Comments on: Is Michael Ramirez Jeff MacNelly’s artistic successor?

By: John Smith

John Smith — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:19:31 +0000

I about choked when I saw this headline come up while googling Jeff MacNelly.

Sure, if you narrowly define “artisitc” successor to just talk about the visual aspect of their political cartoons, then yeah, Ramirez is in MacNelly’s league.

And I’ll give Ramirez this too, he has a sense of humor. Although I often disagree with the opinions he expresses through his cartoons, at least they are often quite witty, unlike, say, that waste of ink Scott Stanis who couldn’t draw or write a joke to save his life.

But Ramirez’s predictable perspecive utterly torpedoes his humor. MacNelly, to my recollection, was a pretty equal opportunity joker, and often mocked fools whatever their ideology. Ramirez’s in contrast is just tedious.

By: DT

DT — Tue, 29 May 2007 19:07:15 +0000

Editorial cartooning is something that is extremely subjective, and ideology plays a role in what we like and what we don’t like. Also, it’s hard to compete against someone who’s no longer with us.

Having said all that, I think Mike Ramirez’s work is second to none, in artistic style and execution as well as in ideas. I’m rarely disappointed by a Ramirez cartoon.

By the way…who ever considered Luckovich a conservative???????

By: JP Trostle

JP Trostle — Sat, 26 May 2007 01:22:55 +0000

MacNelly was a true original (I know, ironic, given the number of MacNelly “clones” out there) and I don’t think there is anyone who comes close to the combination you’re looking for. Maybe Paul Combs. Steve Kelley’s comic and political sensibilities are certainly close to Jeff’s, albeit in a more standup, white collar vein…

By: Wes Rand

Wes Rand — Fri, 25 May 2007 23:31:12 +0000

I guess the problem I’m having is that I can’t think of any really good idea men in the conservative ranks. Maybe Mike Luckovich? Is he still considered conservative?

By: Alan Gardner

Alan Gardner — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:44:14 +0000

I’m talking just about right leaning cartoonists – their art and ideas. The whole package deal.

By: Wes Rand

Wes Rand — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:44:16 +0000

Are we talking about just draftsmanship? Ramirez is a great artist but there are other cartoonists who are as good if not better. I’ve always loved David Catrow’s work but it looks like he’s gotten out of editorial cartooning.

If you’re talking about just conservatively-oriented cartoonists then he probably is the best draftsman of that group. But then you have to start looking at the ideas behind the drawings (otherwise, why make the distinction?) and I think that’s where Ramirez is a bit weaker.