Heathcliff #33

Heathcliff #33 was published by Marvel Comics in the late 1980s as part of their Star Comics imprint, a line specifically curated to bring popular newspaper strips and cartoon properties to a younger comic book readership. This specific issue features the cantankerous, troublemaking orange tabby cat created by George Gately, who first appeared in 1973. By the time this issue hit newsstands, the character had achieved significant cultural penetration through both his long-running syndicated comic strip and a successful animated television series, establishing a brand that relied on simple, slapstick humor and the protagonist's recurring battles with suburban domesticity.

The creative direction of the Star Comics line focused on accessible, self-contained stories that mirrored the episodic nature of Sunday funnies, moving away from the complex continuity found in Marvel's superhero titles. The artwork for these issues was often produced by a rotating team of staff artists and freelancers tasked with maintaining a consistent, clean house style that respected Gately's original character designs. While Heathcliff was often overshadowed by Garfield in terms of peak merchandising dominance, this issue represents a period where the character remained a staple of comic racks, appreciated primarily for his irreverent, anti-social antics and enduring appeal to elementary school readers.