Murphy

Short, blond, perpetually stoked cartoon surfer created in 1961 by 16-year-old California artist Rick Griffin. Murphy made his debut in the third issue of Surfer magazine. He was "the archetypal Everysurfer," as surf journalist Steve Barilotti wrote in 1988. "A potbellied little grem, and an instant surf world hit."

Surfer published 28 Murphy strips between 1961 to 1987; he was featured in every issue of Surfer, save one, until early 1965. For Griffin and Murphy both, the early '60s consiste...