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Everywhere around the world…
Zehra Ömeroğlu
It was back in May we reported:
Cartoonists Rights has bestowed the 2025 Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award 2025 on Zehra Ömeroğlu, a Turkish cartoonist, who has been the target of criminal prosecution for a cartoon that was published in 2020 and faces a three year prison sentence.
Well Zehra Ömeroğlu was presented with the award this past weekend. From John Freeman:
Turkish cartoonist Zehra Ömeroğlu was finally presented with the Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award 2025 at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival this weekend.
Human Rights NGO Cartoonists Rights announced Zehra as the recipient of the award earlier in the year in Washington, DC at a special event marking World Press Freedom Day, but she was unable to accept the Award in person.
The Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning is a biennial award alternating with the Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning as sponsored by Cartoonists Rights (Washington, DC) and Freedom Cartoonists (Geneva).
Ashraf Omar
While Egyptian cartoonist Ashraf Omar, accused of ‘knowingly joining a terrorist group, spreading and publishing rumours and false information, and abusing social media’, has been arbitrarily detained for 1 year and 2 months, UN human rights experts have issued a press release calling for his release.
GENEVA – UN human rights experts* today expressed deep concern over the continued detention of political cartoonist Ashraf Omar and the sweeping misuse of counter-terrorism legislation in Egypt to silence artists and journalists and curtail freedom of expression.
“The case of Ashraf Omar illustrates a deeply worrying practice in Egypt of criminalising political expression, including in the form of art, under the guise of national security and counter-terrorism,” the experts said.
Arrested on 22 July 2024, and accused of joining a terrorist group, disseminating and publishing rumours and false news and information, and abuse of social media, Ashraf Omar remains in pre-trial detention, deprived of fair trial guarantees.
Art and odyssey of female cartoonists in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, where cartooning is still often seen as marginal or whimsical, an increasing number of female artists are taking up their pens to draw stories that are at once personal, political, and profoundly reflective of society. Their work does more than entertain; it amplifies voices, challenges norms, and redefines what it means to be an artist in a country still learning to embrace women in creative careers.
Miftahul Jannat at The Daily Star writes of the role of women and their struggles in the Bangladesh cartooning world. Miftahul discusses the problems with cartoonists Dhrubani Mahbub, Natasha Jahan, Sarah Saiyara, Rehnuma Proshoon, Mehedi Haque, Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, and Haway Aki.
Despite their passion and talent, female cartoonists in Bangladesh face both visible and invisible obstacles. Rehnuma notes that creative careers are not always fully recognised or supported. The first hurdle often comes from family and societal expectations, a barrier many young women must navigate before pursuing professional opportunities.
Natasha underscores the importance of structured initiatives — anthologies, publications, and competitions. She points to recent publications, like Porichoy, Lines and Dreams by Cartoon People and Oboni by Dhaka Comics, which collectively featured works from around a hundred female cartoonists. These initiatives do more than celebrate talent; they provide pathways for young women to debut themselves, to claim a place in a profession historically dominated by men.
The travails mirror U.S. women trying to join the National Cartoonists Society 80 years ago and the underground women cartoonists trying to gain a foothold in that system 55 years ago.
Pune University To Launch Cartoon Studies Department Named After Renowned Cartoonist SD Phadnis
Pune: Maharashtra Minister of Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar announced the opening of a Cartoon Studies Department in Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) in the name of famous senior cartoonist Shivram Dattatreya Phadnis (SD Phadnis) on Sunday. Phadnis turned 100 years old on 29th July and to celebrate this, the decision was made.
Piyush Patil for The Free Press Journal covers the honoring of Shivram Dattatreya Phadnis (SD Phadnis).
Shelar said that his great legacy is inspiring for artists. The aim of this centre is that cartoonists across the country come to Pune to study here. The centre will make sure that students learn artistic training in caricature, cartooning, and political satire in Pune.
Pune, September 29, 2025 – Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) is set to launch a dedicated Cartoon Studies Department named after legendary cartoonist Shivram Dattatreya Phadnis (SD Phadnis). The announcement was made by Maharashtra’s Minister of Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar, during his visit to Pune on Sunday.
The decision coincides with the centenary year of SD Phadnis, who turned 100 on July 29. Recognised for his unique, wordless and vibrant drawings, Phadnis is regarded as one of India’s most influential cartoonists.
Safaa Odah Wins Award
Palestinian cartoonist Safaa Odah, creator of the critically-acclaimed work, Safaa and the Tent, has been awarded a Special Award at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival [LICAF] this past weekend. The Award has been made not just for her published work, but also for her efforts to encourage and support young Gazans through running comic workshops. An animation artist and cartoonist with a Master’s Degree in Psychology, Safaa Odah lives in Gaza, where her work aims to inspire better physical and mental health.
Rich Johnston at Bleeding Cool reports on Safaa Odah receiving the LICAF Special Award.
Galway Cartoon Festival 2025
Galway becomes the cartooning capital of Ireland this weekend as major cartoonists and comic book artists from across the world discuss and display their work in the city centre and Inis Oírr.
The 9th annual Galway Cartoon Festival officially launches in PorterShed a Dó, Market Street, Friday 3rd October, at 5.30pm. The festival runs until Wednesday 8th October, and is packed with solo and group exhibitions from leading professional cartoonists, such as Ian Knox, Lucie Arnoux, and Andy Leuenberger, and Galway children’s cartoons will be on display as well.
Gráinne Thornton for Galway reports. Also check out the Galway Cartoon Festival homepage.
Iconic Ettamogah Hotel for Sale Alongside Rare Australian Cartoon Catalogue
The iconic original Ettamogah Hotel in Albury has been listed for sale with leading agency Savills by vendor Leigh O’Brien. In addition to the high-profile hotel, the listing includes a rare cartoon portfolio, which includes around 1,500 original artworks and video footage. The hotel and cartoon assets have the potential to garner over $50 million.
Located at 561 Burma Road in Table Top, the Ettamogah Hotel is based on a pub that featured in the late Ken Maynard’s cartoons published in The Australasian Post for almost 50 years from 1959.
L’Wren Alexa and Dan Sarto for Animation World Network inform us of the sale of Ettmogan Pub, made famous by cartoonist Ken Maynard.
An Albury local, Maynard named the pub in his cartoon after a local water hole he used to cycle to called Ettamogah, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘place of good drink’. The landmark hotel was built and opened in 1987 as a themed family restaurant; it brought Maynard’s vision to life with distinctive architecture modelled on the cartoon. Unique design features include dramatically slanted timber walls, a bull-nosed verandah, and the signature 1927 Chevrolet truck perched on a bright red roof.
The Hotel has become a roadside landmark and photo opportunity for travelers and has evolved to include 17 cabins, a reception venue, a Ken Maynard Museum, and souvenir offerings.
Comix International was a Warren Publishing comic book, the logo is © and ™ its respective owner.
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