Attitude: The New Subversive Political Cartoonists
Anthology of Alternative Weekly Cartoonists, 2002
NBM Paperback, 8.5″x11″, 128 pp., $13.95
“Today’s most provocative editorial cartooning isn’t in daily newspapers; it is in alternative weeklies. Whereas old-school editorial cartoonists rely on timeworn traditions, topics, and techniques, the new breed tackles contemporary concerns, such as commercialism and environmentalism (invariably from the left), rather than electoral politics, and generally works in comic-strip, instead of single-panel, format. Rall, one of the most prominent newcomers, interviews 20 colleagues and presents generous samplings of their work. The best of them possess so much lacerating wit and unswerving commitment that they fairly shame their hidebound mainstream counterparts into retirement.”
—School Library Journal
ATTITUDE: THE NEW SUBVERSIVE POLITICAL CARTOONISTS is the first attempt to present the vibrant form of alternative weekly political cartooning, which first came to prominence during the ’80s and ’90s, to American readers. ATTITUDE focuses on 21 artists whose work epitomizes alternative-weekly political cartooning.
Ted, who edited this anthology, wrote in the introduction: “These artists work in the netherworld between facile categorizations. Because they’re passionate and strident, they’re too alternative for mainstream daily papers. But they’re not always considered alternative by the artsy crowd because they’re articulate and actually care about ordinary people’s concerns. Perhaps because they defy easy labeling, they’re creating the most interesting work in cartooning today, and it’s an honor to help present this new genre to the public.”
ATTITUDE includes cartoons by: Tom Tomorrow (“This Modern World”), Peter Kuper (“Eye of the Beholder”), Ruben Bolling (“Tom the Dancing Bug”), Lloyd Dangle (“Troubletown”), Andy Singer (“No Exit”), Don Asmussen (“San Francisco Comic Strip”), Clay Butler (“Sidewalk Bubblegum”), Jen Sorensen (“Slowpoke”), Scott Bateman, Tim Eagan (“Deep Cover” and “Subconscious Comics”), Derf (“The City”), Lalo Alacaraz (“La Cucaracha”), Joe Sharpnack, Eric Bezdek (“Corn Valley”), William L. Brown (“Citizen Bill”), Ward Sutton (“Schlock ‘n’ Roll”), Stephanie McMillan (“Minimum Security”), Mickey Siporin (“America Outta Line”), Jim Siergey (“Cultural Jet Lag”), Ted Rall (“Search and Destroy”), & Matt Wuerker (“Lint Trap”). In addition, Ted Rall interviewed each artist and asked them to submit ephemera from their personal lives. “Cartooning fans will love ATTITUDE,” says Rall. “It’s a rare opportunity to meet the personalities as well as their work.”
The Iowa City Gazette calls ATTITUDE “a fascinating look at the minds behind some of the most caustic commentary of modern society and politics.”
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