #SB-Z4 |access-date=2019-12-17 |archive-date=2019-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218031906/https://www.comics.org/issue/542858/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Beetle Bailey: A Strip Book'' (1966) Saalfield Books
* ''Beetle Bailey (No. 1)'' (T-884, 1968)
* ''Fall Out Laughing, Beetle Bailey (No. 2)'' (5305, 1969)
* ''At Ease, Beetle Bailey (No. 3)'' (5329, 1970)
* ''I Don't Want to Be Out Here Any More Than You Do, Beetle Bailey (No. 4)'' (5348, 1970)
* ''What Is It Now, Beetle Bailey (No. 5)'' (5377, 1971)
* ''Beetle Bailey on Parade (No. 6)'' (5416, 1972)
* ''We're All in the Same Boat, Beetle Bailey (No. 7)'' (5561, 1973)
* ''I'll Throw the Book at You, Beetle Bailey (No. 8)'' (5582, 1973)
* ''Shape Up or Ship Out, Beetle Bailey (No. 9)'' (5708, 1974)
* ''Backstage at the Strips'' (1975) Mason/Charter
* ''Take Ten, Beetle Bailey (No. 10)'' (1975) (see also unnumbered 1989 Jove edition)
* ''I've Got You on My List, Beetle Bailey (12104, No. 11)'' (1975)
* ''Take a Walk, Beetle Bailey (No. 12)'' (12603, 1976)
* ''I Thought You Had the Compass, Beetle Bailey (No. 13)'' (12605, 1976)
* ''Is That All, Beetle Bailey (No. 14)'' (12613, 1976)
* ''About Face, Beetle Bailey (No. 15)'' (12618, 1976)
* ''I'll Flip You for It, Beetle Bailey (No. 16)'' (0-448-14037-3, 1977) ($.95 copy)
* ''I'll Flip You for It, Beetle Bailey'' (16861, 1977) (1.75 copy)
* ''I Just Want to Talk to You, Beetle Bailey (No. 17)'' (14142, 1977)
* ''Lookin' Good, Beetle Bailey (No. 18)'' (14143, 1977)
* ''I Don't Want to Hear About it, Beetle Bailey'' (0-141-05305-X, 1977) (distributed by Ace)
* ''Give Us a Smile, Beetle Bailey (No. 19)'' (17029-9, 1979)
* ''Peace, Beetle Bailey (No. 20)'' (1979; 0-441-05248-7 for 1984 Charter edition))
* ''Don't Make Me Laugh, Beetle Bailey (No. 21)'' (16977-0, 1979)
* ''Up, Up and Away, Beetle Bailey'' (17203-8, 1980)
* ''You're Out of Hup, Beetle Bailey (No. 22)'' (17332-8, 1980)
* ''Who's in Charge Here, Beetle Bailey (No. 23)'' (16932-0, 1980)
* ''Is This Another Complaint, Beetle Bailey (No. 24)'' (0-448-13777-1, 1981)
* ''Would It Help to Say I'm Sorry, Beetle Bailey (No. 25)'' (0-441-91840-9, 1981)
* ''Beetle Bailey: You Crack Me Up'' (US 50846–7, 1981) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Flying High'' (49-003-8, 1981) Tor
* ''Otto'' (16839-1, 1982)
* ''Miss Buxley: Sexism in Beetle Bailey?'' (1982) Comicana
* ''Beetle Bailey'': ''Activity Game Challenge'' (0-448-15530-3, 1982)
* ''Beetle Bailey: Potato Fancakes!'' (Pinnacle 41-338-6, 1980-84?) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: In the Soup'' (1980-84?) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Dog-Gone'' (1980-84?) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Not Reverse!'' (49-001-1, 1980-84?) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Flying High Giant Size'' (49-003-8, 1981) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Hey There!'' (1982) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey Joke Book'' (1982) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: The Rough Riders'' (1982) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: General Alert'' (1982) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Rise and Shine'' (49-051-8, 1983) Tor, $1.75
* ''Beetle Bailey: Rise and Shine Giant Size'' (still 49-051-8, 1983) Tor, $2.50 (includes strips from another book, possibly ''Play to Win'')
* ''Beetle Bailey: Double Trouble'' (1983) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Take Ten'' (US 56-092-2, 1984) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Surprise Package'' (US 56105–8, 1984) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Tough Luck Giant Size'' (US 56098–11984)
* ''Beetle Bailey: Operation Good Times (No. 26)'' (0-441-05250-9, 1984) Charter
* ''You'll Get a Bang Out of This, Beetle Bailey (No. 27)'' (0-441-05254-1, 1984) Charter
* ''Beetle Bailey in "Friends"'' (1984) Dargaud
* ''Beetle Bailey in Too Many Sergeants'' (1984) Dargaud
* ''Beetle Bailey in The System'' (1984) Dargaud
* ''The Best of Beetle Bailey'' (1984, 2005) HRW
* ''The Best of Beetle Bailey: A Thirty-Three Year Treasury'' (1984, 2007) Comicana
* ''Beetle Bailey: Strategic Withdrawal Giant Size'' (US 56105–8, 1985) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Thin Air Giant Size'' (56109-0, 1985) Tor
