Omaha originated as an "adult comic strip" in an "obscure local publication" before evolving into a nationally distributed comic-book series. Four pages into issue #2, Waller suffered writer's block, and after some months, his then-girlfriend and songwriting partner Kate Worley offered "a few tentative suggestions about directions for the storyline, new characters, anything she could think of that might help...." At Waller's invitation, Worley became the series' scripter.

In 1988 Diamond Comics Distributors refused to distribute the title to stores (before backing down), and in 1989 a comics bindery refused to put together an Omaha collection. In 1991 the New Zealand Indecent Publications Tribunal ruled that since the series depicted sexuality in the context of ongoing emotional relationships between the characters in a mature and realistic way, it was not indecent.

In 1991, Waller was diagnosed with colon cancer.In early 2004, Waller and Worley had moved beyond their disagreement, and were collaborating to finish the hanging storyline. However, Worley's death interrupted that work. Her widower, Jim Vance, using her notes, took her place. The title was acquired by NBM Publishing, and resumed publication as of November 2005 with the new work being serialized in the magazine Sizzle.