The New Yorker has always been known for its humorous one-panel comics. Which means, of course, that they've had a lot of practitioners of this format. A select group really stand out for me. Gahan Wilson is one, obviously. Danny Shanahan is another. I know very little about him personally. There's no Wikipedia article about him or anything. But he perfectly nails the dry, low-key absurdity.
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Sundown you better take care
The New Yorker has always been known for its humorous one-panel comics. Which means, of course, that they've had a lot of practitioners of this format. A select group really stand out for me. Gahan Wilson is one, obviously. Danny Shanahan is another. I know very little about him personally. There's no Wikipedia article about him or anything. But he perfectly nails the dry, low-key absurdity.
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For many years I loved most of the New Yorker cartoons, but in the past few years the quality of the art and the humor hasn't been up tp previous standards - at least for me and I do try not to be too cranky. While Gahan Wilson was undoubtedly the best I was also very fond of Leo Cullum's contributions to the magazine.
I like Danny Shanahan too - a fine example of his dry style is his illustration of a guy in shorts sitting on the doctor's exam table smoking a cigarette with the physician telling him 'You should relax less.'
My favorite of the cover illustrators is Peter de Seve.
I'll have to have another look to see if I agree with you. Generally when I see the New Yorker cartoons it's at the library, where I haven't been for a few weeks for obvious reasons. The humor can be hit-or-miss because some of the practitioners are relying on in-group references, or at least an acquired in-group tone.
Leo Cullum is very funny indeed. I like the "you don't get an office, you get cargo pants" especially. He has a gift for facial expressions.
While I like the look of Adrian Tomine I think I'm with you as far as de Seve being my favorite. The witch making eyes at the cat in the window is just darling.
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