I think Dennis the Menace is the comic strip that most often shows the joys of going barefoot (though it’s rare even there). Today’s cartoon is from April 12 of 2004.
Dennis the Menace, April 12, 2004
It’s nice that it shows an adult realizing how going barefoot is part of enjoying life.
Ahcuah 
A boy who makes Bart Simpson look like a spring flower! I wonder if he has any creative relation to England’s Denis the Menace (who used to be a gay-bashing thug until they watered him down). Our menace wears boots that are made for kicking people’s shins in, unfortunately. He’s never been an amazingly nice person but they like to gloss over the fact that the strip basically glorifies bullying…
Sorry, that was very negative. :p I should really read more of these online strips since some of them are rather good.
The American Dennis the Menace first appeared in 1951. I have no idea if the English one copies that name. My guess would be that it is a coincidence.
You are probably right, though they do even seem a lot like opposites!