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 Political Cartoon
Mike Keefe, Matt Wuerker & Ann Telnaes are honored
UPDATE: Mike Keefe responds Friday to winning the award. Over at The Daily Cartoonist, Alan Gardner reports that Denver Post political cartoonist MIKE KEEFE has just won the Berryman Award. So first let us say: Huzzahs, because Comic Riffs...
By Michael Cavna | November 20, 2009; 06:25 PM ET | Comments (0)
UPDATE: A new Congressional app for your iPhone? Artist says Apple finally bites
Kerry, McCain & Pelosi (among others), as you may never see them -- thanks to Apple. (Courtesy of Tom Richmond ) UPDATE: MAD artist Tom Richmond tells Comic Riffs this weekend that Apple has just notified him that --...
By The Reliable Source | November 15, 2009; 11:15 AM ET | Comments (4)
The comic strip that ruined a friendship, rankled a newspaper and landed in court. And that was BEFORE being launched.
NOTE: With some stories, the "full disclosure" clause cannot wait till the end, like some sort of buried, "oh-by-the-way" afterthought. In this case, with this story, I'm obligated to disclose up top that I know or have known most...
By Michael Cavna | November 12, 2009; 02:05 PM ET | Comments (3)
Why do so very few comic strips bother to mark Veterans' Day?
In a time of war (or wars) and so soon after the Fort Hood tragedy, it seems especially a pity that so few comic strips bother to even take note of Veterans' Day. No, noting the holiday shouldn't feel...
By Michael Cavna | November 11, 2009; 09:05 AM ET | Comments (9)
'Riffs Picks: From the Washington Dreadskins cartoon to Comics Volunteerism week, today's top contenders
Do not adjust your set, your settings or your funnypages. As you've probably noticed by now, volunteerism is running rampant in the comics this week -- and by that, we don't just mean the meddlesome Keane kids "drawing" "Family...
By Michael Cavna | October 21, 2009; 09:05 AM ET | Comments (5)
The 'Herblock!' Show: Cartoonists, Library of Congress Pay Tribute on Legend's 100th Birthday
The Library of Congress's exhibit "Herblock!" (opening today) celebrates the late political cartoonist Herb Block on his 100th birthday. (Doree Lovell) You stroll among these freshly mounted, never-before-displayed original drawings at the Library of Congress and you are struck...
By Michael Cavna | October 13, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
'Riffs Interview: As 'SNL' Satirizes Nobel-Winning Obama, Is Mike Luckovich Ready to Go Down That Same Road?
MIKE LUCKOVICH: Obama is "smart and smooth -- he's a hard guy to satirize." The Atlanta Journal Constitution's Pulitzer-winning cartoonist, MIKE LUCKOVICH, quickly honed in on his Barack Obama caricature during last year's campaign. What's been slower to evolve...
By Michael Cavna | October 9, 2009; 08:35 AM ET | Comments (2)
Riffs' Picks: From Late-Night TV to the Idiot Box, Today's Fave Five Cartoons
THE MORNING LINE: From Late-Night TV to the Idiot Box, here are today's favorite cartoons culled from across the mighty mighty Web... Facing the unforgiving spectre of a cartoon deadline, sometimes you inadvertently discover things. Under the pressure of...
By Michael Cavna | October 6, 2009; 09:05 AM ET | Comments (2)
'Family Guy' Satirizes Post Political Cartooning -- But Toles Truly Makes Us Laff
Because we here at Comic Riffs are absolute Pavlovian suckers for anything in pop culture that combines the words "Washington Post" and "cartoon," we laughed at this "Family Guy" aside over the weekend -- even if it bears no...
By Michael Cavna | September 30, 2009; 05:55 PM ET | Comments (0)
The 'Riffs Picks: Tuesday's Cartoon Highlights (Convention Edition)
THE MORNING LINE: From sparkling debuts to stellar legends, here are today's 'Riffs Picks for Cartoon Highlights(Special Convention Edition), culled from both personal appearances and the mighty mighty Web... 5. "RAT" PACK: At the Small Press Expo in Bethesda,...
By Michael Cavna | September 29, 2009; 07:05 AM ET | Comments (0)
'Riffs Picks: Rall to Raina--Highlights From This Year's SPX
Fantagraphics to the left of me! Top Shelf to the right of me! From friends to roamin' fans to cartoonists, the Small Press Expo (SPX) event over the weekend in Bethesda, Md., was thick was enthusiasm and talent --...
By Michael Cavna | September 28, 2009; 04:05 PM ET | Comments (1)
From Spiders to 'Surrogates': Our Five Fave Cartoons This Minute
THE MORNING LINE: From arachnids to avatars, here are our five fave cartoons for the day, culled from across the mighty mighty Web... 5. THE MIGHTY COMIC HAS CRAPPED OUT: Some syndicated cartoonists tell Comic Riffs they can't use...
By Michael Cavna | September 25, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
From Tom DeLay to Mickey Mouse, Our Five Fave Cartoons This Minute...
THE MORNING QUICKIE: From Tom DeLay's cha-cha to Steamboat Willie's whistle, here are our fave five cartoons this minute, culled from across the mighty mighty Web... 5. DANCE AS A BIPARTISAN THREAT: With all the verbal gusto of Judge...
By Michael Cavna | September 24, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (7)
Morning Quickie: Presidents Garfield to Obama, Our Five Fave Cartoons This Minute...
THE MORNING LINE: Our five favorite cartoons this moment, culled from across the mighty mighty Web... 5. TV AS Rx: CNN! CBS! Oxygen? To peddle his health-care reform plan, President Obama is visiting more networks than Emmys host Neil Patrick...
By Michael Cavna | September 23, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (4)
Staff Recommendations: The Fave-Five Cartoons to Start Your Day With
THE MORNING LINE: From flood zones to low-fi headphones, here are today's Fave Five Cartoons from across the mighty mighty Web... 5. In today's Atlanta Journal Constitution, MIKE LUCKOVICH offers a little (comic) relief to his fellow Georgians weathering...
By Michael Cavna | September 22, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Fave Five: The Cartoons Now Catching Our Eye
From all across the mighty web, here's the Official Comic Riffs Fave Five Cartoons list right now... 5. In a mere three panels and four balloons, this strip from Saturday pulled off the trifecta: It made me (1) laugh...
By Michael Cavna | September 21, 2009; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
Hot Links: Our Fave Five Cartoons This Minute...
THE MORNING LINE: From bicuspid love to real political teeth, a hot-link roundup of our fave five toons right now... The rapper and the scrapper! The goader and the Taylor Swift-boater! The twin antagonizers turned apologizers! Yes, Kanye West and...
By Michael Cavna | September 17, 2009; 07:15 AM ET | Comments (6)
From Serena to Ringo: When Pop Culture Cracks the Political Arena
DAVID FITZSIMMONS, Arizona Daily Star: See Cartoons by Cartoon by David Fitzsimmons - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon Some days, even political cartoonists decide to ditch politics. There are times when the pop culture landscape is so...
By Michael Cavna | September 14, 2009; 12:10 PM ET | Comments (2)
9/11 Gallery: More Top Cartoonists Pay Their Respects
(NOTE: This gallery was updated with additional cartoons Friday afternoon.) In the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, cartoonists turned to many of the same iconic images: a mournful Statue of Liberty. A single-teardropped American eagle. And then...
By Michael Cavna | September 11, 2009; 05:40 PM ET | Comments (7)
You Need a Good Obama Cartoon? You Lie!
THE MORNING LINE: FIVE THINGS 'RIFFS MOST CARES ABOUT THIS MINUTE... See Cartoons by Cartoon by Nate Beeler - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon 1. "YOU LIE" -- WE FORAGE: The School Speech to the Health-Care Speech, Obama's...
By Michael Cavna | September 10, 2009; 11:05 AM ET | Comments (4)
Ted Kennedy: A Life Remembered Through Political Cartoons
Over decades in Congress, Ted Kennedy was a friend to the afflicted, the downtrodden, the huddled masses yearning for a good idea. In other words, in this case: America's political cartoonists. From triumphs to tragedies, Kennedy -- who cartoonists...
By Michael Cavna | August 28, 2009; 01:50 PM ET | Comments (1)
Mission to North Korea: Who Draws 'Lil Kim Best?
KIM JONG-IL just might be a Nukes-Toting Murderous Sick-and-Sickly Napoleon-Complexing Megalomaniacal Demi-Dr.-Evil Dictator With a Don King 'Do, but we've got to give him this: He's an utter joy for many political cartoonists to draw. On the (lifted) heels...
By Michael Cavna | August 11, 2009; 12:45 PM ET | Comments (3)
'Hello, Beautiful': How Long Till 'Obama the Joker' Posters Show Up Outside 1600 Penn?
This morning, Comic Riffs wrote about Heath Ledger's final act of art -- which was not an Oscar-winning performance, but rather an animated short. Still, of course, his Joker creation in "The Dark Knight" will stand as one of...
By Michael Cavna | August 5, 2009; 04:00 PM ET | Comments (4)
Text Ths Fnny Car2n? LOL!
THE MORNING LINE: The a.m. roundup of print cartoons, from the vexing to the Texting... For political cartoonists, some subjects spring eternally fertile. The cost of health care. Civil liberties. Bank fees. And the ability of human texting habits to...
By The Reliable Source | August 5, 2009; 10:05 AM ET | Comments (4)
President Obama: Happy Birther to You!
What's that? You just realized today is President Obama's birthday and you forgot to pick up that just-right card (or that just-left card, depending on your political persuasion)? Well fortunately, your friendly political cartoonists have been on the case...
By Michael Cavna | August 4, 2009; 04:45 PM ET | Comments (0)
Iranian Cartoonists Plan to Boycott Famed Biennial
More than 100 Iranian cartoonists have drawn a line. In the sand. According to Nik Kowsar, an exiled Iranian political cartoonist now living near Toronto, many of his colleagues have decided to boycott the Ninth Tehran International Cartoon Biennial,...
By Michael Cavna | August 4, 2009; 01:10 PM ET | Comments (0)
Last Call: The Beer-Summit Cartoons Runneth Over
MORNING LINE: The a.m. roundup of newspaper cartoons, from ice-cream shops to the audacity of hops ... When he reigns, it pours. With Obama convening last week's "beer summit" as the First Bartender (someone strike up "Hail to the...
By The Reliable Source | August 4, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
Inside Line: Chef Luckovich Prepares a Prime Political Cartoon
The Riffster has got to admit: One of the cool things about this job is the chance to talk process and brainstorming and creativity with some of the sharpest artists around. Yesterday afternoon, Atlanta Journal Constitution cartoonist Mike Luckovich...
By Michael Cavna | August 1, 2009; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
Last Call: When Obama/Gates Cartoons Are All the Same Draft
Perhaps more than anything, the purest aspect of political cartooning is the ability to distill. To distill an idea, to concentrate a truth. So when you've suddenly got a "beer summit" falling into your creative lap, you root around...
By Michael Cavna | July 31, 2009; 02:05 PM ET | Comments (2)
Best of the 'Gates'-Gate Political Cartoons: Pick Your Fave
You've got race. You've got politics. You've got police. And now, you've even got Bud Light. For editorial cartoonists, it's a welcome perfect storm that requires more than deft punch lines. To comment properly, the story demands the cartoonist...
By The Reliable Source | July 31, 2009; 10:05 AM ET | Comments (4)
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)
Political Cartoon Gallery: From Sotomayor to Cyber-Kim
North Korean cyber warfare, Jong-Il 2.0 style. General Motors's financial "return." And entire days of Sonia Sotomayor hearings, from soup to nunchuks. Each can spark its own form of trepidation. And, fortunately, its own fertile humor. Here are five...
By Michael Cavna | July 15, 2009; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (2)
Sarah Palin: Is She a 'Quitter'?
So now would-be "second dude" Levi Johnston is attempting to slap-shot departing guv Sarah Palin, contending that she's bailing on the governor's gig to catch the Money Train before it pulls out of the Wasilla station. And the latest...
By The Reliable Source | July 13, 2009; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (3)
The Interview: Exiled Iranian Cartoonist Nik Kowsar
"I believe my cartoons are on the same frequency as to what the Iranian people are feeling," says Iranian expat cartoonist Nik Kowsar.(Courtesy of Nik Kowsar) Iranian-born political cartoonist NIK KOWSAR has been jailed because of his commentary. He...
By Michael Cavna | July 10, 2009; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (1)
Best Political Cartoons This Minute: We Pick 'Em
This Riffster's favorite political cartoons this minute... 'DAVID FITZSIMMONS' (courtesy of cagle.com) 1. DEATH KINDLY STOPS FOR THEE: When memorializing Robert McNamara, many a cartoonist was quick to invoke the Grim Reaper. In its effective understatment, Fitzsimmon's was arguably...
By Michael Cavna | July 9, 2009; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (3)
The Al Franken Clustertoon: Because Doggone It, People Like Them!
At first it seemed as if a couple of Al Franken cartoons were popping up with natural overlap. Then sharp-eyed comicsdc blogger Mike Rhode alerted me to a couple more and suddenly, Stuart Smalley spoof cartoons seemed to be...
By Michael Cavna | July 7, 2009; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (3)
Today's Political Cartoon Gallery: Mark Sanford's Alpha E-Mail
Mark Sanford and Michael Jackson! The Hiker and the Moonwalker! One wept for Bubbles, the other cried for Argentina. (Or, more precisely, Maria.) Whether the art is leaning GOP or singing "PYT," here's a batch of this Riffster's favorite...
By Michael Cavna | July 6, 2009; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (1)
Best Fourth of July Cartoons: Let's Salute the Stars
As with any proper holiday, we seem to have a theme. Yes, my fellow patriots, if the holiday be Independence Day, the satirical angle of choice this year is: What civil liberties don't we have? Here are four political...
By Michael Cavna | July 4, 2009; 09:05 AM ET | Comments (3)
Michael Jackson Goes Where Angels Fear to Tread
Sizing up the spate of Michael Jackson cartoons... 'JOHN DARKOW' (cagle.com) 'PATRICK CHAPPATTE' (cagle.com) 'PERAY' (cagle.com) 'PETER BROELMAN' (cagle.com) In the wake of Michael Jackson's death, more than a couple of political cartoonists struck upon the same essential idea:...
By The Reliable Source | June 27, 2009; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
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)
The Most Poignant Cartoon of the Week
Leave it to Beeler. In the wake of the fatal Metro crash this week, the Washington Examiner's NATE BEELER drew the most poignant image I saw about the tragedy. It has just the right tone, the right feel. 'NATE...
By Michael Cavna | June 26, 2009; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (3)
Mark Sanford to Smartphones: What This Riffster Is Reading Now
Obama-swatted insects. Hoax instead of hope. Smartphone envy. And the global mourning over Neda. Here are five editorial cartoons that top the 'Riffs Reading List for the day -- followed by my Mark Sanford Picks o' the Day. If...
By Michael Cavna | June 25, 2009; 10:05 AM ET | Comments (1)
'Riffs Gallery: Best of the 'Twitter Iran' Cartoons
When it comes to the role of social networking amid Iran's violent post-election uproar, comic Bill Maher may have had the satiric line of the week: "Twitter didn't save Iran. Iran saved Twitter." Political cartoonists, too, have been mining...
By The Reliable Source | June 24, 2009; 12:10 PM ET | Comments (5)
Reader Poll: Cast Your (Rigged) Vote for Best 'Iran Election' Cartoon
Yesterday, one 'Riffs reader asked why so relatively few Palin/Letterman political cartoons were populating the landscape. Well, perhaps it's partly because the election-aftermath in Iran is just so politically hot -- and so important -- that it merits days...
By The Reliable Source | June 18, 2009; 08:45 AM ET | Comments (1)
The Interview: Dan Wasserman's Inside Line on the Boston Globe's Labor Woes
DAN WASSERMAN (Courtesy of Dan Wasserman / Boston Globe) This week, Boston Globe political cartoonist DAN WASSERMAN -- responding to his newspaper's vote to reject a new labor deal -- created a brilliantly distilled cartoon. Because the New York...
By Michael Cavna | June 12, 2009; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (1)
Sonia Sotomayor: Creator Explains His Controversial Piñata Cartoon
Comic Riffs recently posted the controversial cartoon about Sonia Sotomayor -- in which she, as a strung-up piñata, awaits a wallop from GOP elephants -- and we invited you to vote with your reaction. Of the 500-plus respondents, 42...
By Michael Cavna | June 11, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Obama in the Muslim World: Who Spins It Best?
Many cartoonists I know are prone to leaping, panting like puppies, at the mention of two simple words: "Road trip." Short of hitting the wild blue yonder themselves, though, the second-best thing for many political cartoonists is when a...
By Michael Cavna | June 9, 2009; 01:50 PM ET | Comments (7)
The Interview: 'Mallard Fillmore' Creator Bruce Tinsley
Bruce Tinsley (Courtesy of King Features Syndicate) BRUCE TINSLEY, ironically, had no designs on becoming a comic-strip artist. Nearly two decades ago, he was a political cartoonist, a practioner of the single-panel, non-continuity ever-topical format at the Charlottesville Daily...
By Michael Cavna | June 5, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (5)
Huffington Post and Sotomayor Draw Fire
It's not just the content of political cartoons that can generate heated debate. These days, even their very existence can result in someone suddenly writing in a huff, if not a Huffington. Back in April, a HuffPost contributor named...
By Michael Cavna | June 1, 2009; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
Vote Now: Which Nancy Pelosi Cartoon Holds Water?
Can House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weather the current Beltway scrutiny? We know not, perhaps because we're overly focused on a more immediate question: Can Madam Speaker withstand the slings, arrows and Sharpies of a horde of cartoonists? Dick Cheney's...
By The Reliable Source | May 21, 2009; 01:30 PM ET | Comments (4)
Reader Poll: Which Cartoon Grads Make the Grade?
As college and high school graduations near and grads seek work, perhaps there's only one career that's benefiting from the unfortuate timing: the nation's political cartooning. As always, tough times make for fertile fodder. Today, Comic Riffs -- also...
By Michael Cavna | May 13, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
The Interview: 'Slowpoke' Alt-Cartoonist Jen Sorensen
Until last year, I had read the alt-comic "SLOWPOKE" on occasion, but I had not really READ "Slowpoke." That is, I had not pored over it as a book collection, in which editorial cartoonist Jen Sorensen's superbly ironic worldview comes...
By Michael Cavna | May 1, 2009; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (2)
Swine Flu: Too Soon to Joke? Tell It to the 'Toonists
Can cartoons prevent swine flu? Why sure -- simply print out this page, tie a string to it and wear it as a mask. What's that? Too soon to joke about swine flu? Well that's my point exactly. As the...
By Michael Cavna | April 30, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
Vote Now: Judging the World of Caricature
By Wednesday, political cartoonists will have had their "first 100 days" to build their best Obama caricatures. The president's ears and smile have taken front-and-center in many caricatures so far, but some more critical cartoons have also aimed to depict...
By Michael Cavna | April 27, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
Steve Breen Dedicates Pulitzer to Out-of-Work Colleagues
STEVE BREEN is thankful for the second Pulitzer of his career. He is humbly grateful that the jurors deemed his winning portfolio the best. But had he been doing the choosing, he wouldn't have necessarily selected himself for the prize....
By Michael Cavna | April 22, 2009; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
U-T's Steve Breen Wins Cartooning's Pulitzer
Congratulations to STEVE BREEN, who has just won his second Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. The San Diego Union-Tribune cartoonist won his first Pulitzer in 1998, while at the Asbury Park Press. In an interesting twist (and confluence of talent),...
By Michael Cavna | April 20, 2009; 03:15 PM ET | Comments (0)
A Landscape Lacking in Political Cartoonists...
Greetings, Cartoon Nation... So the San Francisco Chronicle's Tom Meyer -- for decades a Bay Area morning must-read -- is the latest political cartoonist to lose his journalistic perch. This change comes while the losses are still fresh in...
By Michael Cavna | April 14, 2009; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
'Black Ink Day': Time for Another Call to Arms
Comic Riffs recently proposed a new "Black Ink Day" -- that is, a single day on which all political cartoonists would use their space to publicize their plight as their ranks thin, as well as to honor their field's rich...
By Michael Cavna | March 30, 2009; 02:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
The Cartooning Cause That's Fit to Print
Okay, here's an idea: As newspaper cartoonists look around their table and see the newsroom herds thinning, or the moving trucks pulling up, or the security guard hovering as colleagues pack up their things, maybe it's time for a single,...
By Michael Cavna | March 20, 2009; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (5)
Memphis Political Cartoonist Bill Day Is Laid Off
BILL DAY, veteran political cartoonist at the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, tells Comic Riffs that he has just been let go by the newspaper as part of more than a dozen layoffs announced by the paper there today. "It was...
By Michael Cavna | March 18, 2009; 05:45 PM ET | Comments (2)
Last of the Staff Cartoonists: How Can Some Keep Their Jobs?
Cartoonists Ed Stein and Drew Litton have lost their Rocky perches in Denver. Their colleague John Branch is among the latest layoffs in a showdown at San Antonio. Ben Sargent took the buyout in Austin. And in a small town...
By Michael Cavna | March 11, 2009; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (1)
The Interview (Pt. 2): David Horsey of the (RIP?) 'Seattle Post-Intelligencer'
As his newspaper faces its D-Day sale deadline today, Comic Riffs continues its interview with Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial cartoonist DAVID HORSEY. Horsey, who has the highly trafficked Web site DavidHorsey.com through Hearst Corp., says he is ensured of keeping his...
By Michael Cavna | March 10, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
David Horsey: How a Cartoonist Survives If Ink Newspaper Dies
It's D-Day for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. With Hearst's stated 60-day window to find a buyer set to close tomorrow, the storied, historic P-I faces the shuttering of its print newspaper -- short of a Microsoft billionaire or some other moneybagged...
By Michael Cavna | March 9, 2009; 07:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
The Week's Seven Most Terrifying Cartoons
Every week, as we cast our java-fueled gaze upon close to a thousand separate cartoons, there are inevitably a handful of images that might prompt a spit-take (if coffee didn't stain the carpet so stubbornly). Some cartoons disturb the...
By Michael Cavna | March 6, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
Who Drew It Funniest? We Laugh at the Very Thought
Perhaps because political cartoons typically must traffic in real-world issues and should offer a true opinion, they don't as frequently make me laugh aloud. And by laugh aloud, I mean that burst of honest guffaw that leaves your body before...
By Michael Cavna | March 2, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
As More Cartoonists Draw Severance, Honor Them While You Can
We're talking with ED STEIN, longtime political cartoonist for the Rocky Mountain News. Make that the dearly departed Rocky Mountain News. After 31 years in his position, Stein learned yesterday that the Denver newspaper would print its final edition today,...
By Michael Cavna | February 27, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
An Open Letter to NY Post Cartoonist: Time to Do the Right Thing
As an artist who myself, when under fire, has reflexively assumed the Official Editorial Cartoonist's Defensive Crouch, I feel compelled to reach out to the New York Post's controversial political cartoonist to advise -- nay, implore -- him with seven...
By Michael Cavna | February 24, 2009; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (56)
Lessons of a Fiery--and Fired--Cartoonist
As some call for the head of New York Post cartoonist Sean Delonas, insisting that he never work in that town again -- much less anywhere, amid the paper's "partial apology"-- it's intriguing to step back to think of hard-hitting...
