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In the News

Michael Jantze launches new Audio Comics feature

Aug 25, 2008 by Alan Gardner

The Norm creator Michael Jantze has launched a new feature called “Audio Comics.”

Section: Comic strips

United Feature to syndicate Mike Lester

Aug 25, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Conservative editorial cartoonist Mike Lester has been picked up by United Feature Syndicate for national syndication beginning September 1.

Section: Comic strips

Cartoonists descend on Denver

Aug 25, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Reports are trickling in. KAL is already in Denver and as is Michael Ramirez. Other cartoonists who will be attending include: Scott Stantis, Dan Perkins and Stephanie McMillan. Of course Ed Stein, Mike Keefe and Drew Litton are all locals, so I’m sure they’re going to be busy as well.

Section: Comic strips

Welcome to the new and improved TDC

Apr 27, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Welcome to the blog’s new look. It has been an off and on again project for over a year with several reworks during that time. About a month ago, I settled into this design and made a concerted effort to get it out the door before I got the urge to scrap it and start anew.

You’ll note the navigation along the top more clearly delineates the major topics and focus of the blog. In addition to my normal reporting on newspaper cartooning, I’ll be expanding my coverage to include magazine cartooning, animation, web comics and international cartooning stories. The decision to expand the scope hasn’t been easy. I’ve enjoyed the small community that a niche blog like this has created, but such a small niche can’t produce the necessary traffic needed to make more than tip jar money.

Which brings me to the second major change. I’ve created more dedicated real estate for advertising and sponsorships.

I’ve added a “store” where you can buy products through Amazon. Each purchase generates me a referrer’s fee.

I’ve also made it easier for you to subscribe to the RSS feed. Each section has it’s own RSS feed, so if you’re only into editorial cartooning and could care less about all the other topics, then subscribe to the editorial cartooning section and visit it independently of the rest of the site.

Another change is one that was requested from Milt Priggee. I’ve numbered the comments so that if we get more drawn out discussions that span days, it will be easier to pick up where you left it the day before.

Hope you like the new skin. I’d love to get your feedback in the comments below. Keep in mind, anything posted here will not appear on the main site and will not be archived for later generations. And I should note that subscribing to any of the RSS feeds will not work after the launch on May1. Also… if you’d like to report “bugs” in the new design, please visit my other post that is specific to bugs, errors, fixes, etc.

Thanks for your continued support.

Section: Daily Cartoonist

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TDC Redesign TODO list

Apr 27, 2008 by Alan Gardner

For the next couple of day’s I’ll be making some changes, fixes and implementing other features before the official launch. I’d appreciate it while you’re checking things out, to report in the comments section anything that doesn’t work as expected. I’m especially interested in hearing from those who run on browsers/OSes that I haven’t tested on. Specifically, IE 7 or 8. Please let me know if you see any big gotchas. I’ve also implemented a mobile version of the site for those with mobile devices. I’ve tested it with my iPhone, but if you have another device, I’m interested in hearing your report as well. Standard data plan rates apply.

Please note, there are a number of known issues that I’m working on. They’re listed below.

The Email to a friend isn’t functional
The Print version isn’t functional’
Not all the secondary navigation (Archives, Subscribe, contact) is linked up
The blog’s logo isn’t clickable to the homepage (IE issue)
There’s a dotted line that runs through the content
No links to recent comments on the homepage
Some images related to stories may not show up (those will resolve themselves once the site is launched to the main server.)
If you click on the “Select a feed for your reader” or “One e-mail everyday” link on the homepage, pop-up has issues for those in IE 6
You can see the word “Submit” twice on the search submit button (IE only)

If you encounter any other issues, please note them in the comments below and I’ll attend to them as soon as I can.

Thank you!

Section: Daily Cartoonist

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Anyone else attending the Reuben Weekend?

Apr 25, 2008 by Alan Gardner

I’ll be attending/covering this year’s NCS Reuben Weekend next month. From all that I hear, it’s a fun experience and I’m looking forward to it.

If anyone is attending and would like to share the cost of the hotel room, I’m looking for a room-mate. Please contact me if you’re interested.

Section: Daily Cartoonist

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Closed today

Apr 25, 2008 by Alan Gardner

I’ve been working on a major redesign of this blog for the last month with a goal to post it live before May 1. I’m very close to doing that, but it’s taking a good chunk of my time. As such, I won’t be posting any news today. Sometime over the weekend, I’ll post a link to the test site and invite you all to walk through it and send me feedback before it goes live.

I apologize for the inconvenience. Hopefully you won’t be disappointed with the changes.

Section: Daily Cartoonist

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Jay Kennedy Scholarship winner announced

Apr 24, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Medina art 1

The National Cartoonists Society Foundation (NCSF) announced the winner of the first annual Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship, Juana Medina, a sophomore at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Medina edged out almost two hundred applicants for the award, which includes a $5,000.00 scholarship and a trip to the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award convention. She was chosen by a jury of ten of the nation’s top cartoonists.

