After 35 years of sixth grade, Big Nate is going into semi-retirement.

The last “Big Nate” daily comic will run Saturday. But fans of the popular comics series by Portland cartoonist Lincoln Peirce can still look forward to receiving fresh “Big Nate” content once a week on Sundays.

“I feel really lucky I’ve been able to do it as long as I have. And I’m enjoying having a little extra time in my day,” said Peirce.

Peirce, who works well ahead of his deadlines,  has already drawn the last “Big Nate” daily strip. 

Peirce said he was beginning to hit a wall developing fresh ideas for Big Nate’s adventures, which began in 1991. “Big Nate” has been in print for over three decades and runs in 400 newspapers, including the Portland Press Herald. The main character is also the star of several best-selling children’s books by Peirce, as well as a Nickelodeon animated series that ran for two years, starting in 2022.

“Big Nate” is a coming-of-age comic that follows the young prankster Nate as he navigates the highs and lows of sixth grade.

Peirce said that, beyond the Sunday comics, he’s also looking forward to working on new children’s books that are separate from the world of “Big Nate” and anything he’s done before.

Even as he discontinues the dailies, Peirce said that he looks forward to brainstorming new ideas for “Big Nate” every week and is grateful for his fans.

“I read a lot of comments from kids who aren’t newspaper readers, but who follow the comics either online or through the ‘Big Nate’ compilation books,” said Peirce. “I would like to let all those folks know how much I appreciate their following the strip for all these years.”