The underground comic strip that birthed The Simpsons

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before he was a television icon, Matt Groening was a self-published artist in Los Angeles. His gritty, weekly comic strip, Life in Hell, explored the alienation of adult existence through anthropomorphic rabbits, eventually becoming a nationwide underground success that paved the way for one of history's most famous animated families.

Launched in 1977, Life in Hell began as a self-published project used by Matt Groening to describe his experiences living in Los Angeles. The strip was deeply personal, often mirroring Groening's own life—including a breakdown on the Hollywood Freeway during a 102-degree August night. The early work was characterized by its raw exploration of themes like social alienation, self-loathing, and the perceived dread of adult existence, including work, school, and love.

The strip's characters were often used as vessels for Groening's personal frustrations. For example, the characters Binky and Sheba were used to mirror arguments Groening had with a girlfriend, while the twin-like Akbar and Jeff were added to provide anonymity in such sketches. Interestingly, Akbar and Jeff—who are described as being either brothers, lovers, or both—were actually failed attempts by Groening to draw Charlie Brown.

The comic's success grew through various channels. After debuting in the avant-garde magazine Wet in 1978, it was picked up by the Los Angeles Reader in 1980. The compilation 'Love is Hell' achieved underground popularity by 1984, moving 22,000 units during its initial two print runs. This momentum eventually led to a massive syndication, growing from 11 free weeklies to over 250 newspapers nationwide.

Life in Hell's legacy is inextricably linked to The Simpsons. When Hollywood producer James L. Brooks approached Groening in 1985 to develop animated shorts for The Tracey Ullman Show, Groening chose not to use his Life in Hell characters. Instead, he created an entirely new cast based on his own family, which would eventually revolutionize television animation.

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