Lio

By Mark Tatulli

The world of Lio is filled with the extraordinary—monsters under the bed, wild reptile pets, robot inventions, weird science—but it's all commonplace for this most uncommon first-grader. Mark Tatulli renders this pantomime strip in pen-and-ink style, giving the artwork a dark, spidery feel to match the strip's dark humor. Lio explores the twisted realm of a kid's imagination—at once bizarre, creepy, and fun.

Daily

Sunday

Daily & Sunday

Digital

Strip

Available in Color

Available in Spanish

Family

Pets

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About Mark Tatulli

In 1988, Mark Tatulli drew his first published newspaper comic strip for the Burlington County Times in New Jersey. His next strip, "Bent Halos," a comic about a couple of rambunctious angels, was nationally syndicated. Tatulli eventually put the strip into hiatus to pursue other strip concepts with broader appeal. To this day he still receives fan mail from "Bent Halos" readers.

In July 1997, "Heart of the City" first found her way onto Tatulli's drawing board, and she hasn't left since. Heart quickly caught the eyes of senior editors at Andrews McMeel Syndication. The strip debuted in newspapers in November 1998 and has garnered rave reviews from fans the world over.

In addition to his cartooning experience, Tatulli is also an accomplished filmmaker and animator and is the recipient of three Emmy awards for his television work. His experience includes graphics and animation for such shows as "A Wedding Story," "Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls," "Epicurious," and children's DVDs.

Mark currently resides in New Jersey with his wife, son, and two daughters. His children are the true joy of his life and the inspiration for much of his comic artwork.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young man in a white shirt, standing outdoors with trees in the background.

Cast

A cheerful cartoon boy with spiky hair, wearing a green shirt with a square design and purple pants, joyfully raising his arms in celebration.

Lio

Lio's a strange boy who loves monsters and ghouls and spiders—all things creepy-crawly. He's a bit of an inventor, and his adventures are definitely out of the ordinary.

Cartoon character with wild hair and an expressive face, wearing a green vest and purple pants, gesturing as if sharing a secret or gossip.

Lio's Father

He's a patient man who loves his strange child.