Comic Riffs is a blog devoted to the comics fan. Come in, sit down and put your feet up as we celebrate, contemplate, eviscerate and pontificate on cartoons. 
RSS FeedArchive: The E-Mailbag
READER POLL: Does 'risqué' 'Liberty Meadows' go too far?
"LIBERTY MEADOWS" Enlarge Image The reader has a provocative point. Yesterday, 'Riffs commenter "scmonty1" had no problem with "Tank McNamara." The reader did, however, have a serious issue with Monday's "LIBERTY MEADOWS," the comic by Frank Cho (Maryland's own,...
By Michael Cavna | November 17, 2009; 09:55 AM ET | Comments (10)
REDSKINS POLL: Is this cartoon over the (goal) line?
"TANK McNAMARA" (UPS)Enlarge Image When it comes to the Bronco-bustin' Washington Redskins, is the comic "TANK McNAMARA" guilty of unnecessary roughness this weekend? Last week, we posted an item about "Tank McNamara's" skewering of the Redskins -- particularly team...
By The Reliable Source | November 15, 2009; 03:45 PM ET | Comments (5)
Calling all comics readers: To save 'Frazz,' what strip should we send to KidsPost?
'FRAZZ' (UFS)Enlarge Image The "FRAZZ" drumbeat swells in volume again. All this week, Jef Mallett's comic has been AWOL on the KidsPost page. And numerous readers want to know where the #$@! it is. Well, Riffsters, that's a #$&!...
By Michael Cavna | October 29, 2009; 08:05 AM ET | Comments (50)
Color Me Curious: Where Should 'Cul de Sac' Reside on Sundays?
In the 1999 film "The Muse," the deadpan comic Steven Wright -- playing a loser cousin of Steven Spielberg's -- shares with Albert Brooks's character a would-be nugget of golden advice: Consider making films in color, he intones. "The...
By Michael Cavna | October 7, 2009; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (15)
The E-Mailbag: Will 'Cul de Sac' Move Again -- & Are Comic Rates Being Cut?
Time for a coupla recent inquiries from the Riffs Reader e-mailbag... 1. Commenter "Jam893" asks: QUESTION: "I am hearing of a disturbing trend for cartoonists, their creators and the syndicates. Rate/fee concessions to keep a strip in a paper....
By Michael Cavna | October 1, 2009; 09:05 AM ET | Comments (16)
Puzzled? What Comics-Page Question Do You Have for The Post?
'FRAZZ' (UFS)Enlarge Image It's a simple question, really: Do you like "Slylock Fox" -- or other such one-off comics-page features -- fraternizing with your "Fox Trot"? Riffs reader kilby raises a good point this week, questioning the necessity as...
By Michael Cavna | September 21, 2009; 11:01 AM ET | Comments (22)
How Do You Read 'Em? The Comics Reader Personality Test
'GARFIELD' (UPS)Enlarge Image It was the damnedest thing I'd seen in weeks. My buddy, an avid comics-page fan, was reading the funnypages from right to left. I don't mean the individual strips -- I mean the actual pages. "Have...
By Michael Cavna | September 3, 2009; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (21)
Does 'Beetle' Mania Live On? Time to Defend That 'Toon
'BEETLE BAILEY' (KFS)Enlarge Image Later today, this Riffster will begin blogging from San Diego Comic-Con. But first, it's time for this week's edition of "Defend...That...Toon!" Today's strip on the talking block: "Beetle Bailey." This famously was the last comic strip...
By The Reliable Source | July 22, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (16)
The Sotomayor Hearings: Is This Cartoon Offensive?
'BILL BRAMHALL' (courtesy of New York Daily News) Over at the excellent "The Daily Cartoonist" blog, Alan Gardner spotlights the controversy surrounding a New York Daily News editorial cartoon. The New York State chapter of the National Organization for...
By Michael Cavna | July 16, 2009; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (17)
Michael Jackson: The Biggest Draw of the Day?
MIKE LUCKOVICH (Atlanta Journal Constitution / cagle.com) The official Michael Jackson Public Memorial/ Global Spectacle/ Mediapalooza will be upon us today, and this Riffster can't help but think: Did Atlanta cartoonist Mike Luckovich get it right?That is: Is this...
By Michael Cavna | July 7, 2009; 07:05 AM ET | Comments (1)
Do Redheads Have More Fun?
'CALVIN AND HOBBES' (UPS) Talk this week of redheads -- er, orangeheads -- in "Cul de Sac" has got me to thinkin': The funnypages love a good carrottop. (Not to be confused, puhleez, with the Carrot Top.) From strawberry...
