above: Earth Day 1970 poster by Walt Kelly via The Billy Ireland Library and MuseumApril 22, 2020 is the 50th Anniversary of the first Earth Day, and there is a surprising lack of Earth Day comic strips and cartoons today.I was certain that some would join The Other Coast and Mutts and a few others […]
Back in the first decade of the 20th century cartooning genius Winsor McCay did a number of strips about dreams. Most famous was Little Sammy Sneeze.Always with those descriptive ears bookending the title. In the current New Yorker cartoonist Peter Kuper pays tribute to Winsor McCay, with a twist.Read the entire satire/homage strip.
palooka (n.) by 1926, “mediocre prizefighter,” of unknown origin, credited to U.S. sportswriter and “Variety” staffer Jack “Con” Conway (1898-1928), who might at least have popularized it. Non-boxing sense of “average person” is from Joe Palooka, hero of Ham Fisher’s boxing-themed comic strip, which debuted in 1930. No Ham Fisher didn’t coin the term with […]
Warning: Curtis creator Ray Billingsley has had his account hacked.A notice from Ray: Someone is going through his list asking a favor.From my email today: A reply to the request will get this: Check Ray’s Facebook page where Ray is understandably incensed.
Mark Tatulli has passed his Heart of the City comic strip into the hands of Steenz (Christina Stewart). Steenz will be Heart’s cartoonist beginning April 27, 2020. As seen below, there will be no attempt to emulate the Tatulli style, Steenz will go her own way.From Mark’s Twitter feed:So here it is, folks! I’ve passed […]
While Broom-Hilda herself is 1500, the comic strip is just now turning 50. Fifty years ago Russell Myers took an Elliot Caplin idea and formed Broom-Hilda.From today’s Tulsa World: Elliot Caplin worked in the comic industry just like his brother, Li’l Abner creator Al Capp. Caplin came up with the idea for a strip […]
As the Columbus Dispatch says:For those who haven’t set foot in the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, now is not the time.But during the COVID-19 closure of the Ohio State University facility, thousands of the cartoons, comics, drawings and other materials in its collection – the largest of its kind in the world – […]
Rick Veitch is Vermont’s fourth Cartoonist Laureate.From the Rutland Herald:This month, Veitch was named Vermont’s fourth cartoonist laureate. His appointment, originally scheduled for an April 2 State House presentation with Gov. Phil Scott, was announced and celebrated through a live stream online, commencing Veitch’s 2020-23 term. Veitch’s extensive and diverse credits include DC Comics’ Swamp […]
Last month Wiley introduced us to the delightful Jack in a Sunday Non Sequitur.Wiley talked to the Spokesman-Review about Jack (and Non Sequitur):Jack, a 6-year-old autistic child, was recently introduced to readers as Jeffrey’s little brother. The character, who was inspired by Miller’s autistic grandson, who also is 6 and named Jack, has scored an […]
Like the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists Convention and the Herblock Prize Lecture, the San Diego Comic Convention has been cancelled.For the first time in its 50 year history, the show will not go on. Comic-Con International announced that there will be no San Diego Comic-Con in 2020 — and the next planned event will […]
Animator Gene Deitch has passed away.From the Expatz Czech notice:Prague, April 17 (CTK) – American director and animated film producer Gene Deitch, living in Prague with his Czech wife, animator and producer Zdenka Najmanova, died there last night at the age of 95 years, Garamond publishing house owner Petr Himel told CTK today. Eugene Merril […]
The print edition of Positively Naperville will start carrying a new comic strip. Sam & Joe by Jared Moser had appeared on the paper’s website, now it will beginning running in the print edition.Cartoonist Jared Moser, hailing from Wheeling, Illinois, is a freshman at North Central College, studying journalism and media communications, with a minor […]
Cartoonists are keeping busy with fun, health, and charity. The Seattle Times and cartoonist David Horsey offer downloadable bears to color. KBIR Knoxville checks in with 90 year old Charlie Daniel while he shelters in place.“I was beginning really to enjoy retirement. I was meeting with people for lunch every day and meeting old journalist […]
Wha..?? A last Cats With Hands? Yes. It seems Joe Martin has stopped producing new Cats With Hands strips and panels. (Joe continues creating Mr. Boffo and Willy ‘n Ethel comics.)Last month Neatly Chiseled Features started issuing “The Best of Cats With Hands” dailies beginning March 16, 2020. That strip was a rerun of the […]
In the beginning the “Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year” was presented not with “The Reuben”, but with “The Barney.”When the National Cartoonist Society formed after World War II, one item on their agenda was an awards dinner to publicize the members and their craft. In 1947 the biggest Big Name among comic strip cartoonists was […]