So, maybe you’ve heard Blondie is celebrating a special anniversary? There has been so much press I figure you’d have had to be plugging your ears while hiding under a rock in a cave on the moon to have completely missed it. But maybe, somehow, the news passed you by and if that’s the case, I am happy to bring you up to speed. In a world filled with “important” multi-title summer crossover events held in the comic books of the major publishers, it’s nice to see something like Blondie and Dagwood’s anniversary party. No one is trying to twist your arm with empty promises that “nothing will ever be the same!” or any of that malarkey – I’m quite confident that things will remain safely in the status quo for all parties involved in this one. In short, the Bumsteads are having a party and all (most, some…) of your favorite strip characters are invited.

As I write this, I wish I could turn back the clock a bit and post before the strips started crossing over, but let us not cry over spilled milk. The characters are already crossing panel lines, and lucky for you, there’s still time to join the fun. The interactions have been mostly cute, even a little clever thus far and hopefully will continue to be. The always great Mark Evanier has been doing an outstanding job covering the various appearances, so take a stroll over to his site and he can direct you to where you’ll want to go next.

A nice side effect of this celebration is that people are talking about the strip’s past, which is frankly more exciting than its present (the anniversary party excepted, of course). If you’re like me and never realized Blondie’s maiden name was really Boopadoop, well, you’re going to want to read more. A really nice piece from Websnark goes into Blondie’s flapper past, and suggests an outcome of the party that I’m now hoping for too (tying up a 70+ dropped thread of continuity seems highly unlikely, but a boy can dream). While we’re at it, I hope Beetle Bailey will acknowledge Lois Flagston as his sister if they happen to bump into each other in the Bumstead’s living room. Wait, are Hi and Lois even invited? They better be…

And when it comes to researching Blondie’s roots (insert joke here), I cannot think of any resource that could possibly beat this one from the Library of Congress. The scans of original artwork are just a marvel to behold; I don’t think I’ve seen much of Blondie or Dagwood before they took on their traditional roles and their iconic appearances. Absolutely worth your time if you have any interest in the history of comic strips, Blondie fan or not.

You could probably google up quite a list of additional references to the big event; I’ve gone ahead and picked out some of the pieces I found to be interesting. Feel free to research further and let us know if you kind anything that would be of interest. So, in no particular order:
A Small Victory has some thoughts on the strip’s milestone and the state of the comics page in general.
An overview of the strip and the anniversary appears at Virtue Magazine.
The St. Petersburg Times talks to Dean Young.
The NY Daily News does as well, and throws in some Ron Goulart for good measure.
Australia’s The Courier-Mail provides a nice story with some good Dean Young quotes.
The Stamford Advocate sits down with Mort walker.
Brian Walker gets a few words in to the Tyler Morning Telegraph.
The Arizona Republic talks to Bill Keane.
Lynn Johnston is quoted by the Detroit Free Press.
Professor Kathleen Turner talks Blondie with Newswise.
Some unanswered questions from the Fairbank Daily News-Miner.
and last, but not least:
The Seattle Times has some facts about Blondie and other legacy strips.

Congratulations, Blondie!