Joel and Rufus haven’t been secondary characters since they were introduced in the late ‘40s or early ’50s. The Dick Moores strips of the 1960s and ’70s contain extensive Joel, Rufus and Miss Melba story arcs. So don’t think this is a new phenomenon or that Jim has found his “creative niche” with these characters. What he has found is a story arc that fits them more than it would other characters in the cast.
Joel and Rufus haven’t been secondary characters since they were introduced in the late ‘40s or early ’50s. The Dick Moores strips of the 1960s and ’70s contain extensive Joel, Rufus and Miss Melba story arcs. So don’t think this is a new phenomenon or that Jim has found his “creative niche” with these characters. What he has found is a story arc that fits them more than it would other characters in the cast.