1980 Comic Strips: A Summary

Source: Curtis, Dal. Rex Morgan, MD. 25 Aug - 31 Dec 1980, Field Newspaper Syndicate (Irvine, CA).

All comic strips are posted online by special permission of King Features Syndicate, Inc.

• January 1 - August 24: MISSING
• August 25 - xxx: Paul Brant, the near-deaf boxer, and Babs Van Kirk, MS
• New signature on strips - "daSilva". Fernando da Silva had a short stint as artist between 1980 and 1983.
• Babs Van Kirk is a young woman buying a contract to manage boxer Paul Brant, whom Rex is seeing for a physical exam - he has 50% hearing loss
• Paul's trainer defends him, makes general statement about the hearing-impaired (10/17/1980) - incidentally, this might be the first black person drawn in the strip?

Rex Morgan, MD - October 17, 1980   © King Features Syndicate

• All the comments about hearing impairment discrimination makes me think Dallis had some personal experience with this - it also reminds me of how Proactiv (acne face wash) is marketed by celebrities to make acne seem more socially acceptable
• Teaching strip on how to seek medical attention about hearing loss (11/20/1980)

Rex Morgan, MD - November 20, 1980   © King Features Syndicate

• When Babs suddenly loses vision in her left eye, Dr. Morgan admits her, with suspicion of optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis
• Another special Christmas strip

Rex Morgan, MD - December 25, 1980   © King Features Syndicate

1972 Comic Strips: A Summary

Source*: Curtis, Dal. Rex Morgan, MD. 1 Jan - 30 Dec 1972, Publishers-Hall Syndicate (Chicago, IL). 
*p. 465-492 on disk from King Features Syndicate.


All comic strips are posted online by special permission of King Features Syndicate, Inc.

• January 1 - 22: Justin Babcock & Kathy Taylor, minors  (see 1971)
• January 23 - March 19: MISSING
• March 20 - April 22: Suzy & the Professor
• We start in the middle of a story with: "As Mrs. Woody expresses her concern about Suzy, Dr. Rex Morgan promises to stop by and see the young waitress!"
• We see Suzy out with a Jess Wilder, who's trying to coax her into drinking while badgering her about liking a Professor Alex Grant
• Rex tries to comfort Alex Grant, who appears innocent but has been receiving harassing phone calls - this is causing his peptic ulcer to flare up
• Jess and some henchman waits for Rex to beat him up - aren't they surprised when Rex also turns out to be a much smarter fighter!

Rex Morgan, MD - April 8, 1972    © King Features Syndicate

• We learn Jess has fire-bombed Alex's house; he pretty much tries to destroy anyone who's "trying to make time" with Suzy
• The story is cut short after Suzy confesses her love to Alex, and June has an urgent phone call for Rex
• April 23 - July 23: MISSING
• July 24 - 29: Laura and Mark Pace, mental health
• We start in the middle of story with: "Firm in her refusal to have Mark court committed, Laura breaks down when Brice becomes angry with her."
• After Mark is hospitalized briefly, Laura, his wife, wants to bring him home, thinking he would be happier
• July 30 - August 20: MISSING
• We start up in the middle of a fight - Laura wants to leave Mark because she's in love with Dr. Brice Adams; she's also afraid of Mark, suggesting we missed some strips where he may have hit or threatened her
• After a big mix-up, Laura finds Mark already at Brice's apartment with a gun
• The story is cut short, but they are able to talk Mark down and convince him he needs treatment for his illness

Rex Morgan, MD - September 16, 1972    © King Features Syndicate

• September 17 - September 24: MISSING
• September 25 - June 2, 1973: Kenny Baron & the proposal (see 1973)