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My Newsletter to Our Cartoonists

Today I thought I would share today’s email newsletter that I sent to our cartoonists. Every week I send them a graph of the most reprinted cartoons of the week, and news about their royalty payments and other syndicate stuff that only cartoonists should be worried about.  –Daryl

Hi Cartoonists,

Payments
The last royalty payments to the USA cartoonists went in the mail on December 31st; you should be receiving them now. Payments for the 4th quarter of 2024 will go out to the international cartoonists soon. We’ll do the 1099s in about two weeks.

New Podcast: Most Popular/Most Reprinted Cartoons of 2024
Our new podcast is a master class in what editors want. I discuss the 35 most reprinted cartoons of the year with our two cartoonists who dominated reprints in syndication last year, Jeff Koterba and Chris Weyant. See it here: https://youtu.be/SZ42XoU6eUQ

Supply isn’t a good match for demand in editorial cartoons. Think of our syndicate like a store that contains thousands of products for sale, of which almost all the customers select only the same twenty products to buy. This podcast isn’t a judgement on which cartoons are good; it is only a judgement on which cartoons the editors wanted.

You’ll notice some commonalities in the cartoons that the demand side is looking for – funny cartoons that everyone can agree with that express commonly and widely held feelings about the news. Notice that there are no cartoons depicting Trump in the top 35, and no cartoons about news from outside the USA, aside from the Olympics and a couple of space aliens. Both conservative and liberal editors tend to select the same cartoons these days.

Congratulations to Jeff and Chris for their outstanding performance with editors last year. And congrats to the other cartoonists who drew their way into the most popular 35 cartoons last year, Dave Whamond, John Darkow, Rick McKee, Bob Englehart, Gary McCoy, Dave Granlund, RJ Matson, Adam Zyglis, Randy Enos and Guy Parsons. These cartoonists perform well with editors consistently.

The Top Twenty Cartoons of Last Week
Congratulations to Dave Whamond for a commanding performance last week – with the top cartoon and three in the Top Ten! (Enter the image number into the SEARCH on CagleCartoons.com to see each cartoon image.)

Here is Dave’s #1 cartoon of the last week:

And here is Chris Weyant’s #1 cartoon of 2024:

Thanks, everyone!

Daryl

 

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New Cartoons Slideshow

I tried a new format for our cartoons – a slideshow of the past, best 35 cartoons on YouTube; take a look at: https://youtu.be/IjfJTXdZ5F4?si=V4qxArlwUmZ6A5dQ 

Readers tell me that it goes too fast and I should slow it down so there is more time to study each cartoon without pausing.  OK.  Next time.  Here are three cartoons from this nice slideshow that made me laugh.
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Droning on: Top ten cartoons of the week and CHRISTMAS

For the past few weeks, mysterious drones flying over New Jersey have raised a lot of questions that remain largely unanswered by the government.

Authorities have said there’s nothing to worry about, and that a majority of the drone sightings are actually planes and passenger jets. Yet this week, the FAA temporarily banned drone flights over 20 locations in New Jersey “out of an abundance of caution.”

Not surprisingly, our cartoonists were fixated on the drone story, using the timing of Christmas to point their fingers at Santa. I liked Rick McKee’s cartoon, which features three wise men and a drone stand-in for the North Star.

McKee also had our most-reprinted cartoon of the week, but it didn’t have anything to do with drones – it shows Santa being confronted by a kid with an empty stocking. Just wait until Trump’s tariffs kick in.

Here are our top ten most reprinted cartoons of the week:

#1. Rick McKee

See the BEST Christmas Cartoons from the BEST Christmas Political Cartoonist, the BRILLIANT RICK McKEE! Don’t miss a single Yuletide CLASSIC TOON!

#2. John Darkow

#3. Dave Granlund

#4. Gary McCoy

#5. Dave Whamond

#6. Dave Whamond

#7. Rick McKee

#8. Dave Granlund

#9. Bill Day

#10. Dave Whamond

See the BEST Christmas Cartoons from the BEST Christmas Political Cartoonist, the BRILLIANT RICK McKEE! Don’t miss a single Yuletide CLASSIC TOON!

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Thanksgiving Wrap-up – Top 10 Cartoons

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the least surprising development was the popularity of our turkey day cartoons.

Some cartoonists hate drawing holiday cartoons, but editors and readers clearly love them. Especially in a year where sweeping political change is heading towards Washington.

