Turning To The Op-Ed Page
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With Malcolm Evans, António Moreira Antunes, David Horsey, João Fazenda. Kevin Kallaugher, Bado, and Ann Telnaes.
It’s a Disturbing World
With the Whys of the United States attacking Iran on an ever-changing list of reasons, New Zealand editorial cartoonist Malcolm Evans brings up an old cartoon that illustrates one of the given rationales that changed newspaper editing and publishing.
… Now, following Trump’s decision to follow Israel into a full scale war on Iran, so bringing the world to the brink of World War three, not only are cartoonists the world over producing identical cartoon comments, Trump’s own Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has said exactly the point the cartoon conveys. “We knew Israel was going to attack and so had to attack too”, or words to that effect…
Evans claims he was fired from the New Zealand Herald 20 years ago over anti-Israel cartoons and is upset that no award-winning cartoonists in New Zealand since that time have been critical of Israel.
David Horsey portrays Stephen Miller as a Nazi Ken Barbie
On the other hand far-right commentator Jason Rantz at Seattle Red has nothing good to say about a recent David Horsey cartoon and column portraying Stephen Miller as a Nazi.
Rantz (real name Antebi) rants:
The toy-box mockery of two female officials was offensive enough on its own. Then Horsey turned to senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, who is Jewish.
“So, to follow the Barbie trope, let’s just call him ‘Mein Kampf Ken,’” Horsey wrote.
That is a direct comparison of a Jewish man to Adolf Hitler’s manifesto. If any conservative commentator hung a Nazi reference on a Jewish public official, the condemnations would be instantaneous and relentless. From Horsey, it barely generates a headline.
Elsewhere in the world of reaction…
The New Yorker is taking some heat for an unflattering illustration of movie star Wunmi Mosaku.
From Shanelle Genai at The Root:
[F]ans are up in arms over an illustration of the beloved actress that was recently published by The New Yorker that many say fails to highlight her beauty. And when you see the picture, you’ll more than understand.
…However, what was less than iconic was the drawing done of her by illustrator João Fazenda. While it appeared to reference the outfit and hairstyle she wore in February during an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” it failed to really nab her facial features, signature smile, or even the correct color of her outfit.
From Vashti Harris at NJ Advance Media:
The New Yorker is facing criticism after publishing an illustration of Oscar-nominated actress Wunmi Mosaku that social media users say failed to capture her likeness or beauty.
In response to the article and illustration, social media users flooded the magazine’s post with comments stating the drawing “doesn’t look like Wunmi Mosaku” and questioning why the publication would “represent one of the most beautiful women in the world in such a disrespectful manner,” according to Black Enterprise.
Kevin Kallaugher to reintroduce new/old Disgustus comic
Back in the day editorial/opinion pages would include, along with an political cartoon, a comic strip or panel of usually social commentary – think the small society or Berry’s World. Here’s that portion of this post.
Back in that same day, or maybe 2000 years earlier, Kevin Kallaugher aka KAL was a college cartoonist:
As a Junior in college in 1976 (50 years ago!!), I took my first tentative steps toward my dream of becoming a cartoonist. I launched a comic strip in the Harvard Crimson called “In The Days of Disgustus”, a light hearted look at the Roman invasion of Britain in 55BC. I found a stack of the strips hidden away in my storage locker last summer. The first episode is above.
The strip appeared in the Crimson for two years. Then in 1981, the strip was reprised in the UK for the Oxford Journal.
KAL promises a new/old Disgustus comic strip every Friday at his KAL Draws the Line Substack.
(Yes, 55BC would be the same time as Asterix.)
World Press Freedom Canada Cartoon Competition
World Press Freedom Canada has opened the window for submissions to its 2026 cartoon competition.
The theme for 2026 is Times Are Tough.
Inflation is skyrocketing while wages remain stagnant, artificial intelligence threatens entire sectors of the economy and home ownership is out of reach for younger generations.
The imposition of tariffs and the erratic behavior of the American president fuels uncertainty worldwide.
What was previously alarming becomes normal while we wait for the next scandal, the next court ruling or the next election to turn the tide.
The deadline for reception of the cartoon is midnight (Eastern Daylight Saving Time), Friday, April 3, 2026. Winners will be announced on April 29, 2026, four days before World Press Freedom Day.
Details at World Press Freedom Canada.
Columbus Crossroads/Columbus Museum of Art with Ann Telnaes
Jenny Robb hosts Ann Telnaes at the Columbus Museum of Art for a lecture and interview.
An in-depth one-on-one discussion with esteemed political cartoonist Ann Telnaes, lead by Jenny Robb, head curator of comics and cartoon art at OSU’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.
Coming up: Telnaes with Tom Tomorrow and Steve Brodner!
Drawing the Line: An Evening with Political Cartoonists Thursday, March 19 8 – 9pm EDT
With censorship and threats on the rise for the press, including political cartoonists, join us for this special evening with three award-winning political cartoonists who will take us behind the scenes on how they distill the news into a single image and the role that political satire plays in defending democracy.
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