The CartoonStock Cartoon Caption Contest No. 204

In the CartoonStock Caption Contest number 204, a cow is concerned about a human child who is refusing to eat hay with her calf. The cow, wearing her apron, is the speaker. The cartoonist, new to this blog, is Katherine Bettis.

The rules of the monthly cash prize contest have not changed: Five dollars buys up to three entries. Real cash prizes are $500 for first place and $100 for each of five runners up. As of this writing, I've put $245 into the first forty-nine pay-to-play contests and this fiftieth challenge brings my total cash outlay up to $250. Having achieved runner-up status with three previous entries, I've collected $300 from CartoonStock, so I'm still playing with the house's money, thank you very much. In fact, so few contestants enter that the odds may generally be considered favorable even for less-gifted caption writers. My three entries this round are shown below.

"I make it while the sun shines."
"I promise you the hay is grade A."
"Tell your friend not to have a cow."

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #984

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #984 from the issue of March 30, 2026, a rabbit artist is working on a large painting while another rabbit is, it seems, criticizing it. The critical bunny speaks. My submission is below. The drawing is by Mike Twohy.

"For this we stopped reproducing?"

These captions weren't masterpieces:

"It doesn't hop."
"You forgot to use a dropcloth."
"It needs a caption."
"Well, I think it sucks."
"Too many colors."
"I don't look like that."
"Eggs again?"
"Chocolate again?"
"Your struggles are boring."

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National Doctors' Day 2026: Gahan Wilson 1969

Tomorrow is National Doctors' Day. Let's celebrate with a 1969 Playboy cartoon by Gahan Wilson set in a physician's office. The original art was sold by Heritage in the November 4 Illustration Art Signature Auction #8224.

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

The doctor's eyes are squinting—never a good sign. The patient doesn't show any good signs either.

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

Verso

Sixteen hours before the live auction, the bidding was already strong. But, unlike the patient, it would get stronger.

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions Mainstream Illustration listing accessed sixteen hours before the sale of November 4, 2025

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/gahan-wilson-american-1930-2019-we-may-already-be-too-late-mr-parker-playboy-cartoon-june-1969/a/8224-71272.s?ic16=ViewItem-Auction-Open-OtherAvailable-081514

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions Mainstream Illustration item description

Sold!

Finally, here's the prognosis as it appeared on the printed page:

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

https://www.blackgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gahan-Wilson-We-May-Already-Be-to-late.jpg

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #983

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #983 from the issue of March 23, 2026, a poppy seed bagel lies on a psychotherapist's couch and talks to his doctor, a bagel with caraway seeds. The patient speaks. My submission is below. The drawing is by Elisabeth McNair.

"I would thrive in the workplace but I can't pass a drug test."

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Ronald Searle's Complete Published Works?

Somebody did a very thorough job collecting the published books of Ronald Searle. Forum Auctions, which offered the set yesterday, called the approximately two hundred volumes "The Complete Works of Ronald Searle" to which I might add only "or very nearly" out of an abundance of caution.

But rather than quibble, let's pause to admire the condition of all these books in their lovely dust jackets, the inclusion of some different editions—English, American, French—and the books by various authors whom Searle illustrated.

In addition, at least three of the books were personally inscribed by Searle. The most impressive of these, no doubt, is David Arkell's copy of Ronald Searle's Big Fat Cat Book (1982) inscribed in October of that year to his long-time journalist friend with a classic Searle cat.

The London auction house's presale estimate was 6,000-8,000 GBP, with bidding starting at 5,000 GBP.

Ronald Searle
Forum Auctions listing accessed March 13, 2026

khttps://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Searle-Ronald-.-Collection-of-the-Complete-Work-305-c-E975213429?utm_term=ronald%20searle&utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keywordalerts&utm_content=430028&utm_term=430028

Ronald Searle

Forum Auctions item description

Alas, no sale.

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Bob Mankoff: Against Advice of Counsel

Last year an original drawing by Bob Mankoff, The New Yorker's cartoon editor from 1997 to 2017, was offered for sale on eBay. 

"Your Honor, against advice of council [sic] my client has decided to defend himself."
Bob Mankoff
Original cartoon art

The courtroom cartoon has heavy penciling under the crude ink drawing, suggesting that it's in its rough state. The caption has a misspelling—council instead of counsel—and the humor is a bit unsubtle.

"Your Honor, against advice of counsel my client has decided to defend himself."
Bob Mankoff
Original cartoon art

Bob Mankoff's signature

Bob Mankoff
eBay listing accessed October 20, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/286881879844?_skw=mankoff+original&itmmeta=01K81GKJ9YNX8QE4SZVPW6RB0R&hash=item42cb7e1724:g:V5wAAeSww11o8YzG&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eBoAt9DoMysmJFjL%2BtbDxN7i9JUBm1s0z%2BH52MHWTVuBwN%2BLmogoAQuUkX9

L4C5AZV5A9Vl6K5RjjpNhmbKoddVhjph9Jz3W8DXaTdYlcSev8t4dOF4%2BObTK1Yu9HtO9KNQFsYU1eaAtPsLNHuXAqJD8amk3RfnKRjURwFdu%2F7dPqtrwFYlDZfwa5r1TdPG%2BZVD6Ra3at%2BsnPor4j0ks3oWyIANGjMi0PPF4TY5Xy26oabKDK1tV4DrSSNKoIAwRQ%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6SlzrDAZg

Bob Mankoff
eBay item description

Note:  I don't believe this cartoon was ever published, but please let me know if I'm wrong.

