You mean "real" as in legitimate comic characters I assume? Pippy Longstocking! Was nothing sacred? I'm sure 'Dick' Tracy was a great source of inspiration as well. Never did see Snuffy Smith though. I still wish someone would do a poser version of Lil' Abner's Moonbeam McSwine. Now there was a babe.

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken