425. New Yorkers ❤️ New Yorkers, Eustace Turns 100, SNL50, A Sheep on Stage, My Top 4 Cartoons & More!
+ I Live Draw the Westminster Dog Show & Morris gets a new blanket...
Welcome to Issue #422 of New York Cartoons!
This week is the 100th anniversary of the New Yorker Magazine. While at the drawing board this weekend, I decided to mark the occasion by daydreaming about what ol’ Eustace Tilley might look like today; and I don’t mean the modernized versions you see on the cover of the New Yorker, where he’s wearing modern clothes, or is a literal robot (though I really enjoy these)— No. I mean today. As in, if he were still alive in this chilly February of 2025.
Given he looked about 30 in the original issue, he’d be around 130-ish years old today, but I like to think he’d still try to be distinguished, with good posture and still wearing his hat. His monocle would have a much stronger prescription, and —let’s be honest— it would be a lot bigger now. But he’d still be recognizable as the old dandy we’ve come to know and love.
Read more about my 100th Anniversary Tribute here:
Special 100th Anniversary Episode of “Is There Something In This?”
This week, Scott and I share our top four favourite cartoons of all time. We also officially announce the reveal of our new book, You’re Not A Real Dog Owner Until… and share a few gags from the pages therein. You can preorder the book at all the usual suspects now!
This week’s Sketchbook is a collection of sketches from my time at the Westminster Dog Show in NYC last weekend.
See more below:
Rats, Rates & Ebikes: SNL Pays Tribute to New York City in SNL50 Musical Number
Pete Davidson leans over to John Mulaney and says, “Then why even live in New York anymore? It's too loud. It's too dangerous. They give rats free birth control, but not human women? I mean, if this is what New York is, I'm out.”
Mulaney replies, “Hey, just because the art scene and the music scene are dead, and the city is a bunch of TD banks and Le Pain Quotidiens, you can't just give up!”
It hit home, because these are the conversations New York-based artists have in 2025; is it just a city for bankers and tech people? How did it become so unaffordable? Where did all the artists go? Take a look at the musical to see the rest— it’s worth a look. Also be sure to take a look at “What's Wrong w/ the Housing Crisis?: An NYC Tour w/ Ben Holtzman” on why New York has an affordability crisis.
You can see the whole star-studded number here:
New Yorkers ❤️ New Yorkers!
The folks at The David Prize have a fantastic substack called New York’s Newsletter that I’d highly recommend you check out. The latest edition features —for the first time— cartoons! These are solicited each month from New York-based cartoonists. If you live in NYC and you’re interested in submitting, let me know.
A Sheep in a Sheperd Play
I got to see Sam Seperd’s ever-timely Curse of the Starving Class directed by Scott Elliott at the New Group over on 42nd this past week.
Every cast member pulled their weight— with David Anzuelo, Kyle Beltran, Calista Flockhart, Cooper Hoffman, Jeb Kreager, Stella Marcus, and Christian Slater each knocking it out of the park (Sidenote: I did not realise Cooper is Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s son.)
The highlight? Apart from the excellent acting and set design, it was the live sheep that made two separate appearances in the show, and interrupted a heartfelt monologue by Christian Slater with the world’s loudest “BLEEEEAT!”. It murdered. Nothing beats an animal upstaging a solemn moment. Nothing.
The show is running ‘til March 30th
Will Eisner at the Philippe Labaune
New York’s favourite champion gallerist of the comic arts, Philippe Labaune, has just revealed his epic Eisner exhibit at his Chelsea gallery.
Opening night was full of familiar faces from the cartooning community— including tom Gammill, Denis Kitchen, Brian Walker, Shani Nizan (Go followe her substack!), and my old pal Jenny Robb from the Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum and Library! It’s an excellent collection of work— definitely worth visiting if you’re in town for other cartooning exhibitions (see below.)
From Philippe:
Philippe Labaune Gallery is proud to announce a very special exhibition showcasing original works by Will Eisner, one of the most influential figures in the world of comics and graphic storytelling.
This exhibition organized in collaboration with the estate of the late artist and Denis Kitchen honors Eisner’s artistic vision and significant contributions to the medium, offering an opportunity to experience firsthand the creativity and innovation behind his iconic work.
Known as “the father of the graphic novel”, Will Eisner’s distinctive artistic style and narrative techniques changed the landscape of visual storytelling, bringing a new depth to the comic and graphic novel genre worldwide.
Showcased in the exhibition are seventy-nine original pieces: highlights include two US Army illustrations from 1941, a complete seven page story from The Spirit, Eisner's groundbreaking crime-noir series, pages from the artist’s beloved city, New York The Big City, and selections from A Contract with God, including the entirety of the story, The Super.
Other exhibitions worth seeing this week in NYC:
Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration
Society of Illustrators | January 8 - May 3 at 128 E 63rd St, Manhattan
Looking at the cartoons, the viewer can’t help but see an individual behind the work. These pieces are expressions of the artist’s humor and worldview. For the most part, the editors at the magazine let the artists do their magic and rarely commissioned the work.
Covering The New Yorker
L’Alliance New York Gallery | January 21 - March 30, 2025 at East 60th Street, 1st Floor, Manhattan
This landmark exhibition focuses on what readers never see: the original artwork that gives rise to the printed covers. It offers a behind-the-scenes exploration of the artistry, storytelling, and editorial vision that have made these images cultural touchstones, illuminating how Mouly has transformed the magazine’s covers into a platform for bold visual narratives and thought-provoking commentary on global and personal events. While the focus of the exhibit will be on the original art and paintings–never before assembled on such a scale—some of the digital art will also be featured.
A Century of The New Yorker
New York Public Library | Opening Feb 22nd at 476 5th Ave, Manhattan
A new exhibit A Century of The New Yorker is opening at The New York Public Library, showcasing the history of The New Yorker from its launch in 1925 to present day and bringing to life the people, stories, and ideas that have defined the iconic magazine. The New York Public Library is the home of the New Yorker Records, which it acquired in 1991. The archive includes over 2,500 boxes, or 1,058 linear feet, and is one of the Library’s largest and most-used archival collections. The exhibit will run for a full year, no RSVP required.
Should Comedians Be Hot?
In the shadow of the SNL50 extravaganza red carpet, replete with stunning dresses and perfectly cut suits, Suzy Weiss tackles the recently-discussed debate among jaded longtime comics: should funny people also be hot?
Is there anything hilarious about a good-looking person with good fashion, a nice haircut and their shit together? When did our beloved trade stop being populated by morkish goblins on the fringes of society and start becoming mainstream celebrity models getting brand deals with David Yurman? I’d be interested in your thoughts… Read the full piece below.
Related— Listen to how Jerry Seinfeld describes real comedians at 6:27 of this interview from 2014.
This week on Process Junkie, I did a guest post for the fantastic Introvert Drawing Club about drawing yourself, and tips about Eavesdrawing. Give it a look here:
You're my ultimate New York guide
Thanks. Great post.