Hogan's Alley by Richard Felton Outcault, from April 4, 1897. The image is part of The International Museum of Cartoon Art Collection at The Ohio State University Cartoon Library and Museum.

Where: Ohio State University Cartoon Library & Museum, on OSU campus.

How far: About three hours west of Pittsburgh.

What for: The Ohio State University Cartoon Library recently merged with the International Museum of Cartoon Art to create the largest collection of original cartoon art in the world. It now houses more than 400,000 original works of art at this academic research facility.

To celebrate, a free opening reception is being held for the exhibits: "From Yellow Kid to Conan: American Cartoons From the International Museum of Cartoon Art Collection," 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Hopkins Hall Gallery, and "Hogarth and Beyond: Global Cartoons From the International Museum of Cartoon Art Collection," in the Cartoon Library and Museum's Reading Room Gallery, 27 W. 17th Ave. Mall (near the Wexner Center for the Arts).

A panel discussion on "Milestones of the International Museum of Cartoon Art" will be held at 1 p.m. at the OSU Faculty Club, and a lecture by Jim Borgman, former editorial cartoonist and co-creator of the comic strip "Zits," will be given at 2:15 p.m. in the Hopkins Hall Gallery. All of Sunday's events are free and open to the public. (The exhibits usually are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays only.)

On Saturday, the animated film "101 Dalmatians" and the shorts "The Brave Little Tailor" and "Leprechaun's Gold" will be presented with an introduction by Jerry Beck, animation historian, at 7 p.m. at the Wexner Center for the Arts. $7 admission, $5 for students and senior citizens.

n Fun factor: For cartoon art aficionados, an 8 or 9. We traveled to Ryebrook, N.Y., and Boca Raton, Fla., to visit the International Museum of Cartoon Art before it was forced to close in 2002 due to financial difficulties. Now a mere three-hour drive, it is worth the journey to see selections from this treasure trove of original art: editorial cartoons, comic strips, animation and comic books. Although it doesn't have traditional museum gallery space yet, as the Cartoon Library and Museum at OSU grows, this should become a mecca for cartoon lovers. Go to http://cartoons.osu.edu for additional information.

-- Diane Juravich