Bruce MacKinnon wins National Newspaper Award 2023

From the NNA Twitter account.

Bruce MacKinnon of the Halifax Chronicle Herald is the winner in the Editorial Cartooning category at the 75th edition of the National Newspaper Awards for a record ninth time.

Brian Gable of The Globe and Mail  and Michael de Adder (Halifax Chronicle Herald / Hill Times) were the finalists.

Gerhard Gepp 1940-2024

Austrian cartoonist and painter Gerhard Gepp died in Tulln an der Donau on 26 March 2024, at the age of 83.

Gepp was born in 1940 on the western edge of Vienna in Pressbaum where he lived and worked until his death.

Iran Alert – Atena Farghadani

From Cartooning for Peace.

The non-governmental organisation HRANA published an article drawing attention to the situation of the Iranian press cartoonist and former political prisoner Atena Farghadani. 

Arrested on April 13th and detained in Qarchak prison, she was clearly ill-treated during her arrest. 

She was allegedly arrested for trying to display one of her drawings on the wall of Avenue Pastor, where the presidential palace is located. The criminal charges against her have yet to be confirmed.

World Press Photo 2024 (Global Winners)

From World Press Photo 2024.

A Palestinian Woman Embraces the Body of Her Niece, Mohammed Salem, Reuters

Inas Abu Maamar cradles the body of her 5 year old niece Saly who was killed, along with her mother
and sister, when an Israeli missile struck their home, in Khan Younis, Gaza.

The photographer was at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on October 17 when he saw Inas Abu Maamar, 36, in tears, holding the little girl's body wrapped in a white cloth in his arms at the morgue.

The photo was taken 10 days after the start of the conflict, sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel.

The Zehra Ömeroğlu trial is postponed

 

The trial for "obscenity brought against cartoonist Zehra Ömeroğlu  for a drawing published in Leman which deals with the effects of Covid, could not be heard because the Istanbul Criminal Court judge of First Instance was excused.

The trial in which the illustrator risks a prison sentence is postponed until September 26.

Steve Brodner Wins Herblock Prize

From The Herblock Foundation.

Steve Brodner, Under Trump’s Comb-Over (2015).

Steve Brodner has been named the winner of the 2024 Herblock Prize for editorial cartooning. 

He has been a leading satiric artist for the last 40 years. His goal during this time was to find an outlet for various forms of political and social commentary in the world of independent, freelance art. 

Trina Robbins 1938-2024

From Bleeding Cool.

Trina Robbins at WonderCon 2023, photo by Gage Skidmore 

Comic book writer, artist, editor, publisher and historian Trina Robbins suffered a stroke at the end of February this year and died early Wednesday at the age of 85. 

She is also survived by her daughter Casey Robbins and her partner and fellow comics artist, Steve Leialoha.

Known for works like Vampirella & Wonder Woman, and a feminist comics historian, Robbins had a versatile career from clothing design to creating pro-choice comics.

She leaves a significant legacy in comics, fashion, music, and women's rights activism.

Nominees of the 20th Doug Wright Awards

From Doug Wright Awards.

Here is the list of nominees for the 20th annual Doug Wright Awards which will be presented at the Arts & Letters Club in Toronto on Saturday May 11, 2924.

World Press Photo 2024 (Regional Winners)

From World Press Photo.

Saving the Monarchs, Jaime Tojo, 2024 Photo Contest, North and Central America, Stories

Please find above a link to the 2024 World Press Photo regional winners.

Graeme Mackay meets pushback for an editorial cartoon

From Graeme Mackay's website. 

I was met with push back after my March 20 editorial cartoon depicting Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin engaged in military offensives against innocent civilians juxtaposed with Justin Trudeau announcing Canada’s decision to halting arms sales to Israel.

My mission as an editorial cartoonist includes observing Canada’s place in global affairs, and the vote by Parliament to suspend arms shipments to the Netanyahu government was significant and warranted reaction. 

While the cartoon may appear provocative to some, its intention is clear: to comment on current events and political decisions in a satirical manner.

Don Wright 1934-2024

From Wikipedia.

Long time Miami News and Palm Beach Post editorial cartoonist Don Wright passed away at 90 in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 24.

Don Conway Wright was born on January 23, 1934 in Los Angeles, California and was the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, having received one in 1966 and a second in 1980.

Cartoonist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo threatened

From Cartooning for Peace. 

Ugandan cartoonist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, member of the Cartooning for Peace network, has received death threats after launching an anti-corruption campaign on X (formerly Twitter) calling Parliament to account. 

This is not the first time that Spire has highlighted dysfunctions in his country through social media campaigns that have earned him threats. 

But this time, Spire’s fears seem to have gone up a notch. He said that Parliament had requested access to his communications data from the Ugandan Communications Commission.

