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• May 5 is National Cartoonist's Day each year, the celebration sponsored by the National Cartoonists Society to honor editorial cartoonists and comic strip artists, because it is the anniversary of the day the very first color comic strip, The Yellow Kid, was published in 1895.

  However, the economic downturn and lack of interest on the part of the cartoonists has led to a reduction in events or even special cartoons. On May 5, 2009, of the national cartoonists, only Wylie Miller's Non Sequitur had a reference cartoon.Universal Press Syndicate: Everyday is National Cartoonists' Day (May 5, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. No official events in 2009
  2. Years past, events were folded in with Free Comic Book Day
  3. Economic downturn has hit cartoonists hardWashington Post: The Rant: Introducing a D-Day in the Cause for Comics (May 5, 2009)
  4. Newspapers are struggling, and may cartoonists have been laid off or their strips cutWashington Post: The Rant: Introducing a D-Day in the Cause for Comics (May 5, 2009)
  5. Cartoonist's industry award is called the "Reuben" after Rube Goldberg
  6. Originally sponsored by the National Cartoonists Society
  7. Not even mentioned on their website on May 5, 2009

• Suggestions for NCD Celebrations

  In 2007, cartoonist Alan Gardner commented on the lack of NCD events, suggesting that cartoonists felt it was too self-serving to call attention to themselves. More recently, cartoonists have been laid off or had their strips cut by ailing newspapers.Daily Cartoonist: What ever happened to Cartoonists Day? (May 3, 2007)

  Cartoonist Richard Thompson, who pens Cul de Sac, suggests that you do dishes or mow the lawn for your favorite cartoonist, or take him or her to lunch at the Mexican place down the street.Cul de Sac: A Very Happy Cartoonist Day (May 5, 2009)

  Editorial cartoonist Ed Stein (who lost his job when the Rocky Mountain News folded) suggests showering your favorite cartoonist with expensive presents and large sums of cash.EdSteinInk: Happy National Cartoonists Day (May 5, 2009)

  Freelance cartoonist Brig Spicer says one should try being a cartoonist by drawing and drinking tequila.Brigtoon: Happy National Cartoonists Day! (May 5, 2009)

  Cartoonist and writer Michael Cavna suggests that May 5 be a day of reckoning, that cartoonists "trumpet the cause of stopping the shrinkage and clear-cutting of newspaper comics".Washington Post: The Rant: Introducing a D-Day in the Cause for Comics (May 5, 2009)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Pat Oliphant | Gary Larson | Shel Silverstein | Chris Ware | Bill Watterson | Rube Goldberg | Muhammad Cartoons | The Far Side | Dan Clowes | Craig Thompson | Charles Schulz | George Herriman | Lynn Johnston | Michael Ramirez | Bill Mauldin | Sean Delonas | Non Sequitur | Cathy Comic Strip | Get Fuzzy

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