8th Annual City Paper Comics Contest

Special Issues > Comics Issue, Cover

Comics Feature

Posted 9/9/2009

By overwhelming majority vote, Afrocentric feminist and regular letter-to-the-editor writer Larnell Custis Butler's Ask Larnell is the winner of the 2009 installment of City Paper's Comics Contest, earning her a one-year paid gig in Baltimore's Most Comical Alternative Weekly.

Thanks to this year's panel of distinguished celebrity judges, in no particular order : Benn Ray of Atomic Books, who has also taken the time to provide the aspiring cartoonist with some sage advice, Funny Paper's Tom Scocca, Dirt Farm's Ben Claassen III, Emily Flake of Lulu Eightball fame, Tony Millionaire of the one-and-only Maakies, and Dina Kelberman, creator of last year's winner, Important Comics, which will stick around in a mutated form in the pages of CP for the foreseeable future.

It is the considered opinion of the judges that Ms. Custis Butler's comic is: "Incredible work. I must see more of this comic strip." (Millionaire), "These are CRAZY. How fucking EXCITED would you be to read a new one of these every week???" (Kelberman), "I want to watch this self-destruct. Cuz you know it will. And it will be awesome." (Ray), "Definitely the only one I would check up on each week to see what it was up to." (Claassen III)

Again, overwhelmingly, St. Sebastian Materializes in the