Comic Strip of the Day

CSotD: Nast-y but nice

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Mike Peterson Published: April 26, 2014 1 minute 0 comments

Each year when the Overseas Press Club gives out the Thomas Nast Award, I try to stifle both my general indifference to plaques and my specifically Irish-American feelings about Thomas Nast, because not only is this one of the more thoughtfully bestowed awards, but it is not often given to anyone as bigoted as the man for whom it is named.

Though it's worth remembering that political cartooning is not beanbag in the first place.

But it also doesn't have to be hand grenades, and this year's recipient, Kevin "Kal" Kallaugher (who has won it twice in the past as well), manages to be incisive without being a jerk, either in print or in person. 

Michael Cavna has some good coverage of the award, as well as a link to an earlier interview with Kal that is so worth reading that I'll link it here as well.

And, oh heck, let's go for broke: Tom Racine did a substantial, in-depth and delightful Tall Tales Radio podcast with Kal that is long but not to be missed. If you don't have time now (though, come on, c'est le weekend), you should download it and stick it in your car for your next road trip.

As for me, I'm going to go mostly graphic today. Kal is one of those cartoonists whom I always feel a tinge of guilt over using so often, but who is so often right-on that it's hard to resist.

Happily, however, when I met him at the Billy Ireland this past November, he proved to be aware of and quite supportive of this blog and so I don't feel so bad, though I do hope I've inspired people to follow his work on their own and at least some of you to buy his book, which is not only full of his work (as one might logically expect) but is also widely praised as one of the most beautifully designed collections in some time (which is a bonus!).

This book right here. It belongs in your collection.

So now, having left you with all that homework, I'm going to let his work speak for itself, specifically his work to which I directed you in 2013, the year for which he has just been honored. 

Though you can find more of his stuff in this book. (Did I already mention that?)

(January 14)

(March 19)

(April 9)

(June 28)

(August 5)

(September 9)

(October 1)

(October 11)

(November 25)

(December 31 – But you definitely want to see this larger, interactive version)