Cartoons

Drawn nonsense. Do you really want me to explain these things?

I can say this though. Imagine James Ensor and Hans Holbein, represented by the skeletal forms that they loved to feature in their drawings. Not the clean, stylised skulls from a Jolly Roger or pictogram. But oddly shaped, not entirely void of tissue and bits. Separated by centuries, E and H never met. But as artists they shared the realisation that the skeletal form has the capacity for comedy and criticism. Once the jump scare is over, they can be quite charming.

Not quite done with life, these skeletal Ensor and Holbein, they have some things to share. As a pair, these characters are great because it allows them to interact with each other. As readers we get to observe and enjoy their banter without having a skull talk to us directly. Because that would be scary.

Imagine a phonograph audio track along an Euler spiral. Extended play!

Puns exist already, waiting to be discovered. As a rule they offer no real new perspective on the human condition, there is no food for thought, no lessons to be learned. But puns do illustrate the desperate human need to find structure in a chaotic world. Maybe that is why puns hurt? Because they expose how superficial our observations tend to be and we do not like to be reminded about how ineffective we are?

Anyway. Boat-man & Row-bin are brilliant.

Cavity. Ensor and Holbein inspect each others teeth.

Ensor and Holbein drink coffee. The leaky skeleton is a trope, but a good cup can warm your bones.

Ensor and Holbein, dancing, with all their bits flying. Gross, for sure. But also endearing, they’re having the time of their lives.

Ensor and Holbein are name-checking themselves in the History of Art. They’re not vain, necessarily, but they are curious about what they left. Apart from most of their bodies and gross bits.

Ensor is feeding the fish.

Ensor and Holbein take the bones out. Obviously a reference to the Monty Python “Crunchy Frog” sketch. What do they have left to take bones out of?

Ensor realises he is too late for something. This is funny because he is clearly dead, but needs to look at this phone? Do you see it is not necessary to explain these things?

Godzilla on a tricycle. This one started as a scribble in a notebook during a meeting. Productive meeting it was, I made this sketch. Its tiny feet can not reach the pedals. That is why it is always walking.