Podcasts about reuben award

Imagine a cartoon opening a door to transform a challenging conversation into a productive and meaningful conversation in your team.  In this episode, we explore how listening and observation can engage humor which can shift our mindset and enhance our ability to engage with others meaningfully. Dave Coverly is the award-winning creator of the internationally syndicated cartoon Speed Bump, featured in hundreds of publications including The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and The Globe & Mail. A four-time winner of the National Cartoonists Society's “Best Newspaper Panel” award, he received their highest honor, the Reuben Award for “Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year,” in 2009. His work appears on greeting cards, in books, and across major media outlets, and he serves as the principal cartoonist for BarkBox.  Dave Coverly has authored several cartoon collections and children's books published by Macmillan namely Speed Bump: A Collection of Cartoon Skidmarks (Andrews McMeel), Cartoons for Idea People (ECW), Just One %$#@ Speed Bump After Another (ECW),  Dogs Are People, Too, and its sequel, Cats Are People, Too. And his children's picture books include Sue MacDonald Had a Book (with Jim Tobin, Macmillan), The Very Inappropriate Word (with Jim Tobin, Macmillan), and How To Care For Your T-Rex (with Ken Baker, Macmillan). His chapter book trilogy began with Night of the Living Worms, and continued with Night of the Living Shadows, and Night of the Living Zombie Bugs.   With a career spanning over 30 years, Dave has mastered the art of observational humor, using his cartoons to reflect on the human experience and the nuances of everyday life. In this conversation, Dave shares personal stories and insights that have shaped his career as a cartoonist with listening playing a core role. Not just as a skill, but as a vital part understanding human patterns and through this tapping into human connection.  We explore how humor can serve as a bridge to deeper conversations and how the act of listening can inform and inspire creativity.  Listen to the end, where David also shares how humor can help navigate serious conversations and lighten the mood. Enjoy listening in! “Listening is about connecting with people and understanding their experiences.” – Dave Coverly SUPERPOWER Notes: 00:08 – The Power of Humor. Dave discusses how humor can provide a different perspective on serious topics and enhance communication. 02:50 – Early Influences. Reflecting on his childhood experiences with his uncle and teacher that sparked his interest in listening and humor. 10:15 – The Role of Observation. Dave explains how being an observant listener informs his cartooning process and helps him create relatable content. 15:30 – The Importance of Context. Understanding how context shapes humor and the need to stay relevant in a changing world. 22:00 – Listening as a Creative Tool. How deep listening can lead to new ideas and insights in both cartooning and everyday interactions. 30:00 – The Impact of Silence. Exploring how silence can enhance the listening experience and foster deeper connections. 35:00 – Humor in Serious Situations. Dave shares how humor can help navigate serious conversations and lighten the mood. 42:00 – The Evolution of Humor. A discussion on how humor adapts to cultural changes and the importance of authenticity in comedic expression. Key Takeaways: “Doing humor is kind of that right brain, left brain thing." – Dave Coverly “Humor is a way to connect with people and share experiences.” – Dave Coverly “Listening is not just about hearing words; it's about understanding the context and emotions behind them.” – Dave Coverly "I love the idea of having a cartoon as a pause for, to take a breath or pause to reset or a pause to allow another perspective or pause to give permission to another perspective."– Dave Coverly   People Mentioned: Mike Peters - A cartoonist who provided Dave with valuable advice about humor and authenticity in cartooning. Christy Ottaviano - Dave's children's book editor, described as a legend in the industry.   Connect with Dave Coverly: https://www.speedbump.com/ https://www.instagram.com/speedbumpcomic/  

Wayno, the daily cartoonist for the Bizarro cartoon, returns to the podcast to talk about winning this year's Reuben Award for Best Panel Cartoon. We also delve into creativity, music, the Pittsburgh Steelers and scary fairy tales and nursery rhymes.You can find Wayno's Bizarro cartoons here:https://comicskingdom.com/bizarroHis Substack here:https://waynocartoons.substack.com/And the terrific Bizarro merchandise here:https://shop.comicskingdom.com/collections/bizarro-collectionWayno also joins us for the contest and favorite cartoons from the issue segment of the podcast.Winning captions for New Yorker contest #919 (Self-driving horse).Finalists for contest #921 (Cast your fate to the window seat). Current New Yorker contest #923 (Bearly-There Babydoll Teddies). The Drew Dernavich Therapist Letterpress print is available at Nesja Press:https://www.nesjapress.com/shop/p/all-caps-letterpress-art-printYou can buy original New Yorker cartoon art at Curated Cartoons:https://www.curatedcartoons.comSend us questions or comments to:  Cartooncaptioncontestpodcast@gmail.com

