Andrews McMeel Syndication announces Olivia Jaimes as newest ‘Nancy’ cartoonist

When the editors at Andrews McMeel Syndication chose Olivia Jaimes to become the new (and first-ever female) creator of Nancy — a comic strip approaching its centennial anniversary in syndication — they knew they had found a fresh voice (read Syndicate President and Editorial Director John Glynn’s announcement on the GoComics blog). No one predicted just how remarkable that choice would be, however.

Many fans took to the internet to voice their opinions about the changes to the strip, which include a new look and references to bots, apps, video games and social media. Nancy’s GoComics page is filled with comments, and social engagement has surged, increasing by more than 500 percent. The New York Times and The Washington Post covered the phenomenon, along with BoingBoing, the AV Club and The Beat, proving that the longstanding tradition of intense emotion, interest and love of comics – even those that have been around for 80+ years – remains strong.