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Here's What Popular Comic Strip Characters Look Like, According to AI

Comic strips are an integral part of our childhood (and now adulthood) memories. The nostalgia surrounding these characters brings us back to simpler and happier times. Whether you were reading them in the morning, catching up after school, or maybe even waking up early on Sunday for the paper, these characters played a role in our lives that today's comic strips could only dream of doing. 

Depending on the comic, some of these characters were drawn extremely simplistic—with minimal details and traditional colors. Others were more eccentric, incorporating bright colors and unique features. What if we told you that we know what they would look like in real life? That's right, your favorite cartoon strip character just hopped out of the newspaper and is no longer drawn —they've transitioned into the realm of living and breathing. 

In the following slideshow, we've put AI to the test by giving the program comic strip character names and letting it generate hyperrealistic images of each iconic animation. With classic characters from shows like Doonsbury, Dilbert, and more, you're sure to see a few of your favorites. How do you think they turned out? Let us know in the comments! Here's what popular comic strip characters would look like IRL, according to AI.

Beetle Bailey

Beetle Bailey

Beetle Bailey is a young soldier that signed up for the military to...well, goof off. The funny thing about Beetle Bailey was that it was actually banned in 1954 because the military was worried discipline would slip after the end of the Korean War. Guess everything turned out fine!

We never really see what color Beetle Bailey's hair is, but the AI figured he would be blond. We love this! He looks like a happy-go-luck (although pretty lazy) young guy who may have a bit of a run-in with authority. All he really needs is a good, strict CO to get him in shape!

(Image via MidJourney)

Calvin (and Hobbes)

Calvin (and Hobbes)

The AI really went to town with this version of Calvin! The little smirk is perfect for this troublemaker. It really reminds us of the stickers we see on the windows of all those trucks. If you look closely, you can see a little something...dangerous behind the little boy. 

Psych! That's just Hobbes making sure Calvin is safe at all times. Naturally, Calvin can't get into trouble all by himself. He needs his tiger buddy to make sure they have maximum fun. With a look like this, we're thinking a movie should be made with these two. 

(Image via MidJourney)

Cathy

Cathy

We gotta admit that this version of Cathy looks a lot younger than the woman was supposed to be. Actually, how old was Cathy supposed to be? Turns out, we never found out! The author never really told us, but we got to watch her grow up. We know that she's young but that seems pretty relative.

Obviously, she doesn't seem to struggle with chocolate and diets like the rest of us because she looks pretty amazing. Still, this Cathy looks just as airheaded as the original one! We're sure she also had a bad blind date or two.

(Image via MidJourney)

Dilbert

Dilbert

Ever wonder why Dilbert's tie curls upward? Turns out that it's all to show Dilbert's lack of control over his environment. Not as fun as the rumors that it has some sort of sexual or satanic meaning. If you take his lack of control into account, it may explain why he looks so mad. 

This Dilbert certainly looks like someone that would be an electrical engineer for an office! No doubt he's just as honest as the comic strip, but polite? Mmm, we're not sure about that one. As far as his confusion over office policies — who isn't confused there?!

(Image via MidJourney)

Doonesbury

Doonesbury

Doonesbury gained a name for itself in an interesting way. It satirized things no one wanted to talk about (with humor). We asked the AI what Mike Doonesbury would look like, and he looks a lot like what you'd expect!  He's clearly a boomer that is just trying to get through life one day at a time.

The funny thing about Doonesbury was that it was supposed to be a parody of Hunter S. Thompson. We're not sure how that tracks because MIke Doonesbury is supposed to be a normal, well-adjusted person who readers are supposed to relate to. Hunter S. Thompson wasn't really any of those things. 

(Image via MidJourney)

Hagar the Horrible

Hagar the Horrible

Ah...our favorite Viking! This shaggy, scruffy, big guy looks exactly what we used to think Vikings looked like (minus the red hair). We know that he's rough and tumble, but underneath that had exterior is just a soft underbelly. This guy may not look it, but he's certainly simplistic and childish, like the original comic.

He looks a little scary, though. We'll need a little more convincing on the "soft underbelly" part of him. We wonder what the rest of the family would look like! In particular, we're wondering what a duck with a Viking helmet would look like. 

(Image via MidJourney)

John and Garfield from Garfield

John and Garfield from Garfield

Jon Arbuckle - the lonely guy with the cat who basically eats anything, but his favorite food being lasagna. We are, of course, talking about Garfield, the sassiest cat around who hates Mondays more than any of us. While Garfield is the one who usually gets the spotlight, that orange tabby was nothing without his owner. 

