Breathed, Berke (1957-…), an American cartoonist, created the popular satirical comic strip “Bloom County.” Breathed won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning for “Bloom County.”
“Bloom County” was published from 1980 to 1989. It expressed its satire and social and political commentary through a group of continuing characters. They included cynical Milo Bloom, underhanded lawyer Steve Dallas, mild-mannered Michael Binkley, Bill the Cat, and a penguin named Opus. Breathed credits images in children’s books as a strong influence in his drawing style, including the Dr. Seuss children’s books.
Guy Berkeley Breathed was born in Encino, California, on June 21, 1957, and graduated from the University of Texas in 1978. “Bloom County” was first published in daily newspapers in 1980. The comic strip gained more exposure and popularity in 1983 when it temporarily replaced the “Doonesbury” comic strip in 200 additional newspapers. Book collections of “Bloom County” have sold millions of copies. The character of Opus has become especially popular, appearing on T-shirts and as stuffed dolls.
Breathed’s “Outland,” a comic strip similar to “Bloom County,” appeared in Sunday newspapers from 1989 to 1995. Another Sunday comic strip by Breathed, “Opus,” appeared in newspapers from 2003 to 2008. It featured Opus the penguin from “Bloom County.” Breathed has also written several children’s books, including A Wish for Wings that Work (1991), The Last Basselope (1992), Goodnight, Opus (1993), Red Ranger Came Calling (1994), Mars Needs Moms! (2007), Pete & Pickles (2008), and Flawed Dogs (2009).
