The Versatile Artistry of Gus Mager Gus Mager was an American painter, illustrator, and cartoonist who flourished during the first half of the 20th century. Born in Newark, United States, he was the son of German immigrants, a connection that sparked his interest in cartooning through comics sent by relatives from Europe. His early career saw him drawing sports cartoons for newspapers, eventually expanding into a repertoire of clownish animals. These characters appeared daily in strips such as In Jungle Land and In Jungle Society. He became widely recognized for his comic strips, including th…