By Michael Cavna | February 23, 2009; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (2)
The Post-Chimp Poll: Was the NY Post's Apology Pretty Sorry?
As we move into the "mea culpa" phase of the New York Post controversy, its political cartoonist Sean Delonas might want to ring up Don Imus's attorney for a little advice. Then again, throwing himself on the mercy of the...
By Michael Cavna | February 20, 2009; 11:45 PM ET | Comments (8)
Fave Five: The 'Best' Post-Chimp Political Cartoons
In the wake of this week's odious New York Post cartoon by Sean Delonas -- such an odoriferous whiff can linger for far longer than the "artwork" deserves -- Comic Riffs would like to turn your burning eyes toward some...
By Michael Cavna | February 20, 2009; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
The 'Best' Editorial Cartoons of the Week
Back when Barack, Joe, John and Sarah were all making daily headlines and punchlines, any newspaper political cartoonist worth his or her ink-stained assaults could attract at least a warm corner of the spotlight. Since the inauguration, though, with the...
By Michael Cavna | February 13, 2009; 01:30 PM ET | Comments (3)
Drawing Obama: My Life With Controversial Caricatures
Why is Will Ferrell's dramatic caricature of President Bush so different from, say, those of impersonators Frank Caliendo or Steve Bridges? "Because he's got a true comic 'take' on Bush," says Post colleague and drama critic Peter Marks, who's just...
By Michael Cavna | February 5, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
When Political Cartoon Ideas Seem to All Look Alike
It's the risk you run often as a political cartoonist: Your craft relies on invoking and exploiting common symbols. Images laced with inherent power, poignancy or relevance. Yet when so many cartoonists are playing the same symbols, how do you...
By Michael Cavna | January 22, 2009; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Drawing Comparisons: The Art of Obama
In keeping with today's theme -- that is, the very face of the inaugural -- Comic Riffs shares several Obama cartoons that caught our eye. DREW FRIEDMAN (The New Yorker)Enlarge Comic First: Last time Obama received such play on a...
By Michael Cavna | January 20, 2009; 02:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Bush Buh-Bye: End of One Comedic Era (Pt. 3)
As President Bush two-steps off to Texas, he continues to take jobs with him. (Richard Thompson)Enlarge Comic Last fall, Berkeley Breathed made good on his decision that Opus should time his last waddle-into-the-sunset to Bush's exit. Similarly, David Rees determined...
By Michael Cavna | January 16, 2009; 06:15 PM ET | Comments (1)
Cartoonists Bemoan the Bush Buh-Bye (Part 2)
For nearly all of this young century, political cartoonists on both sides of the aisle have been able to agree on one thing: President Bush has been very, very good to them. When one world leader gives so much --...
By Michael Cavna | January 15, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
What Will You Miss About Bush? Top Cartoonists Tell Us
With Inauguration Day almost upon us, and President Bush moseying slowly toward the Crawford sunset, Comic Riffs posed one simple question to a dozen of the nation's leading political cartoonists: "What will you most miss about President George W. Bush?"...
By Michael Cavna | January 12, 2009; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (23)
The Political Cartoon: The Staff Cartoonists Who Needed a Moving Van in '08
From the dozens of interviews with cartoonists that Comic Riffs conducted this year, it stands out as one of the most poignant lines -- a quote that still resonates in its personal nature. Fresh off of being pink-slipped by the...
By Michael Cavna | December 30, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
The Political Cartoon: Eyes Closed, Time Magazine Picks Its Top-10
Time magazine, in its swell of year-end lists, has selected its Top 10 Editorial Cartoons of 2008. To which Comic Riffs can only shake its head and wonder aloud: Is this some sort of well-meaning prank? A mischievous lark or...
By Michael Cavna | December 16, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (4)
Another Cartoonist Layoff Today? Here's Your Call to Arms
Most of us can recite how Dr. Seuss, in grand sociopolitical metaphor, asked all of Who-Ville to be heard. The matter was dire, a community's very survival at stake, no matter how small. Ted Geisel, who did his share of...
By Michael Cavna | December 3, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
The Political Cartoon: These Five Candidates Await Your Vote.
