“A Comic Strip is the Perfect Outlet for Closet Megalomaniacs”
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The 2026 Garry Trudeau designed Saranac Lake Winter “Cartoonival” buttons and posters are out in the wild, as is a new G. B. Trudeau interview.
Aaron Marbone at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports:
SARANAC LAKE — Good news, everyone! The posters and buttons for the 2026 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, themed “Cartoonival” this year, have hit stores. They are illustrated by Saranac Lake native and nationally syndicated “Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau.
Included in the report is an interview with G. B. Trudeau.
Trudeau said he was concerned at first when he heard about the cartoon theme. Initially, he felt the concept called for a “cavalcade” of well-known — but copyright-protected — cartoon characters. Then, when he was assured that it would be acceptable to simply use his own characters, he realized the design would be quite self-referential.
Once he accepted that he’d be commenting on himself through the design, Trudeau said Maurits Escher’s famous lithograph of two hands drawing each other immediately came to mind.
“Especially since the circular design lent itself to a button,” he said.
Trudeau was asked what he likes about cartoons.
“Well, they’ve provided me with steady work for my entire adult life, so that’s something to like!” he wrote.
He explained why he enjoys working in the colorful medium.
“A comic strip is also the perfect outlet for a closet megalomaniac,” Trudeau said. “The creator controls every aspect — character design, backgrounds, story arcs, dialogue — with very little oversight. You’re an impresario, putting on a serialized show…
Trudeau is asked who his current favorite cartoonists are and replies with a newspaper panel and a newspaper comic strip cartoonist, a magazine cartoonist, and an animated tv show. He also despairs of the current state of the newspaper industry but notes the success of graphic novels and manga.
For those of us outside the area the buttons are available by mail.
Buttons:
They are also available through mail order by sending a check payable to: “Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee / Attn: Barb Martin / P.O. Box 566 / Saranac Lake, NY 12983.
There is an additional postage cost based on the quantity of buttons ordered. One to four buttons cost $7.50, five to eight cost $8 and nine or more cost $9. Prices are subject to change.
Posters too are available for shipping.
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