The Addams Family by Charles Addams

This strip was originally published 14 August, 1948. I have never cared for the caption of this one. I get that Addams was going for the opposite of “hug Daddy good night,” but the added violence feels un-Addams to me. I do not know how I would improve this. Maybe change the caption to something with the pet alligator. “Now say goodnight to Daddy, and run along to bed, don’t forget to take your pet alligator,” which is getting too wordy.

However we do have a precedent for long captions:

I am still on a Thing kick, and you can see them peeking through the open door, down from their usual spot on the balcony.

More about Thing

Thing T. Thing, often referred to as just Thing, is a fictional character in The Addams Family series. The Addamses call it “Thing” because it is something that cannot be identified, being originally an unseen creature in the original cartoons. Starting with the live-action television series, it was settled to be a disembodied hand. It is known as “Mãozinha” (Little Hand) in Brazil, “Cosa” (Thing) in Spain, “Dedos” (Fingers) in Hispanic America, “Mano” (Hand) in Italy, “La Chose” (the Thing) in French-speaking countries, “eiskaltes Händchen” (icecold little hand) in German-speaking countries, “Rąsia” (Small hand) in Polish, and “Izé” (Whatchamacallit, Thingamajig) in Hungarian.

“The Thing is often observed watching the family through the balustrades of the balcony over the living room. We don’t know quite who or what he is, but, whatever, he’s the soul of good nature—at least, he grins perpetually and may occasionally whimper.” — Charles Addams

Thing was usually a right hand, but [Ted] Cassidy sometimes played him as left, simply to see if anyone would notice. Thing is credited as “Itself” at the end of each episode.

The first appearance of Thing is this strip published 6 August 1938. It is also the first appearance of Morticia, and Lurch.