Nothing is quite as tantalizing to many cartoonists as a visual-heavy news story that lacks audio. Such a story just begs for sharp-witted satirists to fill in the blanks. As President-elect Obama visited the White House last week, viewers got...
By Michael Cavna | November 18, 2008; 11:25 AM ET | Comments (8)
The Political Cartoon: Vote for YOUR Favorite Obama...
Many of the world's political cartoonists literally drew inspiration this week from Obama's presidential ascension. Thankfully, many illustrators rose to the historic challenge. Comic Riffs noted earlier this morning that Tom Toles's day-after cartoon was superbly poignant -- and particularly...
By Michael Cavna | November 7, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
The Political Cartoon: Your Obama-Beats-McCain Caption HERE.
Here and now, let Comic Riffs state for the record that we enjoy MIKE LANE's political cartoons in the Baltimore Sun, and that this recent cartoon -- McCain peering through the mouth of Obama -- caught our eye. In the...
By Michael Cavna | November 5, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
Reader Contest: And the Winning Cartoon Candidate Is...Palin!
Even in political cartoons, readers still cannot get enough of those conjoined cultural icons, Sarah Palin and Tina Fey. Last month, we invited readers to submit their own political cartoons -- perhaps the second-purest form of voters having their voice...
By Michael Cavna | November 4, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (4)
The Reader Cartoon Contest: Time to Vote for Obama or McCain
To the notion of election commentary by civilians, some highfalutin pundits would tell you: "Don't try this at home. Leave it to the professionals, thankyouverymuch." To which we would politely reply: Pshaw. Poppycock. And cork your piehole. Comic Riffs takes...
By Michael Cavna | October 30, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (6)
Which Cartoonist KO'd Obama or McCain?
By Nate BeelerEnlarge Comic It's a cliched campaign battle-cry that politicians, pundits and newscasters inevitably resort to when Election Day looms near: "Now, the gloves are off!" By Mike LuckovichEnlarge Comic But as the nation's editorial cartoonists ramp up to...
By Michael Cavna | October 15, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (8)
The Interview: Political Cartoonist Mike Luckovich
Mike Luckovich: "If Obama wins, he's going to be difficult. Maybe he'll have an idiot vice president." Politically speaking, this year has given much. From "Saturday Night Live" debate sketches to New Yorker magazine's controversial cover, political humorists have...
By Michael Cavna | August 8, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Interview: Political Cartoonist Signe Wilkinson
Signe Wilkinson: So why is Obama so enjoyable to caricature? "He's got great eyebrows and a great mouth and he's a lean, skinny guy. He came pre-packaged!" For Sunday's Post Style&Arts piece on political caricature, we talked shop with...
By Michael Cavna | August 7, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (2)
The Interview: Political Cartoonist Steve Breen
Steve Breen. For Sunday's Post piece on political caricature, we talked shop with STEVE BREEN, the San Diego Union-Tribune's Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist. Here's the full interview, in which Breen also shares his thoughts on his artistic idols, reader complaints,...
By Michael Cavna | August 5, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Political Cartoon: An Endangered Line of Work
First, thanks for your e-mails of appreciation for the Political Caricature article in Sunday's Washington Post. Now, as promised, we continue the conversation about political cartooning ... For many years we heard the mid-decibel buzz that newspaper political cartoonists were...
By Michael Cavna | August 4, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (6)
The Political Cartoon: When Satire Misses a Twist
In Sunday's Style&Arts section of The Washington Post, we discuss the art of the political caricature with three Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonists: Steve Breen, Signe Wilkinson and Mike Luckovich. In the course of our interviewing Luckovich, he shared his thoughts on...
By Michael Cavna | August 2, 2008; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
Garry Trudeau: The Interview
Garry Trudeau sees this as a golden time for booming satire. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) For nearly 40 years and seven White House administrations, Garry Trudeau, creator of the Pulitzer-winning comic strip "Doonesbury," has been America's foremost satirist of...
By Michael Cavna | July 15, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (13)
