Who Did It First?

 

Just a thought.  Who broke the fourth wall in comics first -Ambush Bug or Deadpool?

Neither -unless you have only ever read American comics and discount anything outside of the continental United States.

However, British comic strip characters had been breaking the fourth wall since the early 1900s. Talking to the "Reader" was a common thing -explaining the planned "surprise" or commenting on the unexpected outcome. Everyone did it. 

Billy Whizz, Dennis the Menace (UK), Keyhole Kate, Winker Watson (don't be childish all those jokes were done 60 years ago!)  and even some of the obscure characters of the 1920s-1960s did it.  I have seen examples from Europe -Ambush Bug and Deadpool were doing nothing new.

Claims of breaking the fourth wall on TV and in cinema are also made but this was NOT a modern thing. Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball all broke that wall by either speaking to camera or giving a look to the camera/viewer.  Even the first "fart" can be contested....no, that doesn't sound or smell right.

Do you know a REAL claim to fame?

Having the only Iron Warrior action figure in the universe (I make no claims for the multiverse but...) -fact.