2024 Kesterton Lecture with Michael de Adder

From YouTube.

UDATE

Comics DC transcribes the part of Michael de Adder‘s lecture that involves his parting from The Washington Post:

The Association of Canadian Cartoonists defends Serge Chapleau

Nosfenyahou on his way to Rafah

In the last 24 hours that our colleague at La Presse in Montreal, Serge Chapleau, has been accused of antisemitism due to his latest cartoon of Benjamin Netanyahu.

The following is an excerpt from the CBC:

The 2024 Herblock Prize

From the Herblock Foundation.

Steve Brodner has been named the winner of the 2024 Herblock Prize for editorial cartooning. 

Steve Brodner has been a leading satiric artist for the last 40 years. 

His goal during this time was to find an outlet for various forms of political and social commentary in the world of independent, freelance art.

Dust-up among Canadian cartoonists

Mike Peterson from The Daily Cartoonist.

A bit of a dust-up among Canadian cartoonists, after Dave Whamond’s commentary on the bloodbath controversy drew a slap-down from the mysterious “Rivers” who is permitted to distribute his cartoons through Cagle without signing his real name or explaining his exemption.

National Newspaper Awards 2023 Nominations

The Canadian Daily Newspaper Association announced today the finalists of the 75th National Newspaper Awards.

Cartoonist Zehra Ömeroğlu risks imprisonment over pandemic cartoon

From Cartoonists Rights.

Sex and the pandemic… “At least I didn’t lose my taste and smell…”

Under the auspices of Türkiye’s Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, the Directorate of Child Services convenes a Board for the Protection of Minors from Obscene Publications. 

On March 8th, 2024, the board returned a report to the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, having at the judge’s request reviewed a cartoon by Zehra Ömeroğlu that appeared in the pages of LeMan humour magazine on November 25th, 2020.

Saltwire files for bankruptcy protection

From The Daily Cartoonist. 

A private equity fund is initiating insolvency proceedings against Atlantic newspaper owner SaltWire Network Inc., claiming it owes tens of millions of dollars after several years of mismanagement.

The SaltWire Network‘s major daily newspapers are The Chronicle Herald (Halifax), the Cape Breton Post, The Telegram (St. Johns) and The Guardian (Charlottetown).

Bruce MacKinnon and freelancer Michael de Adder are the main editorial cartoonists who could be affected by the newspaper group’s troubles.

A review of Angouleme '24

Dean Simons in Comics Beat.

If there is one thing you can guarantee about the Angoulême International Comics Festival, it’s that you will seldom have enough time to catch your breath – and that remained true for 2024. 

While comparatively quieter than the intense record-breaking crowds of the 50th-anniversary extravaganza last year, some 200,000 people still made their way to the self-proclaimed French capital of comics. 

As always, there were plentiful exhibitions, publishers, creators, and books to catch your eye and empty your wallet.

Basil Wolverton Collection donated to The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum

From The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.

Monte Wolverton has donated a significant collection of his cartoonist father Basil Wolverton’s archives, ephemera, and some original art to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.

The "phony" in Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s ad

From The Guardian.

A ‘poorly considered’ use of AI has resulted in a perplexing number of fingers – and a large amount of mockery.

The couple’s tangled fingers are both too large and too many; there’s a strange sheen making them look more like wax dolls; and then there’s the clothes: she in a tulle gown encrusted with jewels, he in a tuxedo – and, simultaneously, a tulle gown encrusted with jewels. 

Also: she has a large cube on her lap.

It was apparently created by someone who has never seen an orchestra play, and imagines it as rows of violinists seated in the audience, many playing with three hands or one hand or no hands at all.

Mr. Fish accused of antisemitism

The denunciation of cartoons by Dwayne Booth aka Mr. Fish by a DC based  blog and the leveling of accusations of antisemitism has led to safety measures at the University of Pennsylvania where he is an adjunct lecturer.

As the conflict in Gaza continues, reports of both antisemitic and Islamophobic racism are spiking all over the world. 

24th World Press Freedom Canada International Editorial Cartoon Competition

The theme of the 24th International Editorial Cartoon Competition is:

Artificial Intelligence: yes or no?

Some believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will solve all our problems while it inspires apocalyptic talk in others.

AI can help journalists gather information, but “deep fakes” and voice simulators capable of generating believable audio segments, can sow doubt about the authenticity of content and put democracy at risk.

On the other hand, some politicians brandish the term “fake news” to denounce opposing opinions or deny reality.

Finally, using AI to generate illustrations on demand robs artists of their work and infringes on their copyright.

Fortunately, AI  hasn’t yet figured the number of fingers on one hand.

Harvard Faculty & Staff reposts antisemitic cartoon

From The Washington Post.

Harvard University is again embroiled in a controversy over antisemitism on campus, after student groups and a faculty group shared an antisemitic cartoon.