The confident Garfield proved a stark contrast to his awkward owner, who was clumsy and never had much luck in his dating life.  From his outfits to his lack of social skills, Jon Arbuckle spent most of his nights alone until he met Liz, although it certainly took a while before anything happened there.

(Image via MidJourney)

Garfield

Garfield

Garfield is everyone's favorite lasagna eating cat. His comic strip was world's most widely syndicated comic strip according to the Guiness Book of World Records. (2013). He's the perfect embodiment of an actual cat because he displays the attitude of a typical housecat. Just feed him and leave him alone. That's all he wants. 

And in that way, I think we can all relate to him. This version of Garfield looks a bit more like the cartoon and we love it. But from the look of his expression, we can definitely tell this image depicts Garfield on a Monday. This is definitely me on a Monday.

(Image via Midjourney)

Liz

Liz

Liz is one of Garfield’s central characters serving as both a love interest for Jon Arbuckle, as well as Garfield and Odie’s veterinarian. She’s appeared on the comic strip, as well as the television series adaptation. She even appeared in the movie as well.

And as much as we love Jennifer Love Hewitt, we have to say we’d wish the live action Garfield never existed. And frankly, we can’t even figure out why they made that in the first place. But with that said, we’ll take this real life version created by AI versus anything that was in those terribly stupid movies.

(Image via Midjourney)

Daisy Mae from Li’l Abner

Daisy Mae from Li’l Abner

This woman is absolutely beautiful, but we wouldn’t expect anything less from sweet Daisy Mae. This woman was hopelessly in love with Lil Abner in the comics, and we’re not sure how anyone could resist her voluptuous charms. Can you believe Abner was cautious about locking this down?

This Daisy Mae looks like she’d have to beat all the other boys off with a stick, but she only had eyes for one man. Eventually, the pair got married, and she became a great wife. Lil Abner should be so lucky to have someone like that to return home to day after day.  

(Image via MidJourney)

Li’l Abner

Li’l Abner

LI’l Abner certainly is ripped. Even though he’s apparently only 19 years old in the comic, he was already 6’3”! Gotta say that this “Li’l” Abner looks a little older than 19, but we think the AI did a fantastic job with his representation. Maybe just a few years in the future from the comic, yeah?

We can certainly see how he pulled the lovely Daisy. 

(Image via MidJourney)

Blondie Bumstead from Blondie

Blondie Bumstead from Blondie

Va, va, voom! This is certainly a woman you could easily fall for – talk about being weak in the knees. This whole woman makes us weak. She’s the epitome of a leading lady. Blondie is smart, sweet, and more responsible than most comic book characters. That’s perfect considering her husband is Dagwood!

We love that it made Blondie a little younger here. Still, we can see that fiery temper she has in her eyes. You don’t mess with her or her family or she’ll make sure you get yours. With a beauty like this, we’d love to see a reboot of the comic with this style of art!

(Image via MidJourney)

Dagwood Bumstead from Blondie

Dagwood Bumstead from Blondie

Don’t let his appearance fool you! This Dagwood could certainly get into some trouble. We’re not sure how he is that thin considering his insatiable appetite and his love for naps, but guess that’s just how the cookie crumbles for the Bumstead family.

Even though he’s always got some antics up his sleeve, he still looks super kind and inviting. The dapper outfit he’s in looks fantastic, but you didn’t just go out in whatever you wanted to back then! Most people wouldn’t get caught dead in their pajamas out in public.

(Image via MidJourney)

Charlie Brown from Peanuts

Charlie Brown from Peanuts

Charlie Brown is typically drawn as almost being bald, but if a kid were without hair that early on we would think he was sickly.  That being said, an in-real-life Charlie Brown would probably have hair, and probably quite a bit of it since most kids don't like to sit still for a trim.

Charlie Brown from the Peanuts cartoon strip, and a number of cartoon TV specials and movies, has some serious confidence issues, anxiety, and mood swings - so, like the rest of us, basically. It's made him one of the most relatable characters of all time, and that's why we love him.

(Image via MidJourney)

Lucy from Peanuts

Lucy from Peanuts

Lucy is a beloved animated character from Peanuts. She has short, black hair with wavy bangs and extremely simple facial features. She wears a blue dress with puffy sleeves, blue socks, and white sneakers. Her nose is drawn to be even with her eyes—between her eyes, actually. How does that look in real life?

Her nose is not between her eyes, thankfully, and we are pleasantly surprised with how this portrayal turned out! She has the same short, black hair and is wearing a sky-blue outfit. Her features are simple and youthful, consistent with the animated six-year-old. The only thing that looks added is a hint of light (almost translucent) blue eyes—her animated version has two black dots for her eyes. We prefer these eyes!

