Fisher's physical appearance, including the characteristic pageboy haircut, was copied by Outcault and given to Buster Brown.

[4] Another boy, Roger Cushman Clark (1899–1995) of Deadwood, South Dakota, was also described as the "original model" for the Buster Brown character.

[5][6] The character of Mary Jane was also drawn from real life, as she was also Outcault's daughter of the same name.

He is disturbingly pretty (contrast him to Outcault's own The Yellow Kid, or Frederick Opper's creations), but his actions belie his looks.

He is a practical joker who might dress in a girl's outfit and have her wear his clothes, break a window with his slingshot, or play a prank on a neighbor.

Horrified by his clumsy misadventure, Buster's mother takes him home and flogs him with a brush.

She usually wears a blue, frilly dress, a large bow, and Mary Jane shoes with black stockings.

Outcault traveled to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, selling licenses to up to 200 companies to use the Buster Brown characters to advertise their products.

Little people were hired by the Brown Shoe Co. to play Buster in tours around the United States.

[12] Gabriel appeared in another children's-oriented play in 1908 Little Nemo and a return engagement as Buster Brown in 1913.

There is a skipping rope rhyme that starts "Buster Brown | Went to town | With his pants | On upside down.

The rider stuck in the air then offers an imaginary payment of grandiose proportions (e.g., "every Barbie doll ever", "the Moon and all the stars").