25 Comments
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Paul Noth's avatar

In the first post, I forgot to add a poll for the Tournament of Champions, but that has now been corrected.

Dominique Paul Noth's avatar

I love your discussing the ins and outs of cartoon humor. The same "wish I had said that better" affects other forms of writing.

Ian Simbotin's avatar

I have trouble picking favorites... can't decide... they're all good...

Philip Marion's avatar

I whole”hearted”ly agree: the politician wearing a pin of himself wearing the flag pin is objectively hilarious. But it’s such a skill to be able to change the “angle of your comedic arrow” to what you know a larger potential group will find funny. That’s why this blog exists. To show the true genius hiding behind the popular cartoonery.

Paul Noth's avatar

Thanks so much, Phil! Hope you’re doing well.

Ian Simbotin's avatar

Thanks for giving me a nudge to go back and zoom in... i hadn't realized i missed the tiny flag... which is the key thing...

NATHAN WAIRE Of SAPIEN FILMS's avatar

Keep those rejections!!! You know what is Best!!!

Paul Noth's avatar

Thanks, Nate!

rick's avatar

Tough voting ..all are great.

Paul Noth's avatar

Thanks, Rick!

Smash the Hype!'s avatar

🧵Let’s face it: I’m an addict!

I love reading your words!

(I love reading anybody’s words, if they make sense!)

Maybe this is why so many young people (students) are engaging with Chatbot “personalities” for sessions of “self-therapy”.

I too want connection & therapy, but at least I only write it to real people.

Paul Noth's avatar

Thank you!

Smash the Hype!'s avatar

🧵Oh, Paul !

Just heart-wrenching !

Regarding Comic's avatar

Hahaha hahaha hahaha

"God has cursed us"

S.L. Heiden's avatar

The ‘backstage’ notes are revelatory and the toons all provoked snorts/lols/chortles except curiously the one you’re stubborn about. The closeup it needs to land the concept would overwhelm the concept—while the “compromise” published one is elegantly lethal.

‘Keytarist on the Roof’ btw gave me mirth-mitzvah convulsions.

Paul Noth's avatar

Thank you!

DMS Fick's avatar

The Valentine cartoon made me laugh three times as I first saw them arresting cupid for having a bow and arrow, then saw the arrows in their backs, THEN saw they were holding hands. WONDERFUL.

Also, the politician with the pin made me laugh out loud.

Paul Noth's avatar

Thank you!

Jim Shoenbill's avatar

As Paul says, we have to stick to our own sense of humor and what we like best. With that in mind, I'd like to say: All those people voting for keytarist are wrong. The clown is way better!

Paul Noth's avatar

Ha ha! Thank you! I love the clown and I’m so glad it has a fan.

Ian Simbotin's avatar

The sausage factory is marvelous... and the making of the sausages is wondrous...

Paul Noth's avatar

Thank you, Ian!

James Kinsley's avatar

Yeah, I can see why the Valentine's Day one was rejected in its original form. More punchy, yes, but I'd worry that it could be misconstrued as homosexuality, in and of itself, being the punchline. If rewatching Friends has taught me anything, it's that "haha it's two guys" doesn't always land, regardless of intention.

Paul Noth's avatar

Yes, I agree. That wasn’t the intention, but it could easily be misconstrued that way.

Jim Shoenbill's avatar

Also, the arrows sticking out of their backs visibly in the redraw makes the joke a quicker "get". It's more obvious what happened.