sesame street is a nationally syndicated comic strip inspired by "sesame street". written and drawn by veteran sesame animator cliff roberts, the earliest concept art was created in 1970, and by 1971, a promotional booklet was created as the comic entered the market, courtesy of king features. the strip debuted on november 15, 1971, in more than 175 newspapers, and ran until 1975. the strip, which ran both daily and on sundays, was conceptually similar to the series in its pedagogical goals, but, in the first year of the strip, conspicuous by the absence of the muppets.