In a statement late Tuesday, Harvard interim president Alan M. Garber condemned the cartoon, calling it “flagrantly antisemitic,” after it was shared on social media by two student groups — the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and the African American Resistance Organization — and reposted by Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine.

Jack Higgins 1954-2024

From The Chicago Sun-Times. 

Jack Higgins, Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Sun-Times editorial cartoonist died February 10 after a long illness.  He was 69.

"Cartoons do ano 2023" in Xira

From Víctor Vélez Chubasco's Facebook page.

Vila Franca de Xira presents, from February 24 to May 5, CartoonXira curated by António Antunes, at Celeiro da Patriarcal.

It features the work of cartoonists António. Carrilho, Cristina, Fazenda, Garcia, Gargalo, Maia, Monteiro, Rodrigo, Salgado, Saraiva and Silva.

Also presented, Imaginary horizons, a solo exhibition by Chubasco.

de Adder Toast at the Post

From The Daily Cartoonist.

It has been nearly a month since Michael de Adder‘s last weekly cartoon for The Washington Post.

Three years ago Michael, after freelancing for the paper, was signed as a contract cartoonist to The Washington Post and charged with supplying three cartoons a week.

Peru: cartoonist Carlín intimidated by police

From Cartooning for Peace.

"Learn to tell them apart (Don’t get confused)"

From left to right: "Delinquent in a policeman’s suit", "Delinquent policeman ", 

"Policeman doing his duty".

In a statement on January 30, 2024, the Peruvian National Police (PNP) announced that it would be taking legal action against cartoonist Carlín and his newspaper La República over the above cartoon.

Posy Simmonds wins the Grand Prix in Angouleme

From Heidi MacDonald at Comics Beat. 

British cartoonist Posy Simmonds has won Angouleme’s Grand Prix, considered one of the highest honors in comics worldwide.

Simmonds won over the other finalists Daniel Clowes and Catherine Meurisse, and the award, presented for a lifetime body of work, is certainly richly deserved. 

"Quentin Blake: Book Covers" Exhibition

From the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.

Quentin Blake has been illustrating books for over 50 years. While he is best known for his illustrations for children’s books, his career began with covers for magazines and adult fiction.

Drawn & Quarterly in Angoulême

Fom Drawn & Quarterly. 

Drawn & Quarterly attends the 51st annual Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême as part of a special focus on Canadian comics.

Attending will be Executive Editor Tom Devlin and Editorial Assistant Francine Yulo. 

Drop by the D+Q booth at the Canada Pavilion to browse our books and sneak a peek at our foreign rights front list. 

An exhibit of Canadian comics entitled “D’un océan à l’autre, cap sur la bande dessinée canadienne” will also be on view at the Parvis de l’Hotel de Ville.

"Art Deco: Commercializing the Avant-Garde" Exhibition

From The Poster House. 

Paul Colin (1892-1985), Collection of William W. Crouse

Art Deco: Commercializing the Avant-Garde

Sep 28, 2023–Feb 25, 2024

Poster House

119 W. 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011

Meurisse, Simmonds & Clowes shortlisted for Angoulême Grand Prix

From Paul Gravett's Facebook page.

Catherine Meurisse, Posy Simmonds and Daniel Clowes are the three nominees, voted for by the profession, for the prestigious Grand Prix of the 51st Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d'Angoulême. 

The second round (from Friday January 12 to Wednesday January 17), will now invite the same college of authors to elect the winner from among these three nominees. 

At the end of this entire electoral process - carried out entirely under the supervision of a bailiff - the name of the 2024 Grand Prix will be announced on Wednesday January 24, during the Official Opening of the Festival.

Arizona Editorial Cartoonist Steve Benson Retires

From The Daily Cartoonist. 

After almost 45 year years of editorial cartooning Steve Benson is retiring.

I wish I'd drawn... (70)

... this cartoon by Jack Ohman.

UPDATE

Buffalo News Apologizes for Zyglis Cartoon

From The Daily Cartoonist. 

After catching some grief over this Adam Zyglis cartoon two week’s ago and calling for letters of comment that were published in the Sunday December 31, 2023 edition, today The Buffalo News apologized for running the cartoon.

Brian McConnachie 1942-2024

From Patreon.

It's with great sadness that I must announce the death of friend and colleague Brian McConnachie last Friday morning. 

In addition to being the Founder of The Bystander back in 1981, Brian was essential in its relaunch in 2015. 

Every day, on every page, he has been our North Star.

Mickey Mouse and the Public Domain

From Dave Alvarez Studios.

First of all, let me assure you that Disney has the Mouse very well protected and that their lawyers are sitting there, quietly waiting for someone to get out of line.

A gray line situation perhaps.

Clay Bennett: 2023 in Cartoons

From the Times Free Press.