January 1st, 2014

Ask A Cartoonist: New Year’s Edition!

by Countess Tea

Happy New Year, everyone!

Whew!  2014 is here at last.  My personal resolutions involve cleaning my desk…mmm…maybe cleaning this one-foot square of my desk; that’s okay, right?  

I hope everyone had a great New Year’s Eve and that your 2014 is off to a bright and shiny start.  

For this week’s “Ask A Cartoonist,” we asked our cartoonists to chime in with some thoughts about the New Year.

What is your New Year’s resolution, or one of your characters’ New Year’s resolution?

My New Year’s resolution is to get my Christmas cards out. — Jeff Corriveau, DeFlocked

The only New Year’s Resolution I’ve ever kept was when I gave up french fries for a year. (But then I went back to eating them, so you have to wonder…was there a point?) This year, instead of resolving to give up things, I’m resolving to embrace things.  I think 2014 is going to be pretty interesting. — Sandra Bell-Lundy, Between Friends

Dethany of “Fastrack” resolves to bring to her career as Wendy’s personal assistant the qualities of industriousness, personal concern and diligent attention to detail worthy of an embalmer. — Bill Holbrook, On the Fastrack & Safe Havens

Loweezy an’ Elviney hope t’spend more time ketchin’ up at th’ gossip fence, Jughaid hopes t’ketch more frogs t’take t’school an’ scare Miz Prunelly an’ Snuffy hopes t’ketch more zzzzzz’s! — John Rose, Barney Google & Snuffy Smith

Dennis wants to spend more time with good ol’ Mister Wilson.  Mr. Wilson wants to spend LESS time putting up with that kid next door.  — Ron Ferdinand, Dennis the Menace

I want to have more friends over.  This was last year’s resolution as well.  I go over to other people’s houses a lot but want to host more things.  I am NOT a great planner so this is a challenge.  — Hilary Price, Rhymes With Orange

What are you looking forward to in the new year? (this can be in regard to your comic, or otherwise)

Cycling and walking around our new home town of Frome, Somerset. It is too cold and dark to get far at the moment! — Alex Hallatt, Arctic Circle

Drawing the Saturday Chix cartoon continues to be such a creatively enjoyable pleasure I look forward to another year of writing and drawing my characters and… also searching for the best flexible nib fountain pen I can find! — Stephanie Piro, Six Chix

I’m looking forward to the Spring release of a special story app starring “Fastrack’s” Dethany as a sleuth on the trail of a murder in cyberspace. As a work in progress it can be previewed here. (link goes off ComicsKingdom) — Bill Holbrook, On the Fastrack & Safe Havens

Our daughter is expecting a baby boy in April. It will be my first grandchild and should provide some new material for Marvin. So far both our daughter and her husband have refused to name their son “Marvin.” — Tom Armstrong, Marvin

Enough time to do 7 comic strips a week, teach comics at the School of Visual Arts, finish my graphic memoir and take a nap. — Bill Griffith, Zippy the Pinhead

I’m looking forward to that kid in Zits finally cleaning up his room. Do you know how much work it takes to draw those mountains of dirty clothes all over the floor? My ink bills are astronomical. — Jim Borgman, Zits

As an editorial cartoonist I’m looking forward to 2014 because it’s an election year! And I’m guessing that the coming campaign will be as interesting and exciting as any in recent years, with plenty of opportunities to lampoon politicians on both sides of the aisle. Let the mud throwing begin! — Jeff Koterba, Editorial Cartoonist

Snow.  Tons of it.  Winter is my favorite season. — Hilary Price, Rhymes With Orange

What’s something from the last year that one of your characters most wants to forget?

I can’t remember – tee hee… — Isabella Bannerman, Six Chix

Oscar the penguin wants to forget a string of bad dates, but is optimistic about his chances in 2014. — Alex Hallatt, Arctic Circle

Marvin never wants to relive the insult of being chosen to portray the turkey in another preschool Thanksgiving Day play because, in the words of the teacher “he’s the ROUNDEST kid in the school.” — Tom Armstrong, Marvin

Snuffy Smif wants t’fergit all th’ money he lost last year in cards an’ checkers! — John Rose, Barney Google & Snuffy Smith

Mr. Wilson wants to forget anything related to Dennis.  Dennis wants to forget anything related to Margaret!  — Ron Ferdinand, Dennis the Menace

Griffy’s short-lived attempt at looking older. He’s permanently back to being 36. Now he should move to Brooklyn and buy a messenger bag. — Bill Griffith, Zippy the Pinhead

What are some of the things you’re looking forward to this year?  In the comics or out of them?