Monday, May 31, 2010

More From National Enquirer And Apple



A couple weeks later, I got a note from the editor at the National Enquirer informing me that she was holding another cartoon...this one depicting an Apple computer being presented to an appreciative teacher by a brown-nosing pupil...and a few days later came another letter of acceptance. Heard from Apple's ad agency again, too. I was on my way to becoming a freelance cartoonist! Reprint rights to this one were purchased by a number of teachers' newsletters, as well. (This cartoon is copyrighted by the artist and by the National Enquirer and any unauthorized use is prohibited by copyright laws.)

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Funny Money: First Cartoon Sale To A Major Magazine

This was the first cartoon I sold to a major magazine under my pen name, "SWISS." In those days, the National Enquirer used seven or more gag toons (total) in each weekly issue by a variety of cartoonists and paid $300 apiece. There was lots of competition for those coveted spots.
A few weeks later, an attorney from Apple's ad agency called to purchase advertising rights to the funny drawing for another $500. Needless to say, I was overjoyed. You can tell how long ago this took place just by looking at the computer. When was the last time you saw a "puter" looking that clunky? It was April, 1983.
History buffs will have to forgive me for depicting a long blow instead of the crossbow which William Tell actually used (that is, if you buy into the legend, at all). And sticklers for perspective might wonder why the bow string is on the OTHER side of Tell's nose. Hahaha. Hey, I could barely hold a pen in those days, much less worry about perspective!
(The cartoon shown here is copyrighted by the artist...that would be me...and by the National Enquirer, and its unauthorized use is prohibited.)