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #982

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #982 from the issue of March 16, 2026, a couple walks through a snowy city teeming with penguins. The woman speaks. My submission is below. The drawing is by Meredith Southard.

"I know I could make sense of this with the help of Morgan Freeman."

I felt these captions weren't playful enough:

"Remember when we brought home the first two in our luggage?"
"Spring can't come soon enough."
"I really thought they would bring in more tourists."
"At least they're an improvement over the pigeon."
"Remember when the neighborhood was colorful?"

March 24, 2026 Update:  The Finalists

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Peter Arno and Whitney Darrow, Jr.: "A Delightful Addition to Any Child's Bookshelf"?

eBay seller kna_4183 is new to the auction platform, having just joined in November, so perhaps I should go easy on him—but I won't. A current eBay listing offers three cartoon books by New Yorker cartoonist Peter Arno, one by Whitney Darrow, Jr., Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit (1907) by Joel Chandler Harris, and Colette and the Princess (1965) by Louis Slobodkin. The group is listed under the title "Joel Chandler Harris & Peter Arno • Illustrated Children's Hardcover Book Lot." To which I would only ask, "Are you sure these are really all children's books?"

This is an unconventional grouping, to be sure. There are fifty-eight years and two world wars between the two actual children's books in the lot, those of Harris and Slobodkin. In between are four books by New Yorker cartoonists that collect some of the wittiest and most sophisticated cartoons of their era. These books are Peter Arno's Parade (1929), his Hullabaloo (1930), and his Sizzling Platter (1949), as well as Whitney Darrow, Jr.'s, "You're Sitting on My Eyelashes" (1943). They're not in any way harmful to children, but they were all marketed to adults. The dust jacket to Peter Arno's Sizzling Platter with its delectable double entendre makes that pretty plain.

Here's how the eBay seller describes the listing: "This product is a lot of illustrated children's hardcover books featuring stories by Joel Chandler Harris, Peter Arno, and others. The books are in English and are original editions, with illustrations done by Louis Slobodkin. The stories fall under the genres of fairy tales and fantasy, making them perfect for young readers to enjoy. This collection would be a delightful addition to any child's bookshelf, offering a mix of classic tales and whimsical illustrations to spark imagination and creativity." They are all treated as if they had exactly the same sort of fairy story content and were all illustrated by Slobodkin. But the Harris book has folk tales, not fairy tales, and the Arno and Darrow books have single panel cartoons, not stories. Did the seller ever look inside them?

Peter Arno, Whitney Darrow, Jr., Joel Chandler Harris, and Louis Slobodkin
eBay listing ended March 14, 2026

https://www.ebay.com/itm/147190625647?

Peter Arno, Whitney Darrow, Jr., Joel Chandler Harris, and Louis Slobodkin
eBay item description

Since February 14, this lot has been relisted on eBay every Saturday at the same price, $90.

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Whitney Darrow, Jr.: A Good Lesson for Eugene

A 1966 New Yorker cartoon original by Whitney Darrow, Jr., was sold at Heritage Auctions in February. It was from the collection of Irvin Greif, Jr. 

"But, Eugene, it's not enough to                              
be gifted. We've got to do something with our gift."
Original art
Whitney Darrow, Jr.
The New Yorker, November 19, 1966, p. 61

The setting is a suburban classroom, in what is in all likelihood a private school. The teacher wishes to impart an  important lesson to Eugene.

"But, Eugene, it's not enough to                              
be gifted. We've got to do something with our gift."
Framed and matted original art
Whitney Darrow, Jr.
The New Yorker, November 19, 1966, p. 61

It's a good lesson for Eugene. But he does seem skeptical.

"But, Eugene, it's not enough to                              
be gifted. We've got to do something with our gift."
Original art
Whitney Darrow, Jr.
The New Yorker, November 19, 1966, p. 61

On Bainbridge Board

The bidding opened at $1. Who could possibly resist? (But the buyer's premium did start at $49.)

Whitney Darrow, Jr.
Heritage Auctions listing of February 6, 2026, some 20 days before the sale

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/whitney-darrow-jr-american-1909-1999-it-s-not-enough-to-be-gifted-new-yorker-cartoon-1966-charcoal-ink-and/a/15263-17110.s?ic10=ExpandedResults-Thumbnail-022817#

It was sold to an internet bidder:

Whitney Darrow, Jr.
Heritage Auctions item description

The original art is now toned. It looked great in the pages of The New Yorker:

"But, Eugene, it's not enough to                              
be gifted. We've got to do something with our gift."
Original art
Whitney Darrow, Jr.
The New Yorker, November 19, 1966, p. 61

"But, Eugene, it's not enough to                              
be gifted. We've got to do something with our gift."
Whitney Darrow, Jr.
The New Yorker, November 19, 1966, p. 61

With drawings by Al Ross and Whitney Darrow, Jr.

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1966-11-19/flipbook/060/

* * * 

On the facing page, Al Ross's more linear, unshaded style contrasts nicely with Darrow's. Ross comments on the Vietnam War. The speaker is not that many years older than Darrow's children.

"Did you ever realize that one of those little things will destroy everything within 
a half mile, regardless of race, creed, or color?"
Al Ross
The New Yorker, November 19, 1966, p. 60

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