Illustrator Shares 14 Of His Cartoons Thar Were Rejected By The New Yorker

"It remains to be seen, but I'll continue to try. Still, the lottery is the lottery— you can't win if you don't play."

Damjan

• Published in Funny
• February 13, 2022

Did you know that the legendary Bob Mankoff, a cartoon editor at the New Yorker (1997 to 2017), sent about 2,000 submissions to the magazine before ever getting an acceptance letter? It shows how hard it is to get into this magazine.

It has a broad audience outside New York and is read internationally. It is well known for its illustrated covers, commentaries on popular culture and eccentric Americana, short stories, and literary reviews.

The articles undergo rigorous fact-checking and copy editing. But some people believe that comics are the best thing about it.

They are in-depth analyses of economic, political, and social issues, all wrapped up in a humorous package. And it is so hard to get your comics featured in New York.

Just ask John Moreno, an artist from Chicago. He sent numerous cartoons but still waits for that positive reply.

He might be in for quite a wait since only 12 to 20 of thousands of comics submitted every week get published. John is an established professional with decades of experience, but he feels that something is missing - being featured in the New Yorker.

“Obviously, I have no illusions that winning at this sort of endeavor comes easy— especially now, with so much talent sending their cartoon drawings to the same address every week.”

John shared 14 of the comics he had submitted to The New Yorker without any success, and he says he will keep trying.

1. Not fake news

2. The Irony

3. Crossfit

4. Print is dead

John says:

"And, I'd still be making these New Yorker cartoons regardless of the outcome, because it seems I don't know any better. This has created an interesting situation; forcing me to examine (and reexamine) my reasons for trying out for the "show".

1. Turns out; I love cartooning more than I thought. So, scribbling and searching out the absurd is, in my humble opinion, an excellent way to spend a few hours each day.

2. Having this near-impossible goal has forced me to focus on the task at hand. I submit to you— it is easier to drown a fish than get the average artist to focus for long periods... on anything. In the process, I've become a much better (and disciplined) cartoonist and illustrator.

3. As cliché as it sounds, the journey is the reward. I'm an illustrator by trade, doing mostly science and technological demonstratives, infographics, etc.

Cartooning is vastly different and being silly is just plain cathartic. Was it Confucius who said, "Choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life?"

I can't remember, maybe it was Bono— smug bastard."

5. Do you know how fast you were going Mr. Musk?

6. The good cop

7. Not what i ordered...

8. Dead to her

9. Raising the bar

10. Inflation, baby

11. Cat and mouse game

12. Are they artisan or plain?

13. It is everywhere

14. Whoa!

John understands that the odds of his work being published are slim, but that doesn't stop him from trying. For him, it's all about the journey.

"It remains to be seen, but I'll continue to try. Still, the lottery is the lottery— you can't win if you don't play."

We certainly enjoyed his cartoons, and we have learned something – you should never give up. We wish John luck and hope to see his work in the next edition.

Damjan