Central Machine Works
In Defense of Brilliant 'Maakies'
RECEIVED Sun., July 4, 2010
Dear Editor,
If I’m not mistaken, this is the second or third time that Cary Jones has gone headhunting after Tony Millionaire’s brilliant Maakies strip in the Chronicle [“Postmarks,” July 2]. While of course it may not be Jones’ cup of tea, I should hope he (she?) is aware that Tony Millionaire is a multiple Harvey, Eisner, and Ignatz award nominee and winner and has been published in The New York Times, The Believer, The New Yorker, and McSweeney’s. Most of his critical success derives from his ability to recapture the craft of early 20th century American cartooning greats such as E.C. Segar, George Herriman, et al. The only Austin cartoonists with careers even approaching that level of prestige would be Jack Jackson (who is dead and isn’t a humorist) and Gilbert Shelton (who hasn’t lived here in years and whose best work is far behind him). Unless, of course, he (she) is trying to claim Chris Ware or Berkeley Breathed, which hardly seems appropriate considering the short time they lived in Austin and the fact that they did the vast majority of their best work elsewhere. Either way, none of these cartoonists work in weekly strips anymore. I truly doubt even Austin’s cartoonist community would consider themselves superior to Millionaire, and I’m sure they’d be smart enough to recognize scatology as an ancient tool of humorists and dramatists alike. I’d suggest a good Ziggy compilation as something more up to Jones’ speed. In the meantime, maybe the editors could suggest more jokes about lasagna-eating cats to Millionaire.
If I’m not mistaken, this is the second or third time that Cary Jones has gone headhunting after Tony Millionaire’s brilliant Maakies strip in the Chronicle [“Postmarks,” July 2]. While of course it may not be Jones’ cup of tea, I should hope he (she?) is aware that Tony Millionaire is a multiple Harvey, Eisner, and Ignatz award nominee and winner and has been published in The New York Times, The Believer, The New Yorker, and McSweeney’s. Most of his critical success derives from his ability to recapture the craft of early 20th century American cartooning greats such as E.C. Segar, George Herriman, et al. The only Austin cartoonists with careers even approaching that level of prestige would be Jack Jackson (who is dead and isn’t a humorist) and Gilbert Shelton (who hasn’t lived here in years and whose best work is far behind him). Unless, of course, he (she) is trying to claim Chris Ware or Berkeley Breathed, which hardly seems appropriate considering the short time they lived in Austin and the fact that they did the vast majority of their best work elsewhere. Either way, none of these cartoonists work in weekly strips anymore. I truly doubt even Austin’s cartoonist community would consider themselves superior to Millionaire, and I’m sure they’d be smart enough to recognize scatology as an ancient tool of humorists and dramatists alike. I’d suggest a good Ziggy compilation as something more up to Jones’ speed. In the meantime, maybe the editors could suggest more jokes about lasagna-eating cats to Millionaire.
Paul Mason