Category: <span>In the Biz</span>

By

A plethora of editors speak their minds.

This week from my editors:

  • One editor was very apologetic to say that her paper was cutting back, and so they couldn’t use my cartoon for a while. (However, since I’m the only cartoon in there, and we have a really good rapport, I think she’ll be back.)
  • One editor never let me know about the batch of cartoons I emailed last month. I even called about them. Finally, I emailed to ask again about them, and she said, “we rejected those weeks ago, Donna! I hope we can get your work back on track soon.” That’s chutzpah! A rejection, an insult, and a lie, all in one email! She has lied at least twice more this year about emails – never letting me know the verdict, so I don’t send any more, since I’m waiting to hear. What can you do about a liar? Truly, I understand when editors don’t like my work – fine, screw ’em. But this is more passive-aggressive. Please, people, don’t fold on that important contract!!
  • I have an interesting, different kind of contract sitting on my desk, but haven’t made any progress in getting changes I want (need).
  • An art director for a law magazine said my work looks great!
Read MoreA plethora of editors speak their minds.

In the Biz

editors

Comments closed

By

How many minority and women cartoonists are in the LA Times?

I wrote the post below last February in my Griffith Park Blog. It’s a popular post, so I thought cartoon people would like to take a look at it, too.

I just couldn’t believe this article in the LA Times and many other papers today.

But for one day.? this Sunday, nearly a dozen cartoonists of color will be drawing essentially the same comic strip, using irony to literally illustrate that point. In each strip, the artists will portray a white reader grousing about a minority-drawn strip, complaining that it’s a Boondocks rip-off and blaming it on tokenism. “It’s the one-minority rule,” says Lalo Alcaraz (La Cucaracha). “We’ve got one black guy and we’ve got one Latino. There’s not room for anything else.”

Blondie comic book cover
Let’s respect syndicates like King Features for not allowing registered and copyrighted characters and cartoons to be uploaded, I really do, but it makes my life as a comic reporter much harder. However, came across this blogger who has some very cool comic book covers for you to ogle and enjoy. Blondie is written and drawn by two very feminine men, I assume.

Read MoreHow many minority and women cartoonists are in the LA Times?

In the Biz The Others

others strips syndicated cartoons

4 Comments

By

How to use pop culture to influence your editor.

In the Biz

negotiate

4 Comments

By

Break up cartoon with alimony.

Divorce cartoon
“I just told him to pack his bags, get out, and send me large checks.”

Of course, this is a New Yorker cartoon, or SHOULD be a New Yorker one. Tell it to Mankoff. This is for the Illustration Friday topic of PACKED.

I guess divorce isn’t very funny, is it? Probably why I don’t have many divorce cartoons. I was trying to take a different tangent on love gone wrong — and she may be just posturing here. You know she’s spoiled, and used to being taken care of. Rich b.i.t.c.h. thinks the world is her oyster. And it is!

The colors in this cartoon are spring, Easter colors. I decided to go the opposite way of the subject matter. I’m always trying out different color combinations, and it can be a struggle. I didn’t go to art school – which is true of most cartoonists – okay, cartoonists who write their own material.? (We’re writers, first!) I keep thinking that art school would have revealed the mystery of color.

Read MoreBreak up cartoon with alimony.

In the Biz New Yorker cartoons

cartoon color illustration friday womens

3 Comments

By

I lost a big sale today.

I talked in the post below about re-using cartoons. It’s like a kiss, really. You don’t call a second kiss, “re-using it”, do you? A good kiss is just as…

Read MoreI lost a big sale today.

In the Biz

second rights

4 Comments

By

Who’s afraid of the big bad editor?*

In the Biz

cartoon editors girly

Comments closed

By

I’m mad at (or about) Comic-Con.

I think I’ve been to Comic-Con three times. It’s always a blast, and exciting and exhausting. I’d never gone alone before, though, so I was a little nervous.

Keith Robinson Comic-Con 2008
Keith Robinson, showing off all his worldly goods, including Making It books.

First I tried to register as Professional, or Press. Annoyance #1.

“Yeah, really great, YAWN, but give us some proof. Send it to us on a piece of paper. Hardcopy is about our speed. We don’t understand websites or blogs too well…Who are you again?”

The talented Dan Piraro signs Bizarro books. (Dan is a fellow cartoonist with me in Parade, so I have to say something nice about him.)

I thought the hard part was going to be the long drive down there – I’ve never driven that far by myself. But then I tried to get a hotel room… Most hotels there are kind of crappy, but that’s all part of the adventure, and San Diego has a very convenient shuttle that goes from most hotels to the convention center, so you don’t have to deal with parking.

Keith waylays a lady
Her bottom cartoon gave Keith an idea. Below.

I called in early June. Turns out if I didn’t call within the first few minutes of the first day reservations opened- in February- you’re screwed.

Read MoreI’m mad at (or about) Comic-Con.

In the Biz

Comic-Con

Comments closed