By The Reliable Source | July 2, 2009; 01:02 PM ET | Comments (7)
Does This Michael Jackson Cartoon Cross the Line?
'MIKE LUCKOVICH' (Atlanta Journal Constitution) There've been cartoons of tribute (spotlights, moonwalk moves and single sequinned gloves). We've seen cartoons of snarkiness. But perhaps none has been immediately more of a visual lightning rod than Mike Luckovich's response to...
By Michael Cavna | June 26, 2009; 06:00 PM ET | Comments (7)
Reader Poll: Who Nails the Palin/Letterman Brouhaha Best?
An Alaska politician who still has one serious "Q" rating. A TV host who remains America's favorite late-night curmudgeon. And a national controversy involving family and taste and sexuality that refuses to ebb. It's all too tantalizing for some...
By Michael Cavna | June 17, 2009; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (11)
You Be the Editor: What Should Be the Fate of 'Family Circus'?
'FAMILY CIRCUS' (KFS)Enlarge Image In her introduction to "Best American Comics 2008," cartoonist Lynda Barry -- in editing the anthology -- professes her fanlove and attachment and devotion to "Family Circus" and "one of the greatest of all time,"...
By Michael Cavna | June 16, 2009; 12:10 PM ET | Comments (56)
Reader Poll: Who Draws Lil' Kim Jong-Il Best?
The Don King 'do! The Mr. Magoo shades! And the endless stream of wee fatigue-green outfits that make him look as if he shops at "Baby Fidel" for boys. For many political cartoonists, at least, KIM JONG-IL is an artistic...
By Michael Cavna | June 15, 2009; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (0)
Reader Poll: Does Religion Belong on Your Comics Page?
'MALLARD FILLMORE' (KFS)Enlarge Image From Charles Schulz to Johnny Hart, expressions of spiritual faith have long found sanctuary on the comics page. On the other hand, relatively few creators choose to do this -- and syndicate editors commonly warn...
By Michael Cavna | June 8, 2009; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (15)
Reader Poll: Is the Sotomayor Cartoon Offensive?
(Creators Syndicate / courtesy of Cagle.com) Oh, what would Jim Lang think? About seven weeks ago, the longtime cartoonist at The Oklahoman -- he was a fixture there for 58 years, retiring last fall -- died after an illness....
By The Reliable Source | June 5, 2009; 03:30 PM ET | Comments (7)
Let's Get Small: Life With the Incredible Shrinking Comic
If you can read this type, then perhaps the newspaper print comics aren't too small for you to read. Yet. At the recent National Cartoonist Society's Reubens gathering in Los Angeles, there reportedly were the usual state-of-the-industry panel-chats and...
By Michael Cavna | June 4, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (25)
Call for Entries: "Eat My (Animated) Shorts!"
The Fox network couldn't have picked a better online street-corner to do business. Here at Comic Riffs, we've long been fans of Aniboom, the online animation studio that routinely features stellar work. (Just the other day, 'Riffs featured the...
By Michael Cavna | May 20, 2009; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (0)
The Interview: 'Comic Riffs' Blogger Michael Cavna
'STEVE GREENBERG' (Courtesy of Steve Greenberg and Cagle.com) One danger of publicly bemoaning the state of the Endangered Newspaper Comics Industry for a living is that fellow journalists begin to contact you to speak authoritatively on the state of...
By Michael Cavna | May 19, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
President Ba-Spock Obama? The Highly Logical Vote Is Yours
Barack Obama is Frozone from "The Incredibles," some say. Haha -- nice try, but no: Obama is Frazz, others contend. Are you blind? Obama is -- and will always be -- Sidney Poitier's classroom disciplinarian from the '60s flick "To...
By Michael Cavna | May 18, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
Box Office Poll: Just How Much Will 'Star Trek' Prosper?
Chris Pine, left, and Zachary Quinto in a scene from J.J. Abrams's "Star Trek." (United States Entertainment) The big question at the box office this weekend: Just how much will "Star Trek" prosper? Most reviews of the franchise's 11th...
By Michael Cavna | May 8, 2009; 10:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
Mother's Day: Give the Gift of Cartoons
Mama's Day is still a few days away, but as a thoughtful reader service -- in case you need a reminder today to send that card, those flowers or that economy-spurred plea to move-back-home -- Comic Riffs offers a holiday...
By Michael Cavna | May 7, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
'Wolverine' Poll: You Tell Us--How Much Will It Make?
(courtesy of XXX) Comic Riffs blogger Michael Cavna and his superhero-lovin' Post sidekick David Betancourt attended a press screening of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" earlier this week. Cavna thinks the film will satisfy the bigger "popcorn" audience, largely because Hugh...
By Michael Cavna | May 1, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Toonists Got Talent: Who Drew Susan Boyle Best?
When an insta-celeb has the "most trafficked" face on the planet over the past week, the cartoonist's job is both much easier and immeasurably harder. By now, everyone and their never-kissed second cousin knows what the video-viral singer Susan Boyle...
By Michael Cavna | April 29, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
The Latest "Post Power Rankings" Are In...
Comic Riffs put out the call last week, and the passion of the reponse was strong. Today we launch the Official Comic Riffs Power Rankings, an occasional gauge of which Post print strips you love -- and loathe. 'Riffs sought...
By Michael Cavna | April 27, 2009; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (10)
Open Mike: Which Post Comics Would YOU Keep--or Cut?
"JUDGE PARKER": Heated development. Enlarge Comic If you read The Post's print comics, then you lost "Zippy" and "Pooch Cafe" and "Judge Parker" nearly perished thanks to 3,000 or so people you've never met. The Post, as has been...
By Michael Cavna | April 23, 2009; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (31)
Pat Oliphant Draws Fire Yet Again
Oh, there Pat Oliphant goes again. The fiery Aussie political cartooning legend -- who last made controversial waves when he drew Sarah Palin speaking in tongues (prompting more than 750 angry responses to The Post's ombudsman) -- now takes on...
By Michael Cavna | March 27, 2009; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (24)
He Who Gaffes Last: Our Fave Art Goof O' the Day
We begin today with the ol' "TRAIL WATCH" because today's "Mark Trail" is more staggeringly eye-catching than usual -- no small feat, that. 'Riffs refers not to the Central Casting Nimrod Villain, or to Naive Polka-Dot 'Kerchief Boy (aka...
By Michael Cavna | March 26, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (8)
What Are the Best--and Worst--Comic Films Ever?
Cartoon movies are as much in the news as ever. 'Riffs tweeted several days back about how Warren Beatty was being sued by Tribune Media Service over the screen rights to Dick Tracy. We've reported on Stephan Pastis working...
By Michael Cavna | March 25, 2009; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (11)
Homage to the 'Doomed' Post Strips
Perhaps in this case, even the prospective absence of several comic strips may make the heart grow fonder. Today's "Pooch Cafe," for example, seems just that much more amusing as The Post prepares to kiss the print version of...
By Michael Cavna | March 24, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (15)
'Parker' to 'Pooch': Which Dropped Comic Stirs Your Fanhood?
The Post has announced that come the end of the month, amid several changes, five comics will be dropped from the print funnypages (though the strips will continue on washingtonpost.com). If you're a regular reader of Comic Riffs, you know...
By Michael Cavna | March 16, 2009; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (30)
The "Check Out" Aisle: Sample These Picks O' the Week
'Riffs readers and comics colleagues flag so much good -- and sometimes just, um, interesting -- cartoon material that today, Comic Riffs pauses to catch up to some of it. Without further delay, here are a few faves. Judge, if...
By Michael Cavna | March 13, 2009; 08:45 AM ET | Comments (2)
Would You Miss Your Sunday Funnies If They Went Away?
Would you miss your Sunday funnies? Enlarge Comic In a decision that's unfortunately all too frequent, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has announced that it will trim its Sunday comics section from eight pages to "six full-color pages." According to its Web...
By Michael Cavna | March 5, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
Have You Got an Obama Joke? Then Enter It HERE...
Enlarge Comic So few weeks, so many issues. From bipartisanship to speeches to tax-troubled nominees to secret Russian defense plans, President Obama's administration -- and the government at large, on both sides of the aisle -- already offers a...
By Michael Cavna | March 4, 2009; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
The Poll: Cats or Dogs -- Which Make a Better Comics Pet?
Whenever I get to talking about Garfield or Bucky or Snoopy or Satchel with readers and cartoonists, this subject inevitably rears its head: In cartoon form, who rules: Dogs or cats? Enlarge Comic Get both breeds of pet fans together,...
By Michael Cavna | March 3, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
How to Save Cartooning's Pulitzer From Extinction
As the ranks of staff political cartoonists continue to shrink -- most recently last week with the twin job losses of Ed Stein (his Rocky Mountain News was shuttered) and John Branch of the San Antonio Express-News (layoff) -- the...
By Michael Cavna | March 2, 2009; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
'The Stimulus Monkey': Is Today's 'NY Post' Cartoon Racist?
The Rev. Al Sharpton has denounced it. Some cartoonists and commentators have lambasted it as racist. Other commenters have declared that it's just a "bad" cartoon, but one lacking in ugly intent. And its editor has defended it. Today's New...
By Michael Cavna | February 18, 2009; 04:45 PM ET | Comments (189)
Rate Yourself: How Well Do You Know Your Cartoons?
BETTER KNOW A 'TOONIST How much do we know, really, about the cartoon artists who entertain us daily? Sure, many of us know that Charles Schulz had a boyhood dog; that Bill "Calvin & Hobbes" Watterson had a boyhood cat;...
By Michael Cavna | February 17, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
Now Polling: What Gets Your Vote for Best Art?
Enlarge Comic Time once again, folks, for my favorite interactive feature: The Wholly Unscientific Comic Riffs Readers' Poll. (*Your legitimate votes may vary.) Several days back, you offered your thoughts on which comic-strip's visual style is the most dazzling....
By Michael Cavna | February 12, 2009; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (8)
Caption Contest News: YOU May Already Be a Winner
With the terribly unscientific balloting looking to be completely on the up-and-up (small favors), Comic Riffs can declare a winner in the first official "Write-Better-Gags-Than-Cavna" Caption Contest. (Michael Cavna) Enlarge Comic The Post jurors culled the field to three finalists,...
By Michael Cavna | February 10, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
Smart Remarks: We Stop to Smell the Bon Mots
We've had so many sharp/provocative/brutally honest/flat-out funny comments in recent days that today, we stop to smell the bon mots. Now, to enjoy a choice sampling of the remarks from you, a fearless band of witty Riffians: Enlarge Comic Look...
By Michael Cavna | February 9, 2009; 11:10 AM ET | Comments (11)
Write a Caption, Win a Cartoon
Morning, Cartoon Nation... So last week, I invited you to offer captions for my "Warped" cartoon, whose caption I've never really been happy with: (Michael Cavna) Enlarge Comic From your many clever entries (by comment and e-mail), a handful of...
By Michael Cavna | February 2, 2009; 11:15 AM ET | Comments (13)
The Poll: What's the Funniest Comic Around?
What's the funniest strip going these days? (Creators)Enlarge Comic Thanks to you all, 'Riffs has received more than 100 suggestions since last week. Now, it's time to start whittling 'em down. Sure, "funny" is as subjective as a "Judge Parker"...
By Michael Cavna | January 27, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
What Caption Would You Create? Help-A-Cartoonist
Morning, Cartoon Nation... It's been seven years and, upon reflection, I'm still not satisfied. (Michael Cavna) Enlarge Comic Recently, I pulled this "Warped" cartoon out of a fat batch of originals and, re-reading, realized I hadn't nailed it. The art...
By Michael Cavna | January 26, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
The E-Mailbag: A Last Look-back at the Comments o' the Year
Of the thousands of smart (and smart-alecky) comments made on the Comic Riffs blog this past half-year, a good number of reader reactions especially stood out. Here are a handful of faves amid a stellar field. Happy New Year, --M.C....
By Michael Cavna | January 2, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
The E-Mailbag: Guess the Fate of Sally Forth
SALLY FORTH: The plot -- and Ted's mental capabilities -- thickens. (KFS)Enlarge Comic "Sally Forth" has gotten so juicy, one inspired commenter was moved yesterday to foresee the story's climactic denouement -- the Big Reveal, as it were: "In Thursday's...
By Michael Cavna | December 31, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (7)
The E-Mailbag: Which Legacy Strip Should Get the Boot?
As 'Riffs increasingly gets word of new strips that syndicates are lining up to launch in the new year (next up, we hear: the cheeky action-adventure strip "Rip Haywire"), I can't help but wonder: Should The Post decide to pick...
By Michael Cavna | December 15, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (16)
The E-Mailbag: Hamm vs. Colbert in a 'Mark Trail' Showdown
In recent days, Comic Riffs asked you, the keen-eyed reader, who should be cast in the lead role when "Mark Trail" -- in a perfect world -- is finally made into a movie. Jon Hamm or Stephen Colbert? Vote for...
By Michael Cavna | December 12, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
The E-Mailbag: Vote for Your "Mark Trail"
Yesterday, 'Riffs put out the casting call for "Mark Trail: The Movie" -- the sendup flick that, in a just universe, should be made. Today, it's time to cull the hotly touted candidates, courtesy of commenters, e-mailers and the Caribou...
