A cartoon picture of David writing, and sweating. A large book next to him reads, "nakedfella.com. Comics and writing by best-selling cartoonist and public intellectual David Blumenstein"
Menu
  • About David
  • Comics
  • Squishface Studio
  • Experience Illustration
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Contact
Menu
When cartoonists near their sleep, some float down to the briny deep. They scratch away, toil and trouble, and daily they produce a bubble.

When Cartoonists Near Their Sleep: some Leunigy fun

Posted on September 30, 2021September 30, 2021 by David

I can’t remember which of the maestro’s recent cartoons made me do this four-panel tribute. An anti-vax one? A misogynist one? Not important really. If I were going to do this properly I would have used pen on paper to best match his style. Couldn’t be bothered!

When cartoonists near their sleep, some float down to the briny deep. They scratch away, toil and trouble, and daily they produce a bubble. We can't know what their bubble means, but let these legends air their spleens. Their pen was once a sharpened knife. The bubble now's their proof of life. Some sympathy for them is due, for what they are can be us too. As sleep draws close they start to slow. Their necks can't twist, their brains won't grow. I hope that when my sleep is near, and criticisms I can hear, I take them kind, my mind is clear, and bubbles do not fill my ear.

Tags: CartoonMichael LeunigTwaddle
Category: Comics

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Recent posts

  • “I’ll sell this to your wife!”
  • Squishbook receives commendation from the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards
  • What Is Service Design (Chapter 0)
  • #acic: Australian cartooning industry controversy
  • Jews Are Feeling Unsafe
  • Cartoonist Cooperative ‘Buy an E-Sim for Gaza’ Donation Drive
  • Squishbook is released!
  • Jewish, Australian, creative
  • “Our agency”
  • Octane Render open for preorder now!

David Blumenstein

I’m a service designer, cartoonist and co-founder of Squishface Studio. I’ve done comics for The Guardian, Crikey and Australian MAD. Currently also deputy president of the Australian Cartoonists Association.

I usually write about things that shit me off, from bad bosses (The Bret Braddock Adventures) to pick-up artists (#takedown) to white supremacist trolls (The Internet’s Most Trolled Cartoonist) to predatory cults (Why Los Angeles is Scientology’s perfect city) and nasty tech bros (Octane Render: Cartoonists talk about A.I. art).

I’m working on graphic novels called Sciensatics (about cultists) and Free Money, Please (about wealth and passive income).

Sarah Howell

I regularly collaborate with my wife, Sarah Howell.

Tweets by nakedfella
©2025 David Blumenstein