Phil Witte and Rex Hesner

Cartoon critics Phil Witte and Rex Hesner look behind gags to debate what makes a cartoon tick.

Anatomy of a Cartoon: The One and Only Roz Chast

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Cartoon critics Phil Witte and Rex Hesner look behind gags to debate what makes a cartoon tick. This week our intrepid critics focus on perennial favorite Roz Chast. Roz Chast is a singular artist whose quirky, personal approach is instantly recognizable. She’s transcended the single-panel genre to touch an international audience with poignant recollections of…
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Anatomy of a Cartoon: Drawing a Fine Line

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Cartoon critics Phil Witte and Rex Hesner look behind gags to debate what makes a cartoon tick. This week our intrepid critics examine the drawing behind some favorite cartoons. Every budding cartoonist faces a dilemma: the tools are at hand, coffee’s on, and the ideas are brimming over –- now what? Sure, the gag’s great…
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Anatomy of a Cartoon: Mother’s Day

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Cartoon critics Phil Witte and Rex Hesner look behind gags to debate what makes a cartoon tick. This week our intrepid critics examine cartoons about dear old Mom. Mother’s Day—a day dedicated to the person we love most … or at least the person we have the strongest feelings toward. Naturally, many cartoons feature mothers….
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Anatomy of a Cartoon: Taxes!

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Cartoon critics Phil Witte and Rex Hesner look behind gags to debate what makes a cartoon tick. This week our intrepid critics examine cartoons about the trials of taxes. BUY THIS CARTOON April is the cruelest month, as T.S. Eliot observed and Mick Stevens illustrated. The tax deadline looms ominously from the first of the…
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Anatomy of a Cartoon: Climate Change

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Cartoon critics Phil Witte and Rex Hesner look behind gags to debate what makes a cartoon tick. This week our intrepid critics examine cartoons about climate change. Rex: It seems every other headline features the word “climate”, whether referring to massive storms or permanent global change. Phil: Are we really going to talk about the…
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