* ''You're All Washed Up, Beetle Bailey (No. 28)'' (0-441-05298-3, 1985) Charter
* ''Beetle Bailey: Hard Knocks (No. 29)'' (0-441-05260-61985)
* ''Beetle Bailey: Three's a Crowd Giant Size'' (US 56112–1, 1986) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Revenge'' (1986) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Uncle Sam Wants You'' (US 56115–5, 1986) Tor
* ''Big Hits from Beetle Bailey (No. 30)'' (0-441-05263-0, 1986) Charter
* ''Did You Fix the Brakes, Beetle Bailey (No. 31)'' (1986) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Life's a Beach!'' (US 56117–1, 1987) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Undercover Operation'' (US 56119–8, 1987)
* ''What's the Joke, Beetle Bailey (No. 32)'' (0-441-05279-7, 1987) Charter
* ''Let's Change Places, Beetle Bailey (No. 33)'' (0-515-09088-3, 1987) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: That Sinking Feeling'' (US 56124–4, 1988) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Behind the Eight Ball Again! (No. 34)'' (0-515–09529-X, 1988) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Quit Hangin' Around! (No. 35)'' (0-515-09890-8, 1988) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Welcome to Camp Swampy!'' (US 56126–0, 1989)
* ''Beetle Bailey: Separate Checks'' (US 56128–7, 1989) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Quit Clowning Around'' (US 56130–9, 1989) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Wiped Out! (No. 36)'' (0-515-10040-4, 1989) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: World's Laziest Private (No. 37)'' (0-515-10134-6, 1989) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Celebration'' (1989) Andrews McMeel
* ''Beetle Bailey: Beetle Mania!'' (1990) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: A Flying Beetle?'' (1990) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Advanced Planning'' (US 50868–8, 1990)
* ''Beetle Bailey: Sarge Is a Dope!'' (1990) Tor
* ''Beetle Bailey: Basket Case (No. 38)'' (0-5-10219-9, 1990) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: New Outfit! (No. 39)'' (0-515-10313-6, 1990) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Another Request for Furlough (No. 40)'' (0-515-10406-X, 1990) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Table Service (No. 41)'' (0-515-10499-X, 1991) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Let's Grab a Bite! (No. 42)'' (0-515-10575-9, 1991) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Wha' Happen? (No. 43)'' (0-515-10673-9, 1991) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Beetle Bugged (No. 44)'' (0-515-10759-X, 1992) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Corporal Punishment (No. 45)'' (1992) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Keep Peeling (No. 46)'' (0-515-11086-8, 1992) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Tattle "Tail" (No. 47)'' (0-515-10988-6, 1992) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Dream Team (No. 48)'' (1993) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Camp Swampy Strikes Again! (No. 49)'' (0-515-11288-7, 1993) Jove
* ''Beetle Bailey: Still Lazy After All These Years'' (1999) NBM
* ''50 Years of Beetle Bailey'' (2000) NBM
* ''Beetle Bailey Book and Figure Set: Sarge'' (2001) Dark Horse Comics
* ''Beetle Bailey Book and Figure Set: Beetle'' (2001) Dark Horse Comics
* ''Beetle Bailey Book and Figure Set: Miss Buxley'' (2001) Dark Horse Comics
* ''Beetle Bailey Book and Figure Set: General Halftrack'' (2001) Dark Horse Comics
* ''Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook'' (2001) Andrews McMeel
* ''Beetle Bailey, The First Years: 1950–1952'' (2008) Checker
* ''Beetle Bailey, Daily and Sunday Strips: 1965'' (2010) [[Titan Books]]
* ''Beetle Bailey, Daily and Sunday Strips: 1966'' (2012) Titan Books
* ''Mort Walker's Beetle Bailey: 75 Years of Smiles'' (2025) [[Fantagraphics]]
{{Div col end}}

==Beyond the strip==
* ''Beetle Bailey'' also successfully appeared in comic books from 1953 to 1980. The first series was published by [[Dell Comics]], then [[Gold Key Comics]], [[King Comics]] and [[Charlton Comics]]. [[Harvey Comics]] ran a much-later second series from 1992 to 1994.
