Today we revisit cartoons published in February 1999, 25 years ago. It’s always fascinating to see how much (or how little) has changed over a quarter of a century. Per usual, some cartoons simply no longer make sense and others really demonstrate just how slow progress can be. And others are simply all-time, classic cartoons that would be incredible in any year. I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the growing number of cartoonists no longer with us: J.B. Handelsman, George Booth, Charles Barsotti, Leo Cullum, Danny Shanahan, Gahan Wilson, Jack Ziegler, William Hamilton, Ed Koren, Michael Crawford, Robert Weber and Sam Gross.
1999 was full of Y2K drama, Napster, Yankees, Tiger Woods dominance and SpongeBob Squarepants. Bob Mankoff was cartoon editor at The New Yorker and selected this Christopher Weyant cartoon that cuts to the point. Considering the enduring popularity of this cartoon (and lack of innovation in snow removal) this will remain a best seller.
Speaking of Bob Mankoff, here is one of his cartoons that fits nicely on this Valentine’s Day.
Sticking with the theme of love, I present this classic J.C. Duffy toon-
Considering the recent Superbowl Sunday, this William Hamilton cartoon still gets a laugh thanks to modern fertility advancements.
I’m afraid Barbara’s Smaller’s cartoon is even more accurate today…
As the 20th century was winding down we all had a lot on our minds, as Jack Ziegler captures here-
I think this Gahan Wilson cartoon is still the case, although Ted Williams may soon correct me.
Another evergreen by Harry Bliss-
All this reminiscing is getting me emotional which Victoria Roberts illustrates
I’m glad we solved the nepo-baby problem that Warren Miller was worried about.
Technology has changed dramatically. I don’t think CartoonStock even has keywords for these two…
For the record I LOVED the Walkman
Even with these changes, how much has really changed? See you next time.
VIEW MORE CARTOONS FROM FEBRUARY 1999
Keep Reading:
Cartoon Trends: What’s Changed in the Last 30 Years
Related Posts:
The Cultural Impact of Cartoons: More Than Just Funny Pictures
Spotlight: September 1997 – The CartoonStock.com Blog
The Most Recognizable Cartoon Styles
Part of our guide: The History & Art of Cartoons: A Visual Language Through Time
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