Beetle Bailey Sunday page color proof, February 7, 1971.
The Sunday page above stars Rocky, who is the editor of the Camp Swampy News. As a muckraking journalist, he uses his columns to take pot shots at General Halftrack.
When Rocky first appeared in the strip, around 1958, he was a former thug from a street gang, inspired by the movie roles of James Dean and Marlon Brando. Here’s an early example.
Beetle Bailey daily strip, April 16, 1958.
This is what he looked like in 1962.
As times changed, Rocky became more of an anti-establishment revolutionary with a violent streak.
Beetle Bailey daily strip, October 22, 1963.
In the 1970s he started singing folk songs and playing rock and roll.
Beetle Bailey daily strip, October 1, 1979.
Rocky continues as a regular member of the cast but only appears occasionally. He’s still an angry young man.
Beetle Bailey daily strip, September 14, 1983.
We will continue to look at characters and themes from the past in our Timeline series, so stay tooned.
– Brian Walker
When did Rocky lose the cigarette?