By Michael Cavna | December 4, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
Calvin or Pogo--Who Should Be Character-in-Chief?
With the presidential election a day away, Comic Riffs opens the polls to the OTHER big election: Namely, the finals for the "Character-in-Chief" readers survey. (UPS)Enlarge Comic Earlier this month, we asked readers to nominate which cartoon creations had just...
By Michael Cavna | November 3, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
The Semifinals: Who Should Be Character-in-Chief?
As the real-life presidential election dwindles to less than a week away, so, too, do the cartoon candidacies. Since Friday, you the Comic Riffs Voter have narrowed the field of contenders for the top job -- namely, the comic creations...
By Michael Cavna | October 29, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
Painting Sarah Palin in a Comic Light
Comic-book artists have already portrayed the candidate as Sarah Palin the Book-Burner. Now they'll depict the veep candidate as Sarah Palin the Positive Female Force. TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Palin portrayed as a flaming censor. (Papercutz)Enlarge Comic Comic Riffs reported...
By Michael Cavna | October 24, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (4)
Draw Your Own Obama/McCain Conclusions...HERE.
I've heard the sentiment expressed more than once. A week. And almost always, it's very well-meaning: "Hey, I've got a great idea for a political cartoon. Now, I don't draw so well myself, so maybe you could draw it. Listen...
By Michael Cavna | October 23, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
The E-Mailbag: Your Vote Here--What Should Replace Opus?
Some 200 newspapers are deciding what to do once Opus waddles off into the sunset next month -- and off their Sunday pages for the last time. As the fateful day nears, who will fill his flipper-sized shoes? (WPWG) So...
By Michael Cavna | October 20, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (21)
The E-Mailbag: YOU May Already Be a "Cul de Sac" Contest Winner!
There once was a furball named Danders... Readers capture the many faces of the Otterloops. (UPS) As "Cul de Sac" celebrated its first birthday in syndication this month, Comic Riffs invited readers to show their short-form poetic appreciation for the...
By Michael Cavna | October 17, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
The E-Mailbag: Vote NOW for Character-in-Chief...
We've kicked off the nominating process. Now it's time to get serious about your presidential candidates. (And no, we don't mean Joe the Plumber -- thanks for flagging the funny and uber-timely New Adventures of Queen Victoria, "jimbo1949".) Which cartoon...
By Michael Cavna | October 16, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
The E-Mailbag: Bucky and Beetle? Them's Fightin' Words
BEETLE BAILEY: No war, but a real commentary on war. (KFS)Enlarge Comic Some weeks ago, I offered thoughts on how to revivify "Beetle Bailey's" relevance. One of my toss-off suggestions: Have Beetle go to war. So imagine my surprise...
By Michael Cavna | October 3, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (11)
The E-Mailbag: The Final Smackdown: Which Comic Would YOU Drop?
Comic Riffs inquired and, with wit and passion and indignation, you delivered. Last week this blog took on The Post's print comics, page by page, polling readers about which comic they would drop. Some 1,500 votes later, one thing became...
By Michael Cavna | September 29, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (35)
The E-Mailbag: Which Comic Would You Drop? Act Now.
As the singer Meat Loaf -- or was it Yogi Berra? -- once said, "Two out of three ain't bad." So far this week, you've rendered judgment on two of The Post's three comics pages, telling us which strips you'd...
By Michael Cavna | September 24, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (17)
The E-Mailbag: Tell Us Which Comic You'd Like to Drop.
The Readers Have Spoken. Yesterday, you were vocal about which strips you'd like to see spiked from the first page of The Post's print comics. Now, we ask you to unleash that enthusiasm -- and umbrage -- toward the paper's...
By Michael Cavna | September 23, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (11)
The E-Mailbag: Which Comic Would YOU Drop? Vote Now.
When "Little Dog Lost" replaced "For Better or For Worse" on The Post's print pages this month, many of the hundreds of responses had a common refrain: The Pattersons' loss was this lost pooch's gain. (WPWG) Enlarge Comic "If you're...
By Michael Cavna | September 22, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (43)
The E-Mailbag: Is Opus the Penguin Playing His Swan Song?
It musn't be easy being Berkeley Breathed's editor these days. What with being peppered by one constant question: (WPWG)Enlarge Comic "Hey, is 'Opus' ending soon or what?" We know that Breathed's editor, Amy Lago, has patiently endured our frequent badgering...
