Rodolphe TöpfferRodolphe Töpffer.

Rodolphe Töpffer (TOP-fər;; 31 January 1799 to 8 June 1846) was a Swiss teacher, author, painter, cartoonist, and caricaturist. He is best known for his illustrated books (littérature en estampes, "graphic literature"), which are possibly the earliest European comics. He is known as the father of comic strips and has been credited as the "first comics artist in history." Paris-educated, Töpffer worked as a schoolteacher at a boarding school, where he entertained students with his caricatures.