Rick McKee won the holiday, penning our three most popular cartoons of the week. Turns out lots of people were worried about politics ruining their feasts.

I also enjoyed Dave Granlund’s cartoon comparing the crowded conditions on the Mayflower with the congested roads of Thanksgiving today.

Here are our top ten most reprinted cartoons of the week:

#1. Rick McKee

And don’t miss our new video podcast on YouTube about brave world cartoonists who face years in prison to chill their cartoons!  Could America’s cartoonists be headed toward this fate?

#2. Rick McKee

#3. Rick McKee

#4. Dave Granlund

#5. Bill Day

#6. Randall Enos

#7. Bob Englehart

#8. Gary McCoy

#9. Monte Wolverton

#10. Bill Day

And don’t miss this important Caglecast!

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Trump’s chaos: Top ten cartoons of the week

Remember the chaos of Donald Trump’s first four years in office? Well, it’s back with a vengeance thanks to some off-the-wall cabinet nominees, including former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was forced to withdraw from becoming Trump’s attorney general.

Chris Weyant hit the nail on the head with his popular cartoon about a family wanting to hibernate for the next four years. I also laughed at R.J. Matson’s cartoon, which features two honest politicians wondering how to get ahead in Trump’s Washington.

But out most-reprinted cartoon this week, which came from Randall Enos, had nothing to do with Trump or Washington, D.C.. Turns out we could all use a little distraction from politics.

Here are our top ten most reprinted cartoons of the week:

#1. Randall Enos

And don’t miss our new video podcast on YouTube about Trump’s failed Attorney General Nominee, Matt Gaetz, who is one of our favorite cartoon characters!

#2. Chris Weyant

#3. R.J. Matson

#4. Bob Englehart

#5. Bob Englehart

#6. John Darkow

#7. Bob Englehart

#8. Gary McCoy

#9. Monte Wolverton

#10. Gary McCoy

–

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Top Ten Cartoons – Trump Shake Up!

If this past week taught us anything, it’s that Donald Trump’s second term will be just as chaotic and exhausting as his first.

I thought Jeff Koterba’s popular cartoon this week captured the moment perfectly, as Americans doomscroll while Trump’s wild Cabinet picks come in. I also enjoyed R.J. Matson’s cartoon about a battered Democrat returning to Washington a lame duck.

Here are our top ten most reprinted cartoons of the week:

#1. Jeff Koterba

And don’t miss our new video podcast on YouTube where I talk to brilliant cartoonists and show the newest TRUMP WON cartoons!

#2. R.J. Matson

#3. Daryl Cagle

#4. Daryl Cagle

#5. Daryl Cagle

#6. Dick Wright

#7. Chris Weyant

#8. John Cole

#9. John Cole

#10. John Darkow

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Daryl’s Best ELECTION DAY Cartoons!

Here are my favorite Election Day cartoons!  Go out and VOTE!

This is a pleasant daydream.

Here’s my new cartoon appreciating poll workers. I debated with myself whether to make them a bronze statue or just people raising the flag Iwo Jima style.

This is an oldie, revised from the cover of one of my Best Political Cartoons of the Year books. I changed it to be an election day cartoon.

Here’s a recent cartoon that was a popular one. I can stretch my mind and imagine why some doofus would vote for Trump; but I can’t imagine why anyone is undecided.

On election day. I’m sure everyone will be nice.

Vote!

I do lots of old folks watching TV.

This one isgood for every election.

I drew this one about Republican efforts to disenfranchise black voters. It takes many forms.

That’s it! Now go out and VOTE!

And don’t miss our new podcast on YouTube!

 

 

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Top Ten Cartoons! The Election is Almost here!

Election day is less than two weeks away, which means plenty of time for you to be inundated with more polls, campaign ads, and conspiracy theories about voting.

Our most popular cartoon of the week came from Bob Englehart, who suggests a nice, long hibernation to sleep through the inevitable recounts, legal battles, and fake controversies on social media. Editors also liked Chris Weyant’s cartoon about polls, which you should stop reading immediately if you want to reclaim your sanity before Election Day.

Here are our top ten most reprinted cartoons of the week:

#1. Bob Englehart

And don’t miss our new podcast on YouTube!

#2. Chris Weyant

#3. Randall Enos

#4. Jeff Koterba

#5. Chris Weyant

#6. Jeff Koterba

#7. John Darkow

#8. Daryl Cagle

#9. Dave Whamond

#10. R.J. Matson

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Top Ten Cartoons of the Week! Election! Oh!

