>Some of course, lost “it” after the author died or retired. Al Capp, Charles Schulz, Bill Watterson and Gary Larson had it right. Not only did those strips (Li’l Abner, Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes and The Far Side) benefit from ending gracefully, Abner and Peanuts were spared the indignity of being adapted to a time for which they were no longer suited.
Actually I would argue that Schulz lost it before he died. His original strips were excellent, and had more appeal than just childish humor. In the later stuff it became very simplistic with worn out gags used again and again. The last 10 or 15 years of Peanuts were pretty bad.
I never read Lil’ Abner, but I fully agree that Calvin and Hobbes and the Far Side got out at just the right time. They new when their tank was empty and didn’t drive off a cliff.
You are right about Peanuts. It actually started going downhill in the 70s, marked by a sad stock of new characters (e.g. Molly Volley). I allow Schulz a grace period for it because I can’t imagine the man without the strip, or vice versa. My children are being raised on the early 60s book compilations. Good stuff.