By Michael Cavna | September 18, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
The E-Mailbag: When Candidates Utter the Ideas of Others
Four candidates running for the White House. Two political rock stars. And one big fat godsend for humorists. The nation's cartoonists are having a field day with the election that, for many, doubles as entertainment fix. Which is why we...
By Michael Cavna | September 12, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
The E-Mailbag: Jim Borgman & This Week's Riffys...
ZITS (KFS)Enlarge Comic It's time, once again, for this week's Riffy Awards. Let's go right to the winners: 1. FAVORITE ART: The supremely gifted Jim Borgman announced this week that this fall, he's going to leave behind being the Cincinnati...
By Michael Cavna | September 5, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
The E-Mailbag: Let's Vet the Presidential "Caption Contest"...
A dog, a cat, a doctor's labcoat and a clipboard. What more does one need for hilarity to ensue? The (operating) tables are turned. (Creators)Enlarge Comic In this case, perhaps your caption. That scene is the setting for a recent...
By Michael Cavna | September 4, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
The E-Mailbag: Obama, Clinton and the Caption Contest!
As the Democratic Party streamers and donkey-emblazoned banners get swept up today at Invesco Field, it's time to announce this week's Caption Contest winner for the Obama/Clinton illustration. Conventional wisdom. (Newark Star-Ledger) Enlarge Comic Judging the surrogate captions for the...
By Michael Cavna | August 29, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (19)
The E-Mailbag: "The Caption Contest Results Are In, Jeffy...!"
We could not let the Family Circus leave Washington without a proper sendoff. Lacking balloons, bunting, pinwheels, confetti, parade floats or a key-to-the-city, we followed the strip's dotted-line trail to the Monument, where we instead honored them with: a...
By Michael Cavna | August 22, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (11)
The E-Mailbag: The Caption Contest That Does Not Insult You With Cash Prizes!
AND THE WINNERS OF OUR FIRST O-FFIC-IAL CAPTION CONTEST ARE... We put out a call for Caption Contest entries last week and your clever responses did not disappoint. The cartoon in question was a recent "Rhymes With Orange" strip...
By Michael Cavna | August 15, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (24)
The E-Mailbag: Now Taking Your Comments (Out of Context)
Time, now, to dip into the e-mailbag... Thanks for the interview with Stephan Pastis -- "Pearls" is required daily reading! Pig, Rat, Zebra, the crocs -- they're all great. Can't wait to introduce our baby (due in March!) to this...
By Michael Cavna | August 11, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (6)
The E-Mailbag: Now Taking Your Cheeky Comments...
The Top Ten List: We respond to your questions and comments... We were wrong, apparently, to call this blog Comic Riffs. Given our collective preoccupations in recent days, we should have dubbed it Comic Midriffs. The Week That Was, you...
By Michael Cavna | August 1, 2008; 10:35 AM ET | Comments (6)
The E-Mailbag: Dr. Duncan, Studmuffin
WARNING: This blog-post contains saucy material that might be inappropriate for impressionable young (or not-so-young) souls who could reasonably be offended by such words as, oh, "studmuffin." We at Comic Riffs were remiss in one regard yesterday when prattling on...
By Michael Cavna | July 30, 2008; 11:25 AM ET | Comments (2)
The E-Mailbag: 'Tooning In to Obama & McCain
Ever since The New Yorker's Obama cover, we've received e-mails and comments about how political candidates are depicted in cartoon form: What's fair, what goes too far -- and does Mitt Romney really look like a character out of "Mark...
By Michael Cavna | July 28, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (6)
The E-Mailbag: Pearls Before Feline
The time is now, fellow comic fans: Stephan Pastis is ripe for recruitment. This week, in our "Bucky Katt v. Garfield" rant, we proposed that the perfect cartoonist to draw a showdown/throw-down between these comic-cat titans is Pastis, aka the...
By Michael Cavna | July 25, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
The E-Mailbag: Beyond the Irony Age
"Oh, irony. We do not get that here. ... We haven't had irony here since about, uh, '83, when I was the only practitioner of it ... and I stopped as I was tired of being stared at." --Steve Martin,...
By Michael Cavna | July 21, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
The E-Mailbag: When to Hold a Feature's Funeral?
When I was a newspaper cartoonist a few years back, a salesman from a competing syndicate used to come by the newsroom, comic samples and tales-from-the-road in tow. "How are they selling?" I would ask. His telling reply, with a...
By Michael Cavna | July 16, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (52)
