Bob Eckstein is a prolific cartoonist, illustrator, best-selling author, and humorist who has been contributing to The New Yorker since 2007. He can put a hilarious spin on almost any serious social or political issue.
But his latest book, Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums: Stories and Memorable Moments from People Who Love Museums (Princeton Architectural Press, 2024), has earned him another descriptor: museum enthusiast and advocate.
For Robes Irene S. Levine interviews Bob Eckstein.
Aside from the whimsical artwork showcased in the new book, are museums inherently funny?
BE: Museums are like human beings. Each has its own personality. To survive, they have to be organic—evolving and changing to stay interesting and relevant.
So with that context, there are times when a museum can be whimsical to become more attractive or entertaining. Some museums are not funny at all (e.g., the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles).
**********
Bill Watterson famously hates merchandising. But you may be surprised to learn he has a more nuanced take on those rip-off bumper stickers where Calvin pisses on various things.
Cracked explains 5 WTF Facts About Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes.
Hobbes Is Literally a Schrödinger’s Cat
The Strip Owes Its Existence to an 8-Year-Old Nepo Baby
Calvin and Hobbes Is Technically a Spin-Off
Watterson Was the Center of Some Major Beef in the Comic Community
Watterson Actually Kind of Likes Those Calvin-Pissing-on-Stuff Stickers
**********
It all started with a simple T-shirt brand. From there, Guillermo crafted the beloved Willy Black comic strip, transforming basic logos into complex, character-driven stories. Discover how Guillermo’s character designs have evolved, providing a captivating look into the creative processes that breathe life into comics.
Comics Kingdom throws its spotlight on Guillermo Saldana, cartoonist of Willy Black and Palurdeando.
**********
Okay we came in late with this one – Brewster Rockit, Space Guy is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week.
But Tim Rickard also came in late as his comic strip debuted on July 5, 2004.
**********
Tjv: Can cartoons and comics really be effective in fighting something as serious as anti-Senitism or racism?
Yoe: Many people respond more strongly to visuals than to the printed word. A skilled editorial cartoonist can sometimes pierce a racist myth or ridicule a bigot in a more memorable way than a book or an op-ed.
The Jewish Voice interviews Rafael Madoff and Craig Yoe, authors of Cartoonists Against Racism.
**********
Walt Handelsman is on vacation. Here’s one of our favorites from the past.
An editorial cartoonist takes his vacation during election season?
Couldn’t he put it off until such time as there are no election campaigns?
Oh wait, this is the U.S. – there is no off season for politicians running for office.
**********
Newspaper comics aren’t only a source of laughter in and of themselves. Joking about them can be pretty funny, too.
Or so Josh Frulhinger proves most every day on his Comics Curmudgeon blog (joshreads.com). Fruhlinger regularly snarks on a half-dozen of the funnies carried in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; and he is approaching his 20th anniversary.
Not a big fan of snarking, but the 20th anniversary of the Comics Curmudgeon (July 11, 2004) deserves mention. While we missed it, just as we did Brewster Rockit’s 20th, Jamie Lee Rake at Shepherd Express got hold of the famous blogster to talk about his success with How Comics Curmudgeon Funnies the Funnies.
“Some years ago a package arrived in the mail addressed to me with (Worth writer) Karen Moy’s return address on it—I do not know how she got my address—containing some Mary Worth-themed t-shirts and a lovely note; obviously I posted the pics and told people where to buy them, which was no doubt their intention,” Fruhlinger recalls. As to the appeal of Moy’s and artist June Brigman’s serial strip, he explains, “Mary is just the archetypical example of a soap opera comic strip. The writing manages to seem unironic, even though Moy and Brigman are actually very engaged in online commentary on the official King site. We have not really interacted much but they’re aware of me and I think their attitude is friendly.”
**********
I finally, finally redesigned my website margreetdeheer.com!
Three years ago, I half-heartedly made a WordPress site (after clinging to HTML for decades) and got so annoyed with all the confusing WP stuff that I never properly finished it.
There’s another reason I didn’t, which only dawned on me now:
I want my site to give off just the right feel of what kind of a comic artist I am, and present myself with the right focus on who I am.
For years, I did not have that focus.
Cartoonist Margreet de Heer informs us via her Substack that she has done some remodeling at her website.
Which gives us an excuse to repost a link to our Support Your Local (or Distant) Cartoonist list.
Margreet being the newest entry there.
