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20 Brilliant One-Panel Gag Cartoons By Ellen Liebenthal That Capture Life’s Absurdity Just Right
Ellen Liebenthal is a seasoned senior graphic designer and accomplished cartoonist whose creative journey began the moment she could grasp a pencil. What started as whimsical doodles in the margins of school notebooks evolved into fully realized characters, original comic strips, and a lifelong passion for visual storytelling.
With a background in illustration and a sharp eye for both design and narrative, Liebenthal has carved out a distinctive voice in the world of gag cartoons. Her work — characterized by its wit, intelligence, and emotional nuance — has appeared in renowned publications including The New Yorker and The Belladonna, where her ability to capture the absurdities of everyday life through a single frame continues to resonate with readers.
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Beyond the page, she is a committed member of the cartooning community, actively shaping its future through her role on the board of the National Cartoonists Society and as Chair of its Manhattan chapter. Whether she's sketching a punchline or designing for clients, Ellen brings humor, depth, and craftsmanship to everything she creates — proving that great design and great storytelling are always a perfect match.
I suppose I’m a bit of a nerd. This immediately reminded me of when Michelangelo got mad at Biagio (someone in the Catholic Church), because Biagio complained about too much nudity in The Last Judgement. So, he put poor Biagio’s face on one of the damned souls of hell at the bottom right corner of the Last Judgement painting. Feel free to ignore.
I want to start a church where the baskets a hand out and not a dontation to the church. Like you have a few bucks to spare at this week at "frans sunday ceremonies and slices *its slices of cake. All different kinds!* when you get the basket, if you have some extra money floating around, toss it in! Rough week and need gas money? Go on and take a $20...maybe remember it when your fortune is plentiful or just bake a cake for next sundays slice!
Victim - "Anything but the Spanx". Bully - "Anything at all?" Victim - (thinks rapidly) "OK, the Spanx then ..."