A summary of some issues relating to comic book creators and comic book creation.

Political commentator for 13 months Michael Smerconish he had cartoonists who would publish exclusive political cartoons in his newsletter three or four times a week; in most cases they were Steve Breen, Jack Ohman, Rob RogersAND Scott StantisNow he is publishing these cartoons in a book for the upcoming elections.

Smercomics 2024 It is scheduled to ship this fall, and you can pre-order it now.

The newsletter features twenty news links each day, hand-picked by Smerconish to provide media balance in a polarized world. The newsletter also features the work of four award-winning cartoonists who draw exclusively for the newsletter one day a week: Steve Breen, Jack Ohman, Rob Rogers and Scott Stantis.

What better way to document and remember the most contentious presidential election of our lifetimes than to recreate the story of the 2024 presidential election in a book? You may laugh or cry at the illustrations, but you will definitely enjoy them.

Format: Hardcover, landscape. Number of pages: 320 pages Measurement: 12 x 9 inches; 5 pounds
Date of publication: Fall 2024

In a promotional video for the book, Smerconish expresses hope that the results of the November 5 election will be announced quickly and that – God willing and if the floods do not rise – the book will reach customers before Christmas.

Michael Smerconish has an archive of political cartoons on his website.

*********

As regards Steve Breen…

We noticed 10 months ago that Steve joined inewsource. But recently the above promotion has been popping up on various social media sites. I guess just a reminder of where to see Steve’s edits and caption contests.

*********

Another book, but it has more graphic journalism than journalistic drawings.

Jane Rosenberg keeps her go bag by the front door. She never knows when she’ll get a call and have to go to court—not to argue a case, but to file one.

For more than 40 years, Rosenberg has traveled the country and sat ringside at some of the most dramatic trials, including those of Bill Cosby, Bernie Madoff, Harvey Weinstein, John Gotti and (multiple times) Donald Trump. After Trump’s trial in the spring, “I desperately needed a break,” she said in a recent video interview from her home in New York.

In her new book, “Drawn Testimony,” she describes some of the costs of sitting so close to the action. “I drew scenes, including a man’s execution in the electric chair, that made me feel guilty, washing and washing my hands to erase anything more than crayon dust,” she writes.

Court draftsmen are a dying breed. But they remain essential because photographers are barred from many courtrooms and artificial intelligence isn’t yet ready to take over. It’s stressful and often painful work. “Oh no, she’s not happy,” Rosenberg said.

Nora Krug of The Washington Post interviews Jane Rosenberg about her work and new book, “Drawn Testimony.” We had overlooked this book until Bado’s Blog alerted us to its existence and interviewed The WaPo.

*********

While Australia may be a day ahead, it is still looking at the situation from last year.

We may be glad that 2023 is behind us – but you can’t miss Behind the Lines 2023: All Fun and Games!

Have a laugh or reflect on the past year with this latest retrospective of the hot political issues of 2023, as seen through the eyes of Australia’s most insightful political cartoonists.

From the National Tribune:

Behind the Lines is a travelling exhibition of 100 cartoons produced by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD) in Canberra, Australia’s national collecting institution whose mission is to share the stories of Australian democracy.

The exhibition can be viewed at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at the University of South Australia from 4 September to 15 November.

The most important point of this year’s exhibition is the collection of works Fiona Katauskas (emphasis and link added), a cartoonist for The Guardian who was named Political Cartoonist of the Year 2023. Judges praised Katauskas’ work for its heart, humor and diversity.