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 #965

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #965 from the issue of October 27, 2025, we are looking at a skeleton and a man watching television. The skeleton is laughing. The man, who has a bowl of popcorn in his lap, speaks. My entry appears below. The drawing is by Lars Kenseth.

"Why shouldn't I achieve my potential as an x-ray tech?"

These captions wouldn't rest in peace:

"Wait! Aren't those your fibulas?"
"It's not a crypt. It's the East Wing."

November 9, 2025 Update:  The Finalists

November 15, 2025 Update:  I voted for the caption from Denver.

November 22, 2025 Update:  The Winner

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Gahan Wilson's Skeleton in the Closet

Well, we all have one, don't we?

Gahan Wilson, "Must you bring that up every time we have an argument?"

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2300+++++279+&refno=++671168&saletype=

Note:  So, you demand more? Further blog posts regarding the strange universe of Gahan Wilson may be seen here.

Gahan Wilson's New Yorker work, which is less strange, may be found in the Cartoon Bank here.

The website for the documentary "Gahan Wilson:  Born Dead, Still Weird" by Steven-Charles Jaffe is here. The film is coming to Laemmle's Music Hall Theatre in Beverly Hills, California today and it will be playing through November 28. So if you're out there, the time for action is now.

Gahan Wilson's informative 2009 radio interview on the Leonard Lopate Show is here.

You'll find all the latest news about Gahan Wilson on Ink Spill here.

As I've noted before, there are also a couple of illustrations by Gahan Wilson on The Pictorial Arts blog here.

Was this artwork published? I would hope so. If you know for sure, please do tell.

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Gahan Wilson's Eerie Skeleton and Bats

Gahan Wilson provides an abundance of the requisite eeriness in this souvenir drawing with bats and a skeleton. Yes, there's even a coffin too for good measure. The drawing was recently sold on eBay. The image feels fairly seasonal right now with Halloween approaching, but in Gahan Wilson's case, drawings like this one are probably a year-round thing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gahan-Wilson-The-New-Yorker-Playboy-Artist-Cartoonist-Signed-Autograph-Sketch-/370784520836?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56547aca84&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Note:  Further blog posts regarding Gahan Wilson may be seen here.

Gahan Wilson's New Yorker work may be found in the Cartoon Bank here.

The documentary "Gahan Wilson:  Born Dead, Still Weird" by Steven-Charles Jaffe has its website here. The film is coming to Beverly Hills, California from November 22 to 28.

Gahan Wilson's informative 2009 radio interview on the Leonard Lopate Show is here.

You'll find the latest news about Gahan Wilson on Ink Spill here.

There are also a couple of illustrations by Gahan Wilson on The Pictorial Arts blog here.

Additional blog posts about Halloween can be found here.

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