(Image via MidJourney)

Linus

Linus

What would the Peanuts gang be without Linus, who’s really the heart of the gang. Moreover, where would Charlie Brown be without Linus holding him mentally accountable and keeping him grounded. Probably in a mental facility somewhere but we don’t really need to go there.

AI shows us what Linus would look like and it seems pretty accurate. He’s even got his trusty security blanket on hand. Linus van Pelt first appears as a baby in 1952, as the brother of Lucy but by 1956 can walk and speak in full sentences, becoming Charlie Brown’s best friend.

(Image via Midjourney)

Archie from Archie

Archie from Archie

Oh, Archie! It seems like he’s always getting into something, but god bless him. We’ve been reading his little comic strips for ages, and apparently, everyone loves this guy and his friends! He was recently turned into a TV show and even got his own comic series that you can see from time to time.

This is a great representation of Archie. He’s young, strapping, and looks like he can handle himself while solving mysteries. Still, he has that kind-hearted look that makes us all love him. No doubt he’ll loyally stand by his friends and family when they need him most.

(Image via MidJourney)

Veronica from Archie

Veronica from Archie

Wow! The AI certainly made Veronica into something else. This girl is pretty and looks like she doesn’t put up with any business she doesn’t like. Still, she’s obviously got a little bit of that delicate flower within her. A girl like that certainly does love the finer things in life.

She certainly looks like she’s enjoying the beach and no doubt she needs the time for some R&R. It’ll give her a nice little tan to maybe get a leg up on Betty when it comes to Betty, Veronica, and Archie’s little love triangle. All we can say – ooh la la!

(Image via MidJourney)

Betty from Archie

Betty from Archie

Why if it isn’t the girl next door! The AI certainly got Betty’s personality down. She’s obviously beautiful and has this “bookworm” vibe. With her hair back, she’s ready to get into trouble with her main guy, Archie. Of course, you know she’ll have a funny comment or two along the way.

The only thing we wish the AI did was throw her in some kind of baseball uniform. Then again, that shirt says that she knows a thing or two about fashion. If we had to guess, Betty from the comics would have made an outfit that looks exactly like that.

(Image via MidJourney)

Natasha Fatale from Rocky and Bullwinkle

Natasha Fatale from Rocky and Bullwinkle

Natasha Fatale and her beautiful villain vibes are totally unmistakable when it comes to classic '60s animation. Natasha Fatale from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle was the main antagonist on the show, a spy from the fictional country of Pottsylvania, which was basically Russia,  and she took orders from Fearless Leader.

She had an accomplice, Boris Badenov, who was her sidekick, but they were both basically the worst spies in existence, let's face it, because their plans were always thwarted by a moose and a squirrel.  Fatale appeared in almost every episode of Rocky and Bullwinkle except for four, making her one of the most iconic cartoon villains in television history. Here we can see what she might look like in real life - pretty darn good.

Olive Oyl from Popeye

Olive Oyl from Popeye

Olive Oyl is a comedic character known as Popeye's love interest. Unlike many of the female characters we'll see on this list, Olive Oyl is known for being a bit—goofy! She is a tall, lanky young woman with a stick-like figure and enormous feet. She has tightly wound hair that comes out to a long bun on the back of her head. She wears a red top, a dark skirt, and tall, brown boots. 

Though we can't see her figure here, many of her features seem to be consistent with her animated version. She has the dark, curly, pinned-up hair and small, simplistic facial features. We get a peek at her top, which definitely has some red on it. The main thing that is different is her hat—however, it would make sense for her to have a hat by the sea and for it to be yellow to match the band on her skirt. 

(Image via MidJourney)

Popeye

Popeye

Popeye the Sailor Man is an oldie but a goodie. With bulging forearms, a squinty eye, and a screwed-up face, this character is always ready for a fight. There is a pipe that rarely leaves his mouth, and he has a tattoo of an anchor on one of his massive forearms. His furrowed brows give him an ever-present mean scowl. 

Though this cartoon character would be hard to imagine in real life, not sure this image is what would come to mind. He still has the squinty eyes and furrowed brows (though not too prominent). Though he has large forearms, the rest of his body is a bit on the average to slim side—his neck here is too thick! AI was feeling a little creative on this one!

(Image via MidJourney)

Betty Boop

Betty Boop

Similar to Jessica Rabbit, Betty Boop is another character modeled around a vixen personality. She is drawn with larger-than-life eyes framed with long eyelashes, a short, black hairstyle, a short, strapless red dress that reveals a garter, high heels, and hoop earrings. She is also well-known for her high-pitched voice and coy ways, which her expressions do a good job at portraying. 

