
The Pen Is Mightier Than Death: Believe It or Not!
Howie Noel, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Dick Tracy and Charles Schulz reveal how legendary comic strips keep going after their original creators are gone.

Howie Noel, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Dick Tracy and Charles Schulz reveal how legendary comic strips keep going after their original creators are gone.

You know Nancy. You might know Sluggo. But do you know Ernie Bushmiller, the cartoonist whose deceptively simple creation became bigger than its creator?

The 8-track tape ruled car stereos before cassettes killed it, but its strange legacy lives on in mixtapes, video-game cartridges and collectors.

Why I hate Tweety Bird, from his treatment of Sylvester to his strange origins, boy-or-girl mystery, and the cartoons that make him look less innocent.

David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties explores forgotten ideas, overlooked inventions and artists who waited decades or centuries to be rediscovered.

Martin Mull was more than a television actor. From comedy and music to painting, his unusual career made him impossible to put in one box.

Harvey Ball created the iconic smiley face in 10 minutes for $45. Here is how a simple insurance-company design became a global symbol and an Acid House icon.

What if evil isn’t a thing at all, but the word we invented for what happens when one person meets their own needs by dominating another person’s life?

Old cookbooks weren’t always harmless. Some mixed food, medicine and household chemistry in ways that can make Grandma’s apple pie look downright safe.

During the Siege of Paris, starving Parisians ate zoo animals. Here’s the bizarre story behind elephant, camel and kangaroo appearing on a Paris menu.

That stupid little pocket in your jeans has a long history, from pocket watches and the real 5th pocket to its cheeky modern reputation as the condom pocket.

Why did missing children’s faces appear on milk cartons? We look at the strange history behind the campaign, the kids who recognized themselves, Milk Carton 2.0 and Canada’s famous milk bags.

Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926, but he wasn’t alone. Explore the famous figures who died on October 31 and Houdini’s final escape pact.

When did 81 become young? A funny look at aging, retirement, baby boomers and how our idea of old age keeps changing.

Scratch-and-sniff was once everywhere, from Raspberries albums and MAD Magazine to John Waters’ Odorama. Now the strange little fad is making a comeback.

Matt Kirkland has a strange solution for giant books: chop them into smaller, manageable volumes. Chop the biggest books and why it might make sense.

King Noir: Stephen King often acknowledges his debt to hardboiled writers like Ed McBain and Raymond Chandler, referencing them more frequently than horror writers.


In 1977, Charles Schulz’s contract negotiations with United Features Syndicate led to fear he might abandon Peanuts. As a precaution, Al Plastino create reserve strips.

“Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd” is a rockumentary that plunges into the life of Syd Barrett, the creative force behind Pink Floyd.

Vince Guaraldi’s iconic soundtrack for the 1972 TV special “You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown,” is a musical treasure collection for fans and newcomers alike.

The HBO documentary “Faye” features legendary, Oscar-winning actress Faye Dunaway, sharing the triumphs and challenges of her extraordinary Hollywood career.

Pour A Little Sugar On It: The Chewy, Chewy Sounds Of American Bubblegum 1966-1971 celebrates the sugary collection of bubblegum music.

Comic Sans: The Biography of a Typeface by Simon Garfield explores how Comic Sans evolved from software speech bubbles to one of the most reviled typefaces.

“Kommix” and “Final Cut,” by graphic novelist Charles Burns explore the intricate dynamics of human connection and self-expression, capturing both the pleasures and discomforts.

“Shrek 5” is officially in the works and is set to swamp theaters on July 1, 2026, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the first Shrek film.

Move over Evel Knievel, because the “Mad Canadian” Ken Carter is ready to make his explosive mark by launching a car across the St. Lawrence River into the USA.

The new ¥1000 banknote from the Bank of Japan highlights Hokusai’s famous “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” appealing to tourists and Hokusai art fans alike.