A Signed and Serpentine Copy of Love & Vermin by Will McPhail

I'm no expert on cartoon book titles, but I believe love sells better than vermin—so why mix the two? Are snakes even considered vermin? I would tell Will McPhail probably not, but they don't exactly fall on the love side of the equation either. The context here is Love & Vermin:  A Collection of Cartoons by The New Yorker's Will McPhail, from 2022. A copy on AbeBooks is signed by the artist and includes a drawing of a somnolent—or is it lovelorn?—snake protruding its forked-tongue. 

The U.K. seller is Widney Manor Books. I wonder if they serve high tea.

Will McPhail
AbeBooks listing accessed March 1, 2026

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Love-Vermin-Collection-Cartoons-New-Yorkers/32298689834/bd

Will McPhail
AbeBooks item description

Currency exchange rate as of March 1, 2026

https://wise.com/us/currency-converter/usd-to-gbp-rate

The book remains available at the time of posting.

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #857

Have your boarding pass ready for The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #857 from the combined issue of July 10 & 17, 2023. My creepy caption is shown below. The crawly drawing is by Will McPhail.

"Don't you dare put out any feelers!"

This caption just wouldn't take off:

"All the people down there look like—YOU!"

July 24, 2023 Update:  The Finalists

August 6, 2023 Update:  If I had voted, I would have voted for the caption from Ann Arbor.

August 7, 2023 Update:  The Winner

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All Set for 2023

I just bought my copy of the Cartoons from The New Yorker 2023 Calendar, which offers fans of the art form a cartoon a day. Will that be sufficient? What is the optimal number of cartoons to encounter each day, anyway? To get some idea, let's take a look at The New Yorker magazine itself, which has been publishing many of the finest single-panel cartoons since 1925. The current weekly issue provides only eight cartoons, which some may deem adequate but I see as some sort of dereliction of duty. Nevertheless, eight cartoons over seven days is still fractionally more of a daily ration than the calendar offers. So with the calendar alone, I figure I'm all set for the year—provided I can get by on one cartoon a day. Keeping up my subscription to the magazine should allow me to effectively double that. And if I should want any more, well, I might have to resort to writing a blog or something.

Cover cartoon by Will McPhail

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #768

I tried to put a little spin on The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #768 corresponding to the issue of August 23, 2021. My caption is shown below. The cartoon is by Will McPhail.

"Just tell him you're all tied up."

These captions didn't catch fire:

"What kind of newfangled paddle is that?"
"I promise I'll go easy on him."
"Why can't he just wait and play the winner?"

August 30, 2021 Update:  The Finalists

September 6, 2021 Update:  I voted for the caption from Cambridge.

September 17, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #561

Beg and I just may show you my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #561 for March 20, 2017. The drawing is by Will McPhail.

"So we scratch each other's backs,
euphemistically speaking?"

March 27, 2017 Update:  The Finalists

April 3, 2017 Update:  I voted for the second caption.


April 10, 2017 Update:  And the winning caption is...

Note:  Last week, cartoonist Mick Stevens failed to invite us into his cave. I in turn failed to submit my caption. Does that explains the success of Contest #560?

Consult the blog archives for more caption contests from Will McPhail.

This blog has quite a few posts about man's best friend too.

It's that time of year again. Don't miss out on my remembrance of springs past!

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #540

I proudly present my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #540 for October 10, 2016. The drawing is by Will McPhail. 

"I want to try combination therapy."

Earlier today cartoon editor Bob Mankoff narrowed the field to his fourteen favorite captions. The first of these captions is the only one to use the word combination. I find it rather bland, but probably that's just sour grapes on my part. Let's face it: combination chemotherapy doesn't contract to combination therapy as well as I want to believe it does.

https://www.research.net/r/540Mc

October 17, 2016 Update:  The Finalists

October 24, 2016 Update: I voted for the second caption.


October 28, 2016 Update: The Rankings
The highest-ranked captions:

My caption ranked in the top 18% of captions:

The lowest-ranked captions:

October 31, 2016 Update: Winning Caption

Note:  Last week cartoonist Frank Cotham defied gravity. My caption defied logic. Go take a hike with Contest #539.

Look into the blog archives and take Will McPhail's pulse.

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #531

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #531 for August 1, 2016. The drawing is by Will McPhail.

"Widescreen just isn't us."

August 21, 2016 Update:  The Finalists

August 22, 2016 Update:  I voted for the first caption.


August 29, 2016 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last time we had a caption contest, cartoonist Peter Kuper dangled the Sword of Damocles. My caption must have dangled a modifier; why else wouldn't it be chosen? In other words, Contest #530 must really have hung by a thread.

Depending on how you look at it, Will McPhail is a force of nature. Or a product of television.

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #526

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #526 for June 20, 2016. The drawing is by Will McPhail.

"What makes you think I'm a virgin?"

I thought these captions were less heavenly:

"Size still matters."
"Care for a round of ring toss?"

June 27, 2016 Update:  The Finalists

July 4, 2016 Update:  I forgot to vote, but I like the second caption.



July 18, 2016 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week John Klossner rightsized the pram. My caption was held back and will have to repeat Pre-K. Do a wheelie and see the outcome of Contest #525.

Will McPhail's work has not always been quite so angelic.

A look at my posts about size gags may convince you there's nothing new under the sun.

Yesterday, Michael Maslin's Ink Spill blog noted Attempted Bloggery's fifth anniversary!

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #481

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #481 for July 6, 2015. The drawing is by Will McPhail.

"I'm all for equality if I can keep my clothes on."

July 20, 2015 Update:  The Finalists

August 3, 2015 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last time around,  Frank Cotham gave us a shootout in the Old West. I joined the gang that couldn't caption straight. Round up a posse and see the results of Contest #480.

Will McPhail has been seen in these parts once before.

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #471

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #471 for April 20, 2015. The drawing is by Will McPhail.

"They've got climate change figured down to the minute."

An unused effort:

"The caption contest has finally jumped the shark."

April 27, 2015 Update:  The Finalists

May 11, 2015 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week, Frank Cotham treated us to some home demolition. My caption came in like a wrecking ball. Please don't rush to condemn Contest #470. After all, I didn't know whether Miley was coming or going....

This is Will McPhail's first appearance on this blog. There's still hope he can live it down.

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