Attending this year's National Cartoonists Society conference and Reuben Awards has changed Dave's bucket list. He wants one of those danged trophies! (And so does Brad.) Also, after Dave looks at the analytics from his recent Kickstarter, he decides to leave Twitter and Instagram once and for all.On Today's ShowUPDATE: ComicLab stingersDave's new Bucket ListUPDATE: Dave's Kickstarter convinces him to leave both Twitter and InstagramUPDATE: Patreon's AutopilotToo many different comics?Pen name for a teacher? Taking a break to build up your bufferMade with Human Intelligence iconsArtificial IntelligenceSummaryIn this episode, Brad and Dave discuss their bucket list goals for their comics careers and the importance of leaving a legacy. Dave reveals his desire to win the Reuben Award and an Eisner, sell a book with high sales, and be invited to Angoulême or Japan as a guest. They also discuss the effectiveness of social media platforms for promoting their work. In the next half hour of the conversation, the hosts discuss Patreon's new Autopilot feature, which sends discounts to selected free members who seem likely to upgrade. They also talk about the importance of picking a lane and building a brand as a cartoonist and the benefits of using a pen name when transitioning to a new career. The hosts advise against switching between different comic genres and styles, as it can make it challenging to build an audience. They also recommend removing old comics that didn't gain traction and focusing on creating high-quality, well-branded work. The conversation explores using AI in creative work and the implications of labeling work as 'not made with AI.' The hosts discuss using pen names and the creative freedom it allows. They also touch on the challenges of typography on curved surfaces and the potential hypocrisy of artists when it comes to AI. They discuss AI's short-term and long-term impact on the creative industry.TakeawaysTechnical difficulties can be frustrating, but finding solutions and recording is essential.Having goals and aspirations in your comics career, such as winning awards or achieving high book sales, can provide motivation and a sense of accomplishment.Creators often desire to leave a legacy, which can be achieved through awards, book sales, and recognition from peers.Different social media platforms have varying levels of effectiveness for promoting comics, and it's crucial to find the ones that work best for you.Sharing your goals and aspirations with others can help hold you accountable and provide support and encouragement.Patreon's Autopilot feature sends discounts to free members who are likely to upgrade, improving the free-to-paid membership upgrade rate.Picking a lane and building a brand is vital for cartoonists to attract and retain an audience.Using a pen name can be beneficial when transitioning to a new career, such as becoming a public school teacher.Switching between different comic genres and styles can make it challenging to build an audience.Taking down old comics that didn't gain traction and focusing on creating high-quality, well-branded work can help build momentum and attract readers. Using a pen name can provide creative freedom and allow exploring different themes and styles.Typography on curved surfaces can be challenging and requires advanced skills.Artists may have hypocritical views on AI, being against its use in certain areas but accepting it in others.The short-term impact of AI in the creative industry may involve a crash-and-burn scenario due to wasted VC money, but in the long term, AI is here to stay.The ethical sourcing of AI is an essential consideration for its acceptance in creative work. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar take their podcast on the road, recording this episode live at the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego as part of the National Cartoonists Society conference and Reuben Awards celebration! They were joined on stage by Danesh Mohiuddin, Hilary B. Price, and Tauhid Bondia to discuss the pressing issues facing cartoonists in the years to come. On today's show:How are you addressing artificial intelligence?What's working on social media?What are your plans for the next five years?What does retirement look like?Danesh MohiuddinDanesh Mohiuddin is a Canadian Cartoonist from India. He grew up in Dubai on a regular dose of MAD Magazine and European comics. He now lives in Toronto and illustrates and writes children's books and graphic novels. His latest is Princess Pru and the Ogre and the Hill. Clients include Scholastic, Oxford University Press, Owl Kids, and Kids Can Press. He's also a history buff and loves traveling.Hilary B. PriceHilary Price is a cartoonist, storyteller, and speaker. Her comic strip Rhymes with Orange appears in newspapers internationally. The National Cartoonists Society has awarded her the Best Newspaper Panel Cartoon award four times, and she was just named Cartoonist of the Year in August 2024.Hilary graduated from Stanford University and, at the age of 25, became the youngest-ever female syndicated newspaper cartoonist. Aside from this year's Reuben Award, other shiny trophies include an Inkpot Award for Career Achievement from the San Diego Comic-Con International and the Elzie Segar Award from the National Cartoonists Society for making a unique and outstanding contribution to the profession of cartooning. Hilary teaches at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont and shares stories on NPR's The Moth.Tauhid BondiaTauhid Bondia is a cartoonist and illustrator from Kentucky. He has been creating comics online for 15 years, and loves drawing and telling stories as much as ever. Tauhid is the creator of the syndicated comic strip Crabgrass, which appears in about 800 newspapers across the US and Canada, as well as two books. The comic features themes of friendship and taps into a sense of childhood nostalgia that people of all ages seem to respond to. Tauhid's goal is to draw the strip for as long as he is physically able to, or as long as it continues to make people smile. Whichever comes first. He previously wrote and illustrated A Problem Like Jamal, a comic about a young brother named Jamal Marcus trying to navigate life and middle school in a modern era. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Blurb: Matt and I talk about the legacy of The Simpsons, what it means to go from super fan to icon, always knowing he wanted to draw cartoons, having kid are better than making great art, how music makes The Simpsons great, how Jay could come back to work if he came back crawling on his knees, and how Jay agreed to crawl. Bio:  Matt Groening was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 15, the third of five children.  His father, Homer, was a cartoonist and filmmaker.  From an early age, Matt created his own cartoons, amusing his friends and annoying his teachers.  Groening attended Evergreen State College in Washington State, where he studied philosophy and continued his interest in cartoons, comics and music.   After his graduation in 1977, Groening headed to Los Angeles where he struggled in immobilizing but irksome poverty.  Increasingly frustrated by the traffic, smog, and his landlords, Matt began to vent his angst to his friends by sending them cartoons starring a bug-eyed rabbit named Binky.  Groening soon began to publish and sell these cartoons at the record shop where he worked.  Their popularity encouraged Matt to syndicate, and in April 1980, Life In Hell® formally debuted in the Los Angeles Reader and ran successfully in more than 250 newspapers around the world and half-dozen languages before Groening concluded it's production in 2012.  Life in Hell® has also been collected in a best-selling series of books with over two million copies in print, including Love is Hell, Work is Hell, School is Hell, Childhood is Hell, Akbar & Jeff's Guide to Life, Greetings From Hell, The Big Book of Hell, With Love From Hell, How to Go to Hell, The Road to Hell, Binky's Guide to Love, and Love is Still Hell.  In 1987 James L. Brooks approached Matt about creating animated shorts to fit between sketches of “The Tracey Ullman Show.”  Matt agreed, but instead of using the Life in Hell® characters, he created an entirely new cast: The Simpsons, which bear the names of his family members, Homer, Marge, Lisa and Maggie (Bart is an anagram for brat). The Simpsons were soon spun off into a half-hour animated series which first aired on December 17, 1989 with a Christmas special, followed by the series premiere on January 14, 1990.  It has since gone on to become the longest running prime-time animated show in television history.  An international hit, the series has also spawned a licensing and merchandising empire.  It has spanned a hit feature film and a revolutionary virtual coaster ride at Universal Studios.  He also created the Emmy Award-winning animated series “Futurama.” As a cartoonist, Groening began his “Life in Hell” weekly comic strip series in the 1980s, and concluded it in 2012. In 1993, he formed Bongo Comics Group, and continues to serve as publisher.  Winner of multiple Emmy Awards, the prestigious Peabody Award, Annie Awards and the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, the highest honor presented by the National Cartoonist Society, he also received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2012 and was personally honored with designing five U.S. postage stamps.

After six weeks of working on their comic, a listener asks how soon they can expect to make a living doing this — and gets an earful from Brad and Dave.  Plus, Brad and Dave share more of their picks for Reuben Award nominees.In this episode, Brad and Dave discuss the importance of having realistic expectations and enjoying the creative process when making comics. They share their own experiences of how long it took them to see financial success and build an audience. They caution against starting a Patreon too soon and making decisions based solely on trying to gain more backers. They emphasize the need to focus on the love of creating and the joy of storytelling rather than solely focusing on financial success. Overall, they encourage the listener to have patience and enjoy the journey of creating comics.Also, Brad and Dave explore the potential impact of AI on search engine optimization and the web ecosystem. Next, they discuss the importance of giving artists creative freedom when commissioning art.  The conversation touches on the challenges of communication between commissioners and artists, as well as the spectrum of visual thinking. The hosts share personal anecdotes and insights, highlighting the need for clear communication and understanding between both parties involved in a commission.ON TODAY'S SHOWIt's Friday; am I famous yet?UPDATE: More Reuben picksUPDATE: Google's new AI search is gonna kill a lotta websitesCommissioning original artTAKEAWAYSBuilding an audience and achieving financial success in comics takes time, often several years.Having realistic expectations and not solely focusing on financial goals is important.Enjoying the creative process and the love of storytelling is crucial for long-term success.Starting a Patreon too soon can lead to disappointment and creative compromises.Focus on improving your craft and building a small, dedicated audience before seeking financial support.Patience and perseverance are key in the journey of creating comics. When commissioning art, it's important to find a balance between providing enough detail and allowing the artist creative freedom.Clear communication is key in ensuring that both the commissioner and the artist are on the same page.Understanding the artist's style and approach is crucial when commissioning art.The impact of AI on search engine optimization and the web ecosystem is a topic of concern and uncertainty.The spectrum of visual thinking varies among individuals, and it's important to be aware of different perspectives and preferences.  You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

How much of your work would you consider "top tier?" Fifty percent? Twenty percent? And speaking of the top tier, Brad and Dave share a partial list of people they think should be nominated for a Reuben Award this year.In this episode, Brad and Dave discuss the ratio of their work that they consider to be top-tier. They also talk about the benefits of posting comics panel by panel. Next, they share their lists of cartoonists who should be considered for the golden Reuben Award. They also touch on the ethical dilemma of selling redrawn original art and the importance of original art in the collector's market.ON TODAY'S SHOWHow much work is "top tier"?Posting panels vs pagesWho would Brad & Dave pick for the Reuben Award?Redrawing pages to sell as originals?TAKEAWAYSPickleball is a fun and inclusive game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.The ratio of top-tier work to average work varies for each cartoonist, but striving for improvement over time is important.Posting comics panel by panel is beneficial for mobile readers and helps capture new readers.The Reuben Award is a prestigious recognition in the cartooning industry. Nominations are based on the best work of the year.Sarah Anderson, the creator of Sarah's Scribbles, should be a strong contender for the Reuben Award due to her consistent and unique voice in the industry. The hosts discuss their top picks for cartoonists who should be considered for awardsThey mention Dana Simpson, Phoebe and Her Unicorn, Tauhid Bondia with Crabgrass, Asher Perlman, Darren Bell, Jonathan and Elizabeth from War & Peas, and several manga cartoonistsThey also touch on the ethical dilemma of selling redrawn original art and the importance of original art in the collector's marketCHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction and Pickleball00:06:07 Striving for Improvement in Your Work00:28:49 Nominations for the Rubin Award00:32:38 Sarah Anderson: A Strong Contender for the Reuben Award00:34:25 Top Picks for Cartoonists Who Should Be Considered for Awards00:49:36 The Ethical Dilemma of Selling Redrawn Original Art   You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Award-winning artist and illustrator Ed Steckley talks about his wide-ranging career, which has includes work for Mad Magazine and Saturday Night Live. He recently won a Reuben Award for Best in Book Illustration. We also talk about some of the ways in which the industry has dramatically changed in recent years thank to new technologies.

In today's conversation, I sit down with Amy Kurzweil, the author of the new graphic memoir, Artificial: A Love Story. Artificial: A Love Story tells the story of three generations of artists whose search for meaning and connection transcends the limits of life. The story begins with the LLM generated chatbot that Amy's father, the futurist Ray Kurzweil, created out of his father's archive, but the story doesn't start and end there. Instead, the story takes us on a journey through new questions that technologies are asking about what it means to be human.  How do we relate to—and hold—our family's past? And how is technology changing what it means to remember the past? And what does it mean to know--and to love--in the age of AI? Amy Kurzweil is a New Yorker cartoonist and the author of two graphic memoirs: Flying Couch, a NYT's Editor's Choice and Kirkus “Best Memoir” of 2016, and Artificial: A Love Story, forthcoming October 2023. She was a 2021 Berlin Prize Fellow with the American Academy in Berlin, a 2019 Shearing Fellow with the Black Mountain Institute, and she's received fellowships from MacDowell, Djerassi, and elsewhere. Her work has been nominated for a Reuben Award and an Ignatz Award for “Technofeelia,” a four-part series with The Believer Magazine. Her writing, comics, and cartoons have also been published in The Verge, The New York Times Book Review, Longreads, Literary Hub, WIRED, and many other places. She's taught writing and comics at Parsons The New School for Design, The Fashion Institute of Technology, Center for Talented Youth, Interlochen Center for the Arts, in New York City Public Schools, and in many other venues, and she currently teaches a monthly cartooning class to a growing community of virtual students all over the world.

