FECHA is ostensibly about the electron and electronics - a stretch to link with comic strips. Actually, comics and electronics do have something in common: the same birthday. "Electronics" are considered to have been born in 1895 when Marconi and Popov (independently, in Italy and Russia, respectively) capitalized on the research of Heinrich Hertz (Germany) to invent the first "wireless" communication system - now known as radio transmission and reception.

The comic strip was born that same eventful year, 1895, when Richard Outcault's drawings, called Down in Hogan's Alley appeared in the New York World newspaper. And, making it even more memorable, 1895 also marked the debut of the movie theater.

It didn't take long for comic strips and movies to be melded into animated motion pictures, soon known as "cartoons." Through time, with the addition of sound, then computerization, these "cartoons" have become quite sophisticated pieces of animated artistry. Disney's Lion King stands as powerful testimony to the state of this art.

The printed comic strip, however, continues to hold its own in the Electronic Era. Adults who would never think of sitting and watching a "cartoon" on television impatiently rip open the newspaper to find their favorite comics. From Mary Worth, to Doonesbury, to Beetle Bailey, to Garfield, the range of comic fare is an eclectic reflection of humans, humanity, the real and the imagined.

There are those of us who enjoy the tryst and twist of subtle (sometimes not-so) humor and philosophy, with a dash of wry, whimsy, irony, sarcasm, or even nostalgia thrown in. Comics touch those special places in the privacy of our minds. Scan the pages of comics that have survived through the years, and you'll find a common denominator: they evoke a reaction - from a smile, to a snort, to a guffaw. And, their power is vindicated when they prompt a reader to share their content with others.

Part of the attraction of comics at FECHA may be that they seem to defy the etheric environment of the Internet. Just consider how long it would take to download the complete color comics sections of Sunday newspapers?

If you're already familiar with Wiley Miller's Non Sequitur, we think you'll enjoy learning more about this unique comic strip artist, and seeing samples of his work on line. Just click on his name. If you're not familiar with Wiley, you're in for a treat.

Likewise for Quino, internationally known cartoonist who has almost made it a point of pride that he has achieved great success without catering to the U. S. market. You'll find that Quino communicates eloquently in our common global "language" - basic human universal.

We're happy, here at FECHA, that printed words and images are still alive and vital. We hope that you'll be inspired to procure one (or all) of these talented cartoonists' books; and that, at the very least, you keep one next to your computer for something entertaining to read while you wait for long downloads! Happy surf/reading!