Juana Medina was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. She completed high school in 1998 then moved to the U.S.A. where she has lived since. For two years, she studied at the Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C. and is now majoring in Graphic Design at RISD. She is a regular contributor to the College Hill Independent, a weekly magazine produced by students at Brown University and RISD. Her work has appeared in publications in South America and has been part of collective exhibitions in Colombia and Mexico.

In her application for the award, Medina wrote: “I grew up in a country where war has been a constant since long before I was born. Our voices have been quieted by terrorist acts and constant threats from both governmental and clandestine groups, up to a point where the smell of gunpowder and the countless bomb threats became a part of our daily life … I found situations where there is little I can do to change reality, but I have found in cartooning a voice that strongly reflects my feelings and intentions. I have found a way to raise consciousness without scolding, fuming or losing my stomach to an ulcer.”

Medina will receive her award and meet the professional cartoonists who selected her at the National Cartoonists Society’s Annual Reuben Awards banquet in New Orleans on May 24th.

Section: Awards

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Vaughn Larson begins 3rd tour of duty

Apr 24, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Editorial Cartoonist Vaughn Larson has begun his third tour of duty - this time to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. During his 12 month deployment, Vaughn will edit The Wire, a weekly news magazine and draw an occasional cartoon for the publication. He will also be responsible for escorting civilian media visiting Guantanamo.

Vaughn was the news editor and editorial cartoonist for The Review (Plymouth WI) but was called up to Iraq back in April of 2006. He previously served in the first Gulf War in 1990.

Section: Editorial Cartooning

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Penny Arcade, PVP doing live online shows

Apr 24, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Webcomics creators Mike Krahulik (Penny Arcade) and Scott Kurtz (Player Vs. Player) have both begun to stream live videos of them creating their cartoons according to NewTeeVee.com.

Mike reports that his first video has been viewed 70,000 times and each “livecast” has about 1,000 visitors. Scott ays that his numbers are about half that for his live shows.

Someone who isn’t a fan of either strip (or isn’t, for that matter, a cartoonist) might not understand the entertainment value of watching a computer monitor get filled in with lines and color But Penny Arcade cartoonist Mike Krahulik thinks he understands the appeal of watching him draw. “I like watching people do things that I can’t do,” he continued. “It’s interesting to watch someone make something out of nothing.”

“Normally drawing the comic is solitary thing, but having people watch while I draw and being able to interact with readers as I do it is cool,” says Krahulik. “As I type the punchline in I can look over and see people LOLing.”

Section: web comics

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Steve Brodner on Presidential figures

Apr 22, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Watch New Yorker cartoonist Steve Brodner discuss and draw the current presidential candidates. Love his water coloring.

Section: Animation

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Oprah’s big givers get Luckovich cartoon

Apr 22, 2008 by Alan Gardner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial cartoonist, Mike Luckovich, is helping out a local cause to raise money for Children’s Restoration Network by providing a limited edition cartoon to donors of Oprah’s Big Give Georgia. To receive the print, the donor must be one of the first 100 to donate $100 or more during the campaign.

The Children’s Restoration Network of Atlanta seeks to create a scholarship program, a mentoring program for homeless children in Georgia.

You can see Mike’s cartoon by clicking the above link.

Section: Editorial Cartooning

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KAL unveils animated Barack, Hillary

Apr 22, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Economist cartoonist Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher unveiled his animated Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton last night at Atlanta’s Alliance theater. You can see the video on the Economist’s web site.

Section: Animation

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News Briefs for April 21, 2008

Apr 21, 2008 by Alan Gardner

» Dave Astor talks to previous Pulitzer Prize winners about how the award has changed their life.

» Universal is selling limited edition Lio and Pooch Cafe acetate cell prints. There are two Lio prints available. They’re 8×8″ and cost between $25 to $34. There is a 8×12″ Pooch Cafe print for $34. As Paul Gilligan writes on his blog, “Being printed on acetate enhances the colors dramatically over regular paper prints and gives it much greater depth and vibrancy.”

» Speedbump, Argyle Sweater and Daddy’s Home are the featured guest comics in The News & Observer. They’ll be in test mode until May 17th.

» If you missed the WP online chat with Daddy’s Home co-creator Tony Rubino, you can read the transcript online.

Section: Comic strips

2 Comments - Discuss »

Yale student wins 2008 Locher Memorial Award

Apr 21, 2008 by Alan Gardner

Sam Ayres, student editorial cartoonist for the Yale Daily News has been awarded this year’s AAEC/John Locher Memorial Award for best college cartoonist according to E&P.

Sam is a Junior studying English and Political Science. He was a runner up to last year’s award. He’ll be honored at this year’s AAEC convention in San Antonio, TX June 25-28.

Section: Awards

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