AI gave her the same big, wide eyes with small, punctuated facial features. She has black, curly hair and a revealing red dress. Though we don't see the same hoop earrings, she is wearing a red beaded necklace instead. The shape of her lips and lipstick are reminiscent of the flapper-girl era.

(Image via Midjourney)

Bazooka Joe

Bazooka Joe

The bubble gum was alright, but the real reason to get Bazooka Joe gum over Double Bubble or whatever else, was the comic strips it came with. They weren’t then funniest thing imaginable, but they were certainly enjoyable and you could only enjoy them once you were ready to pop some gum in your mouth.

Bazooka Joe is unmistakable here with his eyepatch and baseball cap. One mystery that remains to this day about the character is what exactly happen to his eye. Nobody knows. It was never explained. We can only guess that Bazooka Joe has a really dark past or he had some freak accident involved bubblegum that took out his eye. But we’ll never really know now that the comic is out of print.

(Image via Midjourney)

Bil

Bil

Behold, Bil fromThe Family Circus in real life. The father of the family was modeled after the author, Bil Keane. A move of pure ego, and we can respect that. The glasses are definitely a dead giveaway.

The single-panel cartoon is often still featured in the funny papers, but the real mystery is just…why?

Was this comic strip ever actually funny? No. Not really. The comedy is gentle. A bit too gentle. And much of the time, the jokes just don’t make any darn sense. Still, it feels like something would be missing if we didn’t have that single panel in our newspapers anymore.

(Image via Midjourney)

Thelma

Thelma

Thelma was based on Bil Keane's real-life wife Thelma Keane. Her appearance was strikingly similar and the two worked together as a cartoonist. The two met working in the war bonds office during WWII. As unfunny as the comic strip may be, at least you can say it came from a place of love - their romance to be clear, not the war bonds office.

Her character nicknamed Thel served as the mother in the comic strip. Like her real-life persona, Thel was instrumental in keeping the family together. This was not unlike how Thelma was keeping the business side of things together, allowing the comic strip to become one of the longest running in history.

(Image via Midjourney)

Little Orphan Annie

Little Orphan Annie

Little Orphan Annie was a comic strip first syndicated by the Tribune Media Services. Creator Harold Gray based it on the poem "Little Orphant Annie” from 1885. The comic strip made its debut in 1924, and it appeared in the New York Daily News.

The comic strip would inspire numerous adaptations including a radio show, film adaptations and the famous Broadway musical, simply titled Annie. However, the original comic strip gradually lost popularity and finally ended in 2010. Guess there is no tomorrow for Annie now.

(Image via Midjourney)

Bugs Bunny

Bugs Bunny

What’s up doc? Yep, Bugs Bunny had his own comic strip too, which is not too much of a surprise, given how popular the character was and continues to be to this very day. Bugs Bunny even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – the second cartoon character to get one, after Mickey Mouse of course.

Newer generations might be familiar with his role in Space Jam but the rest of us grew up with those cartoon shorts and his comics too! The Bugs Bunny comic strip ran for nearly 50 years, starting in 1943 up until 1990. It started out in the Sunday pages until it became a daily strip.

This is what he'd look like as a human according to AI.

(Image via Midjourney)

Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh

You’re probably familiar with the book, and the television series, and the animated films over the years. But only some may remember the Winnie the Pooh comic strip that ran for 10 years, from 1978 to 1988.  The strip featured all the regular characters you know, including Christopher Robin, Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga and Roo.

However, it also included Sir Brian and his dragon, who were introduced in the first comic strip. There was no explanation for why the characters were there, so you just had to accept it.

Anyway, here’s AI’s version of Pooh for your enjoyment. Its Winnie the Pooh as a human, which is something you don't see every day.

(Image via Midjourney)

Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon has made it to the big screen before but it certainly wasn’t the best and its certainly not a classic. That being said, we can’t really recommend it if you haven’t seen it. If you want to see Flash Gordon in real life, our AI is here to help, bringing the comic strip character to life before your very eyes.

Flash Gordon was first published back in 1934. He was originally designed to compete with Buck Rogers, which was a commercial successful hit. The character would soon become an international hit, as one of the most influential American comic strips of all time.

(Image via Midjourney)

Ferd’nand

Ferd’nand

Having sun for several decades, we couldn’t forget Ferd’nand. Originally published in 1937, it’s still published in newspapers today and that has to mean something. The popular comic book character featured a distinct mustache and conical hat.

Here you can see this is unmistakably the Ferd’nand we know and love, brought to life like we’ll probably never see him on the big screen. But that’s not to say that he should be, so don’t get any ideas Hollywood. Please, don’t do it.

(Image via Midjourney)