The characters first appeared in 1968 in Showcase #77[1] then graduated to their own title, with art by comic artist Bob Oksner, most often inked by Wally Wood.

[4] Sam's name is a pun on the word "simian" and the San Simeon estate of publisher William Randolph Hearst.

[5] In the first few stories, Sam draws comics for self-obsessed editor Stan Bragg and his rival Morton Stoops.

In Phil Foglio's 1991 miniseries, Angel is revealed to be the half-sister of Dumb Bunny, a member of the Inferior Five, also created by Bridwell.

It was written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman, with art by Philip Bond and covers by Arthur Adams.