The Magic of Cartooning

By now, if you've been more than a casual visitor of Jim's Muses you're aware of my penchant for cartooning and magic. The former has allowed me to put bread on the table since the early 50s. The latter, a few crumbs, by virtue of doing many shows for children's birthday parties, service clubs and Farm Bureau dinners during approximately the same period. The Morris talent agency never called me.

Although a real job (twenty-nine years at a radio station) almost derailed me from my first love—cartooning-- I continued drawing and submitting my work to many of the major magazines of the day. There were occasional sales, enough to keep the passion at least warm if not red hot. It was not until Bernita and I moved to San Diego from Watkins Glen, NY that things began to click for me as a freelance cartoonist. What I'd wanted all along.

Enough background.

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During the past few years I've read two great autobiographical books by cartoonists whose work I admire. Coincidentally, both books commemorate twenty-five years in the careers of these talented artists.

First:

Isn't that a great cover? It's only a teaser to the captivating chapters within, beginning with the excitement of Borgman's winning of the Pulitzer Prize in 1991 for editorial cartooning. He was 37 years old, had been The Cincinnati Inquirer's cartoonist for 15 years.

The topics covered in 14 chapters touch upon Jim's early years—growing up, education, his early interest in . . . just about everything. Chapter 5 features his favorite Borgman cartoons; turns out, they pretty much mirror my choices in the book too.

There is so much to be enjoyed within the 208 pages of M25YATCE! Amazing art, revealing articles written by the author's co-workers, and through this book you'll meet one of America's best editorial cartoonists.

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The other book celebrating 25 years is by Greg Evans whom I've had the pleasure of knowing--- and counting as friend--- a like number of years. In fact, it was Greg who introduced me to Jim Borgman at one of the National Cartoonists Society's annual conventions. How could I have been so lucky?

LUANN 25 YEARS is a treat, cover to cover; it covers not only the title character's genesis, but the life story of her creator as well. (Both narratives are “fascinating” beyond comprehension, as the word on the cover would indicate) We see the very first drawings of the some-day-to-be famous cartoonist and a photo of Evans when he was about the same age as Luann when the comic strip began in newspapers in 1985. There's no dearth of Luann comic strips, beginning with the initial Sunday page and daily strip. Those two entries portray her as a pre-teenager. By page 273--- a few hundred strips later--- Luann is totally grown up . . . and so is Greg.

I enjoyed this book so much and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone; aspiring cartoonists especially, will find it inspirational and motivating.

Final word about these two excellent artists: Each is the recipient of the Reuben, which is the Oscar of the National Cartoonists Society, signifying Cartoonist of the Year. Jim in 1993; Greg in 2004.

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Originally, the plan was to chat some about the second of my passions: magic. But I'll have to save that for next time. You see, all the material I had put aside for that posting-----suddenly vanished!

I'll wait right here 'til I remember the magic word to bring it all back.

Thanks for looking in and I appreciate your sharing the link.

monthlymissive-jimvtoons.blogspot.com

Jim