Kamala Harris is polling ahead in Pennsylvania. No wait, make that Donald Trump. Wait, maybe it’s Harris?

We’re about three weeks away from the presidential election, and whether it’s new polls or the latest campaign ads, it’s impossible to escape coverage of this year’s contest.

Our most popular cartoon of the week was drawn by Gary McCoy, and featured a father’s emotional reactions to political ads on TV. I also enjoyed John Darkow’s cartoon reminiscing about a time when we didn’t seem to care so much about other people’s politics.

Here are our top ten most reprinted cartoons of the week:

#1. Gary McCoy

And don’t miss our new podcast on YouTube!#2. John Darkow

#3. Guy Parsons

#4. R.J. Matson

#5. Jeff Koterba

#6. Gary McCoy

#7. John Darkow

#8. Chris Weyant

#9. Dave Whamond

#10. Bob Englehart

–

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Rivers Retires

Our anonymous, conservative cartoonist, Rivers, has retired. Here’s the cartoon that Rivers drew to announce his retirement.

Rivers was controversial for for his far-right views, generating much of the angry email we receive, along with “cancel culture” demands that we drop him from our line up.

Rivers was more controversial among some other cartoonists for his choice to draw anonymously under a pen name, an unusual choice for an American cartoonist, but a choice that didn’t bother me, and didn’t seem to bother editors or readers (it was his right-wing views that bothered many readers and editors).

Rivers has at least one liberal fan – me! I’m leaving the door open for Rivers to draw occasional cartoons in the future, so don’t be surprised if a new and disturbing Rivers cartoon pops up.  Here are some of Rivers‘ recent cartoons.

See more Rivers cartoons here on Cagle.com.

And don’t miss our new podcast on YouTube!

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Top Ten Cartoons! Football Widows and Battleground States!

Ads, ads, and more ads.

If you are unlucky enough to live in a battleground state, you’ve probably been inundated with an endless stream of campaign commercials. Bob Englehart’s widely-reprinted cartoon hit the nail on the head, while Dave Granlund and R.J. Matson both mocked the idea voters could still be undecided after such a deluge of information.

Here are our top ten most reprinted cartoons of the week:

#1. Bob Englehart

#2. Gary McCoy

#3. Jeff Koterba

#4. John Darkow

#5. Dave Granlund

#6. Jeff Koterba

#7. Randall Enos

#8. R.J. Matson

#9. John Darkow

#10. Jeff Koterba

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I Just Did My First Cartoon in Procreate

Here is my first try at doing a cartoon in Procreate.

It is my first steps.  Like a baby picture.  I’ve been getting my arm twisted by my son and a bunch of my artists to get off of Photoshop and my desktop Mac, and move to Procreate on an iPad.  Here’s a detail.

My son, Buster, is doing all of his art on the iPad now, as are many of the CagleCartoonists. Some of them brag about how little time it takes them to color their cartoons. Rivers, our anonymous, conservative cartoonist is an example – he draws his cartoons alarmingly quickly in Procreate.

Rivers‘ linework is wonderful.  He created his own “pen” for Procreate, that he shared with me and has been encouraging me to use. It is a lovely “pen” but I’m not there yet. I didn’t draw this cartoon in Procreate, I only painted it on the iPad and drew it in pencil on paper.  I know.  I’m late coming to this, and it took a lot of nagging to get me here, and this first one was a struggle – but I see that I have to do it.

I used watercolor brushes for this one, and it really does look like watercolor. Everyone can witness my next, painful baby steps with my next cartoons.  (I cringe looking at this one.)  If drawing cartoons was easier and faster, I would draw more cartoons, which is something I really should be doing.

There’s a lot I give up with Procreate. I like CMYK and true black lines on the K channel.  Procreate doesn’t do that, and a lot of the things that Photoshop does easily are a challenge in Procreate. Still, gotta do it.

Here’s one from Rivers done in Procreate with his lovely pen.

BACK TO SCHOOL by Rivers

 

Here’s one from Pat Bagley, drawn in Procreate, with his charming “carpenter’s pencil” lines.

ROAD TO DEMOCRACY by Pat Bagley

 

Here’s a lovely, bloody oldie from the great Steve Sack, all done in Procreate.

AUTOGRAPH HOUNDS by Steve Sack

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