Lynn Johnston is a Canadian cartoonist and author, best known for her newspaper comic strip For Better or For Worse. She was the first woman and first Canadian to win the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award. 

Do you love elephants? Yeah, we do too! Join Tracy as she interviews author Kim Tomsic, discussing her incredibly moving book, The Elephants Come Home. Kim Tomsic is a word wrangler, exclamation point enthusiast, and parallel parking champion who loves animals, especially her dog Sushi. Kim is the author of the Crystal Kite award-winning novel, The 11:11 Wish, followed by The 12th Candle both published by Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins. Her critically acclaimed nonfiction picture book, Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World! illustrated by Brett Helquist, was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Texas Topaz list selection, a New York Public Library Best Book of 2019, and a National Science Teachers Association Best STEM book of 2019. Her 2021 nonfiction picture book, The Elephants Come Home published by Chronicle Books and illustrated by Hadley Hooper, is a CYBILS Finalist and won the Norman A. Sugarman Biography Honor. Kirkus calls it "lovely, tender, and moving" and Horn Book Magazine says the story has "flawless, gentle pacing" and "riveting details." Kim's next novel, The Truth about 5th Grade is co-written with Reuben Award-winning cartoonist, Mark Parisi, and will be published by HarperCollins in Summer 2023.

Do you love elephants? Yeah, we do too! Join Tracy as she interviews author Kim Tomsic, discussing her incredibly moving book, The Elephants Come Home. Kim Tomsic is a word wrangler, exclamation point enthusiast, and parallel parking champion who loves animals, especially her dog Sushi. Kim is the author of the Crystal Kite award-winning novel, The 11:11 Wish, followed by The 12th Candle both published by Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins. Her critically acclaimed nonfiction picture book, Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World! illustrated by Brett Helquist, was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Texas Topaz list selection, a New York Public Library Best Book of 2019, and a National Science Teachers Association Best STEM book of 2019. Her 2021 nonfiction picture book, The Elephants Come Home published by Chronicle Books and illustrated by Hadley Hooper, is a CYBILS Finalist and won the Norman A. Sugarman Biography Honor. Kirkus calls it "lovely, tender, and moving" and Horn Book Magazine says the story has "flawless, gentle pacing" and "riveting details." Kim's next novel, The Truth about 5th Grade is co-written with Reuben Award-winning cartoonist, Mark Parisi, and will be published by HarperCollins in Summer 2023.

This episode of Talkward welcomes back cartoonist, stand-up comic, and actor Jason Chatfield! Jason is the president of The National Cartoonists Society, and a contributor in The New Yorker. We discuss cartooning, Tom Richmond, Mort Drucker, Jason's drawing diary during his bout with Covid-19 and even the Murder, She Wrote episode that uses The Reuben Award as a murder weapon!Visit Jason here: https://www.jasonchatfield.com/  http://twitter.com/jason_chatfield  http://instagram.com/jasonchatfield  http://www.facebook.com/jasonchatfieldcartoonist

Calvin e Haroldo (“Calvin and Hobbes” no original) é uma série de histórias em quadrinhos criada, escrita e ilustrada pelo autor norte-americano Bill Watterson, publicada pela primeira vez em 18 de novembro de 1985 e reeditada em mais de dois mil jornais do mundo inteiro até 31 de dezembro de 1995. Ganhou, em 1986 e 1988, o Reuben Award, da Associação Nacional de Cartunistas dos Estados Unidos, sendo que o primeiro marcou Watterson como o cartunista mais jovem a ganhar este prêmio. Quer continuar acessando o conteúdo do Opera Mundi? Acesse: www.operamundi.com.br/apoio★ Support this podcast ★

