Defunct and not as witty, but Cow and Boy was very clearly inspired by Calvin & Hobbes

Dinosaur comics

Here are some cartoonists who are likely to have collections in public libraries:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Ware - a genius. I had to stop reading bc they were too impactful. strips, one-pagers, and longer stories, many experiments with forms. If you want “clever”, this is your guy.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Woodring - another genius, surreal cartoony style. scary thing is when they start making sense. multi-page short stories, one-pagers.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Bechdel. literally a MacArthur-winning genius. earned acclaim for her later graphic novels, but she has an earlier strip called “Dykes to Watch out For” that has some excellent characterization and captures a moment in time that is very relevant

Cartoonists who work with longer forms, while keeping a cartoony style:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Burns_(cartoonist) - hit or miss, but when he hits it’s like a baseball bat to the face
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Clowes - a bit overrated imho but got respect for him
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raina_Telgemeier - does cartoons for kids, but they’re great. “Drama” and her adaption of “The Babysitter’s Club” are especially good
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bagge - early stuff is very counterculture, later stuff includes some interesting biographies

• Nedroid
• Questionable Content

Defunct but gold: Achewood; Cul de Sac; Hark! A Vagrant!; Perry Bible Fellowship (maybe still posting?)

Still putting out bangers: Nancy; Xkcd; Oglaf; Wondermark; KC Green; You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack

Politics: Tom the Dancing Bug; This Modern World; Kelly Comics at the Onion

Topatoco.com also has a (mostly) quality list of creators

Red Meat

Ill just state a few of my favorites

• Cyanide and Happiness. Going for almost 20 years, maybe 20 years by now. Has both crude and witty humor
• MrLovenstein. Personal humor. Can be wholesome. Can be relatable. Kind of just how life is and how it works.
• Extra Fabulous. Like C&H, very crude but also somewhat surreal
• Oglaf. Sex. Lots of medieval setting sex. Sometimes not sex. Usually sex.
• XKCD. Smart people making smart jokes.