My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #992

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #992 from the issue of June 1, 2026, two rats stand outside of a laboratory maze. The rat who is speaking opens a jewelry case to reveal an engagement ring. My submission is shown below. The drawing is by Benjamin Slyngstad, whose work is new to me.

"It's lab-grown."

This one was a little too twee:

"Let's try our own experiment."

June 13, 2016 Update:  The Finalists

June 21, 2026 Update:  I voted for the caption from Wicklow.

June 27, 2026 Update:  The Winner

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Dorothy McKay in College Humor, December 1936

I now have in my hands the December 1936 issue of College Humor. Dorothy McKay's two cartoons this month are set indoors. Her women this time around are fairly young; the men are not.

"Well—This isn't just the position I had in mind, but I'll take it."
Dorothy McKay
College Humor, December 1936, p. 33

Will the two sexes ever learn to communicate with each other? Here's one of those little Christmas misunderstandings:

"But, Miss Finch—I only wanted to put something in your stocking!"
Dorothy McKay
College Humor, December 1936, p. 44

Note:  As of this date, not every issue of College Humor has crossed my path. Readers with Dorothy McKay cartoons from the magazine that have not made their way to this blog yet are invited to submit images of such.

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E. Simms Campbell: A Foolish Expenditure?

One of groundbreaking African-American cartoonist E. Simms Campbell's color pages from the January 1941 issue of Esquire depicts a black boy and girl contemplating a jewelry store's window display. The gag is possibly inspired by the Our Gang series of film shorts. The use of dialect is meant to come across as endearing and innocent. The cartoon is meant to be less funny than cute, and once again shows Campbell's incredible range.

"Don't you think it's kinda foolish t' spend a quarter for a diamond ring ef we
gonna keep our engagement a secret?"
E. Simms Campbell
Esquire, January 1941, page 130

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1941-ESQUIRE-MAGAZINE-Comic-Art-Page-Don-t-you-think-it-s-kinda-foolish...

Note:  Stay engaged! While Attempted Bloggery continues to examine the work of cartoonist E. Simms Campbell (1906-1971), readers can assist by providing high-resolution scans or photographs of outstanding original Campbell art or perhaps of forgotten published works such as this.

External Links:

E. Simms Campbell's Wikipedia Entry

E. Simms Campbell on Ink Spill

E. Simms Campbell in Christopher Wheeler's Cartoon(ist) Gallery 

E. Simms Campbell in Print: Insider Histories: Black Cartoonist E. Simms Campbell. Robert C. Harvey intervied by Michael Dooley. March 3, 2015

E. Simms Campbell on We Too Were Children, Mr. Barrie. October 6, 2012

E. Simms Campbell at American Art Archives

E. Simms Campbell on Eli Stein Cartoons.com:  "We All Have to Start Somewhere" Department. Case in Point No. 15. September 6, 2011

E. Simms Campbell in Potrzebie. October 10, 2007

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

E. Simms Campbell

Esquire

Attempted Bloggery's 14-Karat Index

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