Comments on: Political Gamer.

By: DisasterMan

DisasterMan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:47:41 +0000

Ah, this is what these blogs are REALLY for IMHO – nice insight into the process, and great to see Clay’s version as a different take… As I don’t get to see the print vesions (being in London) I’m grateful for them all, but it’s nice to get the inside track on the process.

P.S. Matt, can you drop me a line, have misplaced your email address!

By: Clay

Clay — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:20:42 +0000

Like Doophy, I am biased and have to admit I like Clay’s best also….because I am Clay. Damn, I’m awesome.

No Editor involved = FUNNY!!! To survive in this business you have to be very familiar with the built-in puritanical dual standard for what’s acceptable in print vs. web. I think many of us, me included, fall back on that a little too much.

Thanks for posting the man-boob toon, Matt. It was fun and a little stress relieving.

By: Matt Davies

Matt Davies — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:42:50 +0000

Thanks all for your feedback. Could have used you all on late Wednesday afternoon when I was inking the cartoon!

Doophy, I like Clay’s best too. But to be fair, he didn’t have the added burden of crafting an image that needed to get past an editor…
Isn’t it weird that there is a well-understood, built-in puritanical dual standard for what is acceptable in printed newspapers vs. on the web?

By: Doophy

Doophy — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:50:13 +0000

For the paper, I like the one you printed. If the parent were to be included, I would put her between the politician and the kid with the wire going around her. Maybe have her look incredulously at it. Overall, I have to say I like Clay’s best. Admittedly, I am sort of a homer since Clay’s a friend, and I used to work at the FLS. His toon addresses not only the video game issue, but the larger one of politicians trying to legislate parenting.

By: DebS

DebS — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:23:39 +0000

Matt,

For what my opinion is worth, here it goes:

The one printed is the best.

I do agree w/Scott that the bonding touch would have ‘felt’ better, but I find the Mom redundant in any case. So, removing her completely adds to the cartoon rather than subtracts from it; i.e., Albany has usurped her role.

The Bill-of-Rights cartoon seems ANGRY. Holy cow!

By: Lyn Attreed

Lyn Attreed — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:39:10 +0000

The second image just felt ‘right’ and really made your point. Having the parent hold the child’s hand would have been a nice finishing touch…

By: Scott Stantis

Scott Stantis — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:42:27 +0000

As a cartoonist I cannot believe I am about to say this but; I agree with your editor. With one more change. I would have had the child holding the parents hand illustrating the bond between the two as opposed to the constructed by the government.

But that’s just me…...

By: zhaf

zhaf — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:37:14 +0000

I love all three versions, but as a long time videogame player (20+ yrs), I think I prefer the one with the parent because I think it reads better for me. The politician trying to insert his control of the kid over the parents. The first one has that same feeling now that I see the second, but with the many things games are capable of these days, the relationship isn’t as clear to me. Maybe the pol is sending the kid some kind of message?