New Prickly City Mayor – Scott Stantis Out, Marshall Ramsey In
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This week saw Marshall Ramsey officially take on the writing chores of the Prickly City comic strip.
From Prickly City creator Scott Stantis:
The extremely talented and very nice Marshall Ramsey, the two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, is taking over Prickly City.
It has been a grand 22 years, and I know I am leaving Carmen and Winslow in very good hands. I know you will think so also.
From new Prickly City writer Marshall Ramsey:
Today is the day I officially take over Pricky City from its creator, @scottstantis. I am so grateful he has entrusted me with the care and feeding of Carmen and Winslow. I’ve been writing the strip the last couple of months and it has been a joy. When he first approached me, I thought, “I can’t do that.” And then I remembered I have written over 10,000 cartoons over the last 40 years. Today’s cartoon, which I wrote a couple of weeks ago, was just a reminder to myself (and everyone) that we can find victories in the darkest hour. That’s exactly how Carmen and Winslow see the world. And that’s why I love them so much.
Rachel DeSchepper at the GoComics blog gets behind the scene of Scott retiring from the strip.
Fans of “Prickly City” will notice a new name starting today: two-time Pulitzer finalist, author, speaker, and syndicated editorial cartoonist Marshall Ramsey is taking over writing dailies for founding creator Scott Stantis. Starting July 5, he’ll pen Sundays, too.
Likely unnoticed by fans, Ramsey has been covertly writing the dailies for about two months now, testing the waters before making the official switch. (Eric Allie took over drawing from Stantis years back, and that arrangement will continue with Ramsey.)
[Marshall] says. “Carmen and Winslow will still be Carmen and Winslow. I’ll be faithful to who they are. But the strip will continue to grow—as every good comic strip should.”
Ramsey also has a lifeline should he need it. “I still can call Scott and ask him lots of questions. If I want to know more about how they came to see the world how they do, for example. I’ll have to give Scott a call.”
A few thoughts…
Scott has apparently turned over the copyright of the new strips to Marshall (see the side credit) or does United Feature Syndicate hold the copyright?
Politics will remain a part of the comic strip, probably continuing the attitude ill-disposed toward Trump.
I’m a bit upset that all involved didn’t take this opportunity to add cartoonist Eric Allie’s signature to the strip, though maybe he doesn’t want his name on a Never-Trump comic.
My best guess at the credits…
Prickly City (July 11, 2004 – present)
Universal Press Syndicate to 2009
United Feature Syndicate 2009-2011
UFS/UPS/AMS 2011-present
Scott Stantis creator
writer until ca. April 2026 (signed until May 31, 2026)
Sunday cartoonist until February 23, 2009 (?)
daily cartoonist until Winter (January?), 2010
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