What better way to kick off the New Year than with a new feature on GoComics?

"The Lockhorns" is centered around married couple Loretta and Leroy Lockhorn. Loretta, unbothered with a touch of sass, is paired with the grumpy but gentle Leroy, creating a relationship filled with snappy banter that is both relatable and humorous.

Originally launched in 1968 by the prolific cartoonist Bill Hoest, the strip is now continued by his widow Bunny and cartoonist John Reiner. Today, “The Lockhorns” has more than 200 million weekly readers.

Given that the characters and their quirky personalities play a pivotal role in this comic strip, Bunny says that readers over the years have speculated that Loretta and Leroy’s dynamic was inspired by Bill and Bunny’s marriage. "Nothing could be further from the truth,” Bunny says. “Our marriage was joyful, filled with laughter, and lots of fun." She says that the only common ground she shares with Loretta is a dislike for cooking: "We both hate to cook and are poor cooks when we make the effort, so we eat out a lot!" And, as for Bill, the single similarity he shared with Leroy was an appreciation for a glass of red wine.

The comic is set in Bunny's hometown of Huntington, New York, with recognizable landmarks and motifs appearing in the background of certain comic panels. The choice of the name "Lockhorns" is intentional, according to Bunny: "When deer fight, they lock horns and pull back and forth, but they can't separate. The Lockhorns is based on observation. I’m just writing what I see."

Make sure to follow “The Lockhorns” on GoComics, where it will update every day of the week!