I'm afraid I'm of the generation where reading the newspaper comics as kids was an important part the morning routine. And, Dad was allowed to read the newspaper (and the comics) at the breakfast table before going to work but that was a privilege not for the kids (except for unusual one-day celebrations like straight A's)
I remember the Li'l Abner comics well (although probably some of the humor went over my head as a small child), but I thought Joe Btfsblk was more of a well meaning but helpless jinx than a perpetual downer. However, I guess if you are constantly jinxing everyone around you that could be a little depressing I guess.
My wife and I respectfully disagree on the whole "jinxing" thing. Despite being a scientist I think there is more that we don't understand about reality than what we do understand, that is fine. However, I just can't understand why saying something like: "well, the weather looks great for this driving trip" is automatically a jinx that will cause bad weather like she thinks