History ComicStrip / TheAddamsFamily

* TooKinkyToTorture: They view poisoning someone as [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0f/1e/4a/0f1e4aae6aca7bb07bab614d7bd8ef58--addams-family-wednesday-the-addams-family.jpg a childish squabble]], [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bb/77/87/bb77872e59a80da1483905bc972ce1b7--addams-family-characters-addams-family-values.jpg use various deadly substances for personal grooming]], and [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c7/24/f4/c724f45bfdfb4f60cd5633432ffa6644--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg kick each other as a sign of affection.]]

For many, ''many'' years, Creator/CharlesAddams drew single-panel cartoons for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker''. While these were standalone (and usually quite macabre) gag-a-day jokes, there were a few recurring characters: a creepy family of loners who were dark opposites of the normal American family. The first members of the family shown were the mother, the butler, and the "Thing", making their debut in [[http://comicsalliance.com/files/2016/01/addams-02.jpg this cartoon.]] They went on to appear again, joined by a father, a son, a daughter, a [[TheGhost hinted-at-but-never-shown]] baby, a grandmother, and a recurring bald man whose relationship with the family was ambiguous, but became known as an uncle.

For many, ''many'' years, Creator/CharlesAddams drew single-panel cartoons for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker''. While these were standalone (and usually quite macabre) gag-a-day jokes, there were a few recurring characters: a creepy family of loners who were dark opposites of the normal American family. The first members of the family shown were the mother, the butler, and the "Thing", making their debut in [[http://comicsalliance.com/files/2016/01/addams-02.jpg this cartoon.]] They went on to appear again, joined by a father, a son, a daughter, a grandmother, and a recurring bald man whose relationship with the family was ambiguous, but became known as an uncle.

* TheNameless: None of the family members have names; they were only given names for the TV series. Interestingly, extended relatives of the family avert this and are referenced by name, such as Uncle Eimar and Uncle Cosimo.

[[folder:Other Recurring Characters in the Cartoons]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hp_03.jpg]]


* [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3d/f7/4d/3df74d1787499a0e2dfbf230dcff5f02--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg A blonde girl with flowers in her hair]] appeared in a few cartoons and artwork, probably inspiring the character of Ophelia in the TV series.

* [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/56/38/69/56386976a70b9a7d52e38efa804d218f--addams-family-cartoon-the-addams-family.jpg A short, hairy creature]]. He only appeared in the one cartoon, but was subsequently depicted with the family in much of Addams's cover art. Inspired by Cousin Itt from the TV show (see the entry for Canon Immigrant below).

* The "Wall-Eyed Couple": [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ed/15/c7/ed15c75d6c3ed180b84dc6c7202cb2e2--charles-addams-cartoons-adams-family.jpg A bald man with bulging eyes and a blank smile and a short woman with scraggly hair and a nervous smile.]] In the cartoon shown, they even have a baby. They are shown visiting the family a lot.

* A weird, cocoon-like... thing that has formed in a tree. It first appeared in [[https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HxLB6ctIdo/VDSv-zK4ANI/AAAAAAAAk-8/BMfGAI90-SM/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-10-07%2Bat%2B11.20.39%2BPM.png this]] cartoon, unrelated to the family. But then, it started to appear in the background of many of the family's scenes, such as [[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CRjiU3czL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg this one]].

* Disembodied hands reaching out from strange places had appeared in Addams's art before, but they were connected with the family when one cartoon showed two arms reaching out of a phonograph to change the records (see the page image). These were [[CompositeCharacter givien the Thing's name and role]] in the TV show.

* The Baby. In a couple of cartoons, the mother is said to be pregnant. According to the KnittingPregnancyAnnouncement, it will have four legs, and if it's a boy it will be given "a Biblical name, like Cain or Ananias." It was never referenced again, which is understandable as the cartoons' continuity was loose, but it did inspire Pubert in Addams Family Values.

[[/folder]]


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* FashionDissonance: The [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/addamsfamily/images/0/08/Af_my_crowd.png/revision/latest?cb=20160929005324 cover illustration]] for Addams' 1970 book ''My Crowd'' depicts the Family in hip, "mod" attire of the era.

* FashionDissonance: The cover illustration to Addams' 1970 book ''My Crowd'' depicts the Family in hip, "mod" attire of the era.

For many, ''many'' years, Creator/CharlesAddams drew single-panel cartoons for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker''. While they were standalone (and usually quite macabre) gag-a-day jokes, there were a few recurring characters: a creepy family of loners who were dark opposites of the normal American family. The first members of the family shown were the mother, the butler, and the "Thing", making their debut in [[http://comicsalliance.com/files/2016/01/addams-02.jpg this cartoon.]] They went on to appear again, joined by a father, a son, a daughter, a grandmother, and a recurring bald man whose relationship with the family was ambiguous, but became known as an uncle.

* PutOnABus: ''New Yorker'' editor William Shawn wanted nothing to do with characters that had appeared on so vulgar a medium as television, so for a while Addams's cartoons in the magazine were family-free.

* KnittingPregnancyAnnouncement: In [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OpqNE546Hfs/UX4OJMZ96II/AAAAAAAAtUs/BWpEStw9-nk/s640/cartoon_5.jpg this]] cartoon, the mother knits a jumper with multiple legs, which was copied in Film/TheAddamsFamily.

* PutOnABus: There was a period of time when the NY editor wanted nothing to do with characters that had been on public TV, so for a while Addams's cartoons were family-free.

* TheNameless: None of the family members have names, they were only given names for the TV series. Interestingly, extended relatives of the family avert this and are referenced by name, such as Uncle Eimar and Uncle Cosimo.

* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: The mother and daughter.

* CanonImmigrant: Cousin Itt was a character created for the [[Series/TheAddamsFamily TV show.]] As a nod to the show, Charles Addams drew [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/56/38/69/56386976a70b9a7d52e38efa804d218f--addams-family-cartoon-the-addams-family.jpg this cartoon]] with a hairy creature that heavily resembled Cousin Itt answering the phone and saying "This is it speaking." Charles Addams's version of Cousin Itt went on to appear alongside the family.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Whether the family is arguably "evil" or not, they are still shown to have standards in [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/4b/e0/e4/4be0e45ed3a6611eda6dacd92508df02--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg this]] unpublished cartoon.

For many, ''many'' years, Creator/CharlesAddams drew single-panel cartoons for Magazine/TheNewYorker. While they were standalone (and usually quite macabre) gag-a-day jokes, there were a few recurring characters: a creepy family of loners who were dark opposites of the normal American family. The first members of the family shown were the mother, the butler, and the "Thing", making their debut in [[http://comicsalliance.com/files/2016/01/addams-02.jpg this cartoon.]] They went on to appear again, joined by a father, a son, a daughter, a grandmother, and a recurring bald man whose relationship with the family was ambiguous, but became known as an uncle.

This page is for the New Yorker cartoons with the recurring family characters, ''not'' the TV show, movies, or any other adaptations and their tropes. In these cartoons, they didn't even have names; they were called "the Addams Family" because Charles Addams had created them. For a general overview of all works based off the cartoons, see [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily here]].

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/addams_record_changer_trimmed.jpg]]

* CanonImmigrant: Cousin Itt was a character created for the [[Series/TheAddamsFamily TV show.]] As a nod to the show, Charles Addams drew [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/56/38/69/56386976a70b9a7d52e38efa804d218f--addams-family-cartoon-the-addams-family.jpg this cartoon]] with a hairy creature that heavily resembled Cousin Itt answering the phone and saying "This is it speaking." Charles Addams's version of Cousin Itt went on to appear in at alongside the family.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In the first family cartoon, the butler has a beard, the mother's outfit is somewhat different, and we see more of the Thing's body than usual.

* CreepFamily: Probably the TropeCodifier.

* TheFamilyThatSlaysTogether: A very happy family who enjoy inflicting harm. They [[http://forbiddenplanet.blog/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mfcv3y64pL1qf83cro2_1280.jpg pour boiling oil on carolers]], [[http://theaddamsfamilymusical.com/img/cartoon_3.jpg set traps for the postman]], [[http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b5/fb/ed/b5fbedcdeca512d6daa63aaadf05dbd8.jpg encourage bad behavior at school]], [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/33/80/39/33803985d7787791385916f7e2a74dc5--charles-addams-humor-negro.jpg usher a car into a collision with a truck]], and [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4b/41/31/4b41317561a762131b5be560590ce6fe.jpg set traps for Santa Claus]], and [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/42/cd/88/42cd88548b97fd161549e96186c7335a--addams-family-values-the-addams-family.jpg build torture racks for fun]], and just generally value[[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/5f/59/a1/5f59a1e4a9020cb4e13935077acd9955.jpg making the world a worse place]].