* The comic strip ''[[Hi and Lois]]'', co-created by Mort Walker and Dik Browne, is a [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] from ''Beetle Bailey'' (Beetle's sister is Lois Flagston). ''Hi and Lois'', also syndicated by King Features, debuted in 1954.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/hi_lois/about.htm| title=Hi and Lois| work=kingfeatures.com| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414100534/http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/hi_lois/about.htm| archive-date=April 14, 2009}}</ref> Characters from one strip occasionally make guest appearances in the other.
* A ''Beetle Bailey'' parody in ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]'' from the late 1960s portrays Sarge and Captain Scabbard finally wresting the cap off Beetle's face—revealing the words "Get Out of [[Viet Nam]]!" tattooed on his forehead.
* Beetle again appeared in a 1988 issue of ''Mad'', alongside Sarge, in a segment explaining human anatomy according to cartoonists. Sarge's head shape was used as an example of a "sloping, subhuman skull type" which was also noted in Michael Patterson of ''[[For Better or for Worse]]''. Beetle was featured in the section on eyes about having concealed eyes; ''beetlus yardbirdus''.
* Beetle and Sarge guest-starred in the 75th anniversary party of ''[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]''{{'}}s Blondie and Dagwood in 2005.
* An animated segment featuring Beetle Bailey and his company was seen during the 1970s and 1980s on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', demonstrating to young viewers the concept of "first" and "last".
* A life-size bronze sculpture of Beetle designed by Mort Walker with his son Neal assisting in the sculpting was unveiled at Walker's alma mater, the University of Missouri, on October 23, 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://muarchives.missouri.edu/beetle-two.html |title=Sculpture of Beetle Bailey |publisher=[[University of Missouri]] |access-date=2013-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221223508/http://muarchives.missouri.edu/beetle-two.html |archive-date=2014-02-21 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{Portal inline|United States}}
* {{Portal inline|Comics}}

==Explanatory notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Ibid|date=August 2023}}
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey-1 Beetle Bailey at King Features] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219205856/https://comicskingdom.com/beetle-bailey/about |date=2022-12-19 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190411145748/http://beetlebailey.com/ BeetleBailey.com]
* [http://www.reuben.org/ncs/archive/divisions/advertising.asp NCS Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106020316/http://www.reuben.org/ncs/archive/divisions/advertising.asp |date=2006-01-06 }}
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195546/combined The TV version at IMDB]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110719052645/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/walker.htm Mort Walker Collection at the University of Missouri] (primary source material)

{{King Features Syndicate Comics}}

[[Category:1950 comics debuts]]
[[Category:American comics characters|Bailey, Beetle]]
[[Category:American comic strips]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into animated series]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into television series]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1950|Bailey, Beetle]]
[[Category:Fictional United States Army personnel|Bailey, Beetle]]
[[Category:Gag-a-day comics]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics|Bailey, Beetle]]
[[Category:Military humor]]
[[Category:Military comics]]
[[Category:South Carolina in fiction]]