Comics and the web

I finally got around to reading parts of the Sunday NYT that I had missed this weekend, and an article by Matthew Mirapaul reminded me of how often I turn to the “funnies” to think about contemporary issues. Mirapaul’s article focused on political cartoonists who are turning to the internet to animate their cartoons. The article used Don Asmussen of SFGate.com as an example, with his “terrortubbies” cartoon.

But I actually think there are more amusing — and sharply satirical examples. I like the one named “God Bless America” at The Quickie.com. [Note: the Blah3.com site launches immediately with sound] Blah3.com usually has some interesting pieces, like their “Question mark #8: Money”. [Note, Fiore’s site launches with sound, too] Mark Fiore’s “Find the Terrorist” is also pointed in its critique. [Note: “Technical Difficulties” launches automatically] Moveon.org has helped to distribute “Technical Difficulties,” which makes its point sharply, but with humor.

And then there are pieces that are not political cartoons, but which use some form of web animation to make statements, like The Miniature Earth, or Bonkworld’s animation of words over the images of the WTC.

Finally, there are the cartoonists whose work I follow on the web when, for whatever reason, I haven’t had a chance to read the paper that morning. My favorite is Aaron McGruder’s “Boondocks.” For some reason this evening I can’t find his site, which until recently was at http://www.boondocks.net. Maybe the site is down this evening? At least you can still find the strip at some of the regular comics sites, like UComics.com. Doonesbury is of course also a classic one to follow, and I have always loved Lyn Johnston’s “For Better or for Worse.”

On days like today, in between praying and listening to National Public Radio—which I like in the Minnesota Public Radio version— these kinds of pieces keep my spirits up.