While comic strips existed before Outcault, they were generally black and white. He revolutionized the medium with his creation, "The Yellow Kid," which was printed in vibrant colors. This breakthrough made comic strips more visually appealing and helped them stand out from other forms of media.
It's worth noting that the use of color in "The Yellow Kid" wasn't solely due to Outcault's vision. Richard F. Outcault, the creator, actually had the color printing idea proposed to him by Joseph Pulitzer, the owner of the New York World newspaper.
However, Outcault's use of color was a crucial factor in making "The Yellow Kid" a sensation and setting a new standard for comic strips.