#399: The Reuben Awards, No, I'm Not in a Beef with another Cartoonist & Lampooning in the Gas Lamp!

+ OpenAI X Condé Content, Pablo Picasso, and Morris gets his lip out.

Welcome to issue #399 of New York Cartoons.

I hope you’re having a great week! I’m writing to you from sunny San Diego, where the cartoonists have descended on La Jolla for their annual conference and awards weekend, The Reubens. This is the first one I’m attending in an unofficial capacity in over nine years… I’m not sweating, hungover, and grinding my teeth this time. I don’t know what to do with myself!

I’m lucky to be nominated in two categories this year— I’m counting on not winning because I only packed a small carry-on bag, but it’s very humbling to get a nod. I’ve never been nominated for anything at the Reubens before.

Let’s crack on!

1. No, I’m not in a ‘beef’ with Bob Eckstein

I’ve been told some people didn’t get the joke in last week’s edition, and believe I’m in some sort of Drake/Lamar-esque cartoonist beef with my friend.

The Bob

.

For those of you who didn’t catch the tone (The dead giveaway is usually that I’m writing like a 1940s Catskills comedian), I should tell you that I didn’t actually throw his book into a passing garbage truck, and the guy holding onto the back didn’t actually catch it, and he didn’t actually throw it back at my head, and I didn’t actually get a concussion, and I wasn’t actually lying on the sidewalk reading a book in my dressing gown.

I know. Wild, right?

Bob and I are fine. The book is obviously excellent. I left a glowing Amazon review (where it matters). I know several of you emailed me to tell me you bought it (and are enjoying it). This message is just for those who weren’t able to pick up sarcasm.

2. OpenAI Scoops up the Scoopers

OpenAI has struck a multi-year deal with Condé Nast to allow the Microsoft-backed startup to use content from media brands including The New Yorker, Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair and Bon Appétit.⁠ The announcement follows similar deals with The Financial Times, the Associated Press and News Corp.

Understandably, many regular contributors to the New Yorker are more than a little concerned that this deal is a Trojan Horse deal that will mean our body of work will be accessed to train future models in return for some sweet, sweet coin. (for the company, not the contributors).

I understand the need to post good news to investors— Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch said “it is important to embrace new technologies and protect intellectual property at a time when tech companies are eroding media companies’ ability to monetize content.”— but I fear this move may be cutting off their nose to spite their face.

I’ll hold fire, as more detail needs to be shared about the deal, but it’s a concerning trend with media companies ceding more and more IP to unregulated, monolithic tech companies. Anyone got a job going for an Aussie immigrant? (And don’t say bartender, or I’ll sleep on your couch.)

3. If you haven’t signed up to Process Junkie yet, you can do so here…

…before I drop this week’s post about the physical act of drawing, and how to avoid ruining your ability to do it.
If you’d like to revisit last week’s post, about finding your unique style, you can read it here:

'How do you decide who you're going to be when you get up in the morning?'

Gas Lampooning in The Gaslamp

San Diego has a new comedy club, care of National Lampoon called The Yellow Door, and tickets are FREE until the official launch. I’ll be performing this coming Saturday night, so if you’re in the area, come by and say hi after the show! (Details below)

Grab your tickets now:
Saturday, August 24th
Doors open at 7:30pm show starts at 8pm sharp
TIX: https://nlyellowdoor.com/sandiego/

THE LINEUP:
Host: Ellen Sugarman @elensugarman617
Jason Chatfield @newyorkcartoons
Ombretta Di Dio @ombrettadidio
Franky Gonzalez @frankygcomedy
Gordon Downs @GordonDownz
Gini Sikes @ginisikes

Check out the beautiful views from @cielorooftopsd after or before the show. Craft cocktails & full food menu!

X

Our final game of the season was rained out by freak storms and sideways rain, rendering the softball fields of Central Park a muddy swamp. A sad end to an eventful season

He’s in a mood.