On the heals of Steve Benson’s Haditha cartoon comes Mike Luckovich’s cartoon on torture etiquette that has generated 18,000 votes on an online poll (Mike’s cartoons usually generate only 1,000) according to Editor and Publisher.Public Editor Angela Tuck, in a column Saturday, took issue with its timing, and claimed the “symbolism clearly overshadowed the intent.” The cartoon showed a hooded figure holding an American flag while reading a book on torture etiquette to an al-Qaida member.Not by design, it appeared just above photos of two Americans killed by insurgents in Iraq this week, whose bodies were brutalized, probably after they died.Tuck wrote: “Luckovich had that brutality in mind when he drew the cartoon, which was meant to criticize U.S. military leaders for allowing torture tactics, such as waterboarding (making prisoners feel as though they are being drowned) at Guantanamo Bay….’

Awhile ago, I posted a notice that Green Bay Press-Gazette editorial cartoonist Joe Heller was one of 41 artists to create artwork that would be displayed through out the city streets and then auctioned off to raise money for the Einstein Project.  Joe’s work is now on display in the lobby of the Brown County Library at 515 Pine Street.

Rick Stromoski writes in to alert readers that this year’s Reuben division winner for TV Animation, David Silverman, will be on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show tonight (June 23rd) to play his “Flaming Tuba” during a segment called “Don’t Try This At Home.”Check your local listings for time and channel.

Ted Rall will be the officiator at a small wedding between Congratulations to Masheka and Mikhaela!

Daryl Cagle invited readers to email him with their opinions regarding Steve Benson’s Marine Corps cartoon.  He received over 300 responses.We asked for it, and we got it – more than three hundred responses to the Benson cartoon below.

Still more AAEC convention news and photos are being posted.  The AAEC web site lists the stories that were generated from the convention (I think I’ve linked to most of them earlier) – but for those wanting to see photos of the event, they offer two links: Photos by J.P.

Last May, I reported that Chris Brown, “Hagar the Horrible” had got fed up with the over development in Sarasota, Floriday and was moving to a much more peaceful life in Sioux Falls South Dakota.The Argus Leader has a very good Q and A regarding the move.

Mike Shelton, editorial cartoonist for the Orange County Register, began creating short animations last May and has now created five of them.  The animations are being done with co-worker Jocelyne Leger and the cartoons are also being distributed to other newspapers (as well as television) that belong to the same communication chain as the OC Register.Dave Astor has a much longer story detailing Mike’s work.

Walt Handelsman, editorial cartoonist for the Newsday, first created flash based animated editorial cartoons back in Februrary and has now produced his 10th animation.  His latest mocks Ann Coulter, the conservative pundit who has generated much publicity for her book through some pretty extreme statements.

“It’s great to have all my Liberty Meadows covers and pin-ups in one fat volume since even I’m missing some of the early issues.”LIBERTY MEADOWS: COVER GIRL features an all-new cover, plus a behind- the-scenes look at the development of some of your favorite images of Brandy and the gang, from rough sketch to full color.Welcome to Frank Cho’s Liberty Meadows Internet Sanctuary:THERE’S ONLY ONE WOMAN FOR FRANK CHO AND HERNAME IS BRANDYA new Liberty Meadows art book (and more) arrive in AugustBERKELEY, CA — 15 June, 2006 — This August, Frank Cho and Image Comics are bringing a whole lot of Brandy for their fans….  “It’s great to have all my Liberty Meadows covers and pin-ups in one fat volume since even I’m missing some of the early issues.”LIBERTY MEADOWS: COVER GIRL features an all-new cover, plus a behind- the-scenes look at the development of some of your favorite images of Brandy and the gang, from rough sketch to full color.”People will be amazed how much color adds to the art,” added Cho.

Next Friday, Jok Church, “You Can with Beakman and Jax” will the be the featured cartoonist on the Washington Post’s live chat to discuss his feature and cartooning…. “Beakman and Jax” is now in nearly 300 newspapers and Church created the CBS television series “Beakman’s World” based on the comic strip.

John Rose, the cartoonist for “Barney Google and Snuffy Smith” and his family will be the guests of honor during a July 29 Heritage Parade parade in Rural Retreat VA according to E&P.  John will also speak to high school students.

The panel will include Marc Silvestri, founder and chief executive officer of Top Cow Comics, Gale Anne Hurd, producer of over 25 movies including “The Terminator” series, “The Hulk”, and “The Punisher” and Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, chairman of Platinum Studios and founder of Malibu Comics, where he discovered and developed “Men In Black” into a billion dollar entertainment franchise.  “Men in Black” itself was written a previously unpublished comic book creator, highlighting Rosenberg’s belief in new talent.The top three finalists will appear on NBC-TV 7/39’s “Streetside San Diego” on July 21 to pitch their comic vision to local audiences.

Paul Gilligan, “Pooch Café,” recently attended Green Acres School in Stone Creek Ontario as a Universal Press Syndicate: News Release:Cartoonist Fights Illiteracy with Visit to Ontario Middle SchoolStone Creek, ON (06/16/2006) Paul Gilligan is the ?Top Dog? of cartoonists, according to the kids at Green Acres School in Stone Creek, Ontario….  It supports community-based programs that emphasize adult literacy and non-formal education for both children and adults.As Gilligan made his way through the halls of Green Acres School, he was greeted with the sounds of kids ecstatically calling out, ?There he is!

Zits has joined several other comic features to be added as premium content for mobile phone users.� Airborne Entertainment announced that it has signed a deal with King Features to allow Zits to be used on mobile phones.