❗️ Revisiting The Cartoon Picayune

Free PDFs, discounted printed issues, and thoughts on comics journalism in 2024

For six years, I self-published a minicomic anthology of nonfiction comics called The Cartoon Picayune. It grew out of my thesis project at the Center for Cartoon Studies. I took a lot of pride in editing talented cartoonists, drawing my own comics, creating each issue, and selling copies through subscriptions and comics conventions like SPX here in the DC suburbs. After eight issues and over 300 pages, I stopped in 2017.

For a while there, we had a sweet spot — new technology like social media and iPads made creating and distributing color comics easier than ever, and all sorts of publications paid freelancers real money for nonfiction comics. We had Symbolia, Cartoon Movement, and of course The Nib, which I’m confident put more money in the hands of cartoonists — including mine! — and more journalistic comics in front of readers than any publication in history. (Although I should check with the experts. I’m so excited for this book!)

Now what do we have? Freelance rates from the 1980s, no US publication focused on nonfiction comics, and no reliable social media platforms to share comics on. Still, there are bright spots. Some CP contributors have gone on to do amazing things, and a number have created startlingly good graphic novels, including Andy Warner, Jess Ruliffson, and Beth Hetland. My old Illustrated Press buddy, Darryl Holliday, has done incredible things for local, nonprofit investigative journalism. 

I applaud Hannah Good’s work editing the Washington Post’s Illustrated Reporting and Jess’ incredible work for the Boston Globe. There’s now even a Pulitzer Prize in “Illustrated Reporting and Commentary.” (Although maybe that one’s not a slam dunk). Also, graphic novels, including nonfiction titles, seem like one of the only thriving parts of book publishing, especially for younger readers.

A fan letter I published in Issue #5

Looking back and re-reading The Cartoon Picayune, it’s definitely not perfect, but I’m proud of it. I know this is a footnote in the history of comics, but it might as well be a well-documented one: I’ve just put all the issues up on my website for the first time. You can download the whole run, free, as PDFs. I recommend reading them on a tablet if you’ve got one — that’s the best way to do it. 

While you’re there, you might notice that printed issues are still for sale. I still have plenty of copies of some of the issues, and I’ve changed the price of those to just $2 each, which pays for shipping. However, there are few issues that I only have a couple left of each. I’ve raised the price of those. I’m unlikely to print these again, so if you really want one, expect to pay a lot. Also: I have exactly one complete set left. If you want this, make me an offer over email. I’ll throw in some original art to sweeten the deal. Every purchase will come with a silk-screened postcard by my pal Dakota McFadzean (below).

Thanks to everyone who ever contributed, bought an issue, put me up for a night, or copy-read a draft. Here’s to more nonfiction comics in the years ahead.