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have  Dylan Meconis on the show. Dylan is a cartoonist, writer, and illustrator. While she has pursued visual art since she could hold a crayon steady, her formal education has been concentrated in the liberal arts. She studied Western history, literature, philosophy, and French in the College of Letters at Wesleyan University, where she soaked up in-demand, market-ready skills like reading Chaucer in the original Middle English. (She has no regrets.) Her comparatively practical career as a professional comics artist actually began in college with the online publication of her first book, Bite Me!. She also spent several years daylighting as a visual communications consultant and designer, before she transitioned to work as a full-time comic book creator and freelance designer. In 2012 her short story “Outfoxed” was nominated for an Eisner Award in the category of Best Digital Comic, and in 2014 Family Man was nominated for a Reuben Award in the category of Best Digital Comic–Longform. Her latest project is the middle-grade graphic novel Queen of the Sea, and is now available. So listen in as Dylan and I chat about this amazing book and how to craft a story in multiple art forms. In this episode Dylan and I discuss: How to bring the day to day life of a historical setting to the page. Comic scripts, what they are and how to use them the right way. Constructing a story both visually and textually without confusing your readers. How the layout of each page determines pacing in a graphic novel. Privileging the story’s tone over a single visual style. Plus, Dylan’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/258

Mad Magazine artist and Reuben Award-winning illustrator Ed Steckley joins me on this episode of the Cartoon Dumpling Podcast. Ed is an ultra-talented caricature artist and illustrator. You'll learn how he started his career, what his studio is like, and where his favorite dumplings are served. Ed is a helluva guy and I had a blast chatting with him. Enjoy!

Today's Guest: Sergio Aragones, legendary MAD magazine cartoonist, creator, "Groo" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of MAD cartoonist Sergio Aragones fans dressed up for Halloween as Groo the Wanderer… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida!  Order MAD’s Greatest Artists: Sergio Aragones: Five Decades of His Finest Works by clicking the book cover above! (2010) My first issue of MAD magazine was purchased near the checkout counter at a Stop & Shop supermarket in my hometown of North Brunswick, New Jersey, in July 1970. I’ll never forget the cover: a parody of the summer’s big hit, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, featuring a couple of actors named Redford & Newman. I no longer have it, but I suspect that that was my first exposure to legendary artist Sergio Aragones. SERGIO ARAGONES audio excerpt: "I did about 20 Pocket Books for MAD with new material. The characters are what sell the book. I thought, 'Why not draw myself on every cover? That way they know it's my book.' So I became a comic book character." Sergio has been producing illustrated gags for MAD since 1963 and for many fans, his work and the humor mag’s name are forever entwined. He has been one of the Usual Gang of Idiots for longer than I’ve been able to spell “ee-diots.” This month, Sergio — who has already won the National Cartoonist Society’s top honor, the Reuben Award, as well as the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award and the Comic Art Professional Society’s Sergio Award, named after, um… him — is being recognized in a different way with a book retrospective. MAD’s Greatest Artists: Sergio Aragones: Five Decades of His Finest Works, is an oversized coffee table collectible that reproduces some of his finest, crazy material in a hardcover format that will no doubt outlast us all. It is a great honor to have him as a guest today. Sergio Aragones Website • Groo • Facebook • Order MAD’s Greatest Artists: Sergio Aragones: Five Decades of His Finest Works Order 'Sergio Aragones Funnies,' named by the National Cartoonists Society the Best Comic Book of 2013, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the comic book cover above! Order 'Sergio Aragones' Groo: Library,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!   Order 'Will Eisner: A Spirited Life' (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!  

Tom Richmond is a cartoonist, illustrator, and caricaturist. He is a featured artist on Mad Magazine, the president of the National Cartoonist Society and the 2011 winner of the Reuben Award!

Lynn Johnston, a Canadian cartoonist, is best known for her newspaper comic strip For Better or For Worse. She was the first woman and first Canadian to win the National Cartoonist Society’s Reuben Award, and has been nominated for a Pulitzer. She joined Jonathon to discuss the world of cartooning, writing, and storytelling.

Cartoonist Richard Thompson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival. Speaker Biography: The most recent Reuben Award, cartooning's equivalent of the Oscar, went to Richard Thompson, creator of "Cul de Sac," a strip born in The Washington Post seven years ago featuring the Otterloop family. Thompson also draws the "Richard's Poor Almanac" cartoon, and his new book is "Shapes & Colors: A Cul de Sac Collection" (Andrews McMeel Publishing). Bill Watterson, creator of the much-missed and still-beloved strip "Calvin and Hobbes," says of "Cul de Sac": "The strip has a unique and honest voice, a seemingly intuitive feel for what comics do best ... a very funny intelligence. ... It's a wonderful surprise to see that this level of talent is still out there, and that a strip like this is still possible." For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5405.