newyorkette

(Sold—and then unsold—cartoon by carolita johnson.)

The story behind this cartoon is that it was not actually rejected! It was bought. Then it was un-bought. Why? The cartoon fact-checkers found a very similar cartoon in their archives by Charles Addams (from 1978), “nearly identical,” they said. But I haven’t seen it. In fact, I’ve searched all over the internet, but haven’t found it. Anyone? If you know where it is, I’d love to see it. In any case, I’ve been told to take comfort in the old adage, “great minds think alike.”

I might add that this cartoon was inspired by a true story.

This is the second cartoon that turned out to be nearly identical to another cartoonist’s cartoon. The first time was four years ago, and I forget who the cartoonist was, but it was a 1937 cartoon showing a man counting sheep that have fallen from exhaustion and are snoozing wherever they’ve landed on the other side of the fence. I guess there’s a reason we TNY cartoonists all come together! When we do nearly identical cartoons, I guess it means we’re all cut from the same cloth! (The same, crazy, itchy cloth!)

Let this be a lesson to everyone out there who thinks anyone has ever “stolen” their cartoon idea! Get over it!

Now, back to my chores!

UPDATE: the author of Jesus & Mo has kindly taken the time to search The Complete New Yorker in order to find the Addams cartoon in question! Here it is!
FURTHER UPDATE: I gave my cartoon to my exterminator this Saturday, which made him very happy. I just consider it giving back to my community. (I told him the story behind it, as well, which didn’t stop him from wanting it!)

Posted Monday, March 12th, 2007 at 1:29 pm under rejected cartoons. Feel free to trackback from your own site. All images on newyorkette.com are the intellectual property of Carolita Johnson, and you must ask (and receive) express permission to use them or reproduce them in any way whatsoever.