Agatha Crumm was a newspaper comic strip by Bill Hoest (creator of The Lockhorns) published by King Features Syndicate. It debuted on October 24, 1977 and ended in 1996.
The title character, a little old lady named Agatha Crumm, was the head of her own cookie company, making all kinds of business deals and looking for ways to make more money. Her employees were largely incompetent, earning Agatha's wrath.
Joining Agatha in her escapades was her family: her son Junior, Junior's wife and Junior's impressionable daughter Bunny; two beautiful secretaries, Winsome and Harriet; Schneider, a Mad Scientist and researcher for Agatha, and physician Dr. Bernhang.
Three paperback books were published in The '80s collecting select Agatha Crumm comic strips. Full reprints have yet to be seen.
This comic strip contains examples of the following tropes:
- Cool Old Lady: Agatha Crumm was this when she was not The Scrooge or a Mean Boss.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Agatha, but played up as a humorous example being a newspaper comic strip
- The Ditz: Winsome
- Gleeful and Grumpy Pairing: Agatha Crumm is the dour and pessimistic head of a large corporation, while her personal assistant, Winsome, has a bright smile and cheery demeanor.
- Incompetence, Inc.: Agatha's employees fit the trope.
- Mean Boss: Agatha became this when unhappy with her employees.
- Protagonist Title: The comic strip was named for its protagonist, Agatha Crumm.
- The Scrooge: Agatha Crumm was definitely this.
- Sexy Secretary: Not one but two - Winsome and Harriet. Both count as Ms. Fanservice as they were very good looking.
- Skeleton Motif: Played for laughs in one comic strip when Agatha had to identify her own limousine among many. Hers had a skull and crossbones flag flying from it!
- Standard Office Setting: Played straight. Most of the strip takes place in the offices of Agatha's corporation. We see Agatha in her office, board meetings, her secretary Winsome, vignettes with her office workers and business dealings.
- Stupid Question Bait: Happened in one strip where Agatha showed board members a pie chart. When asked if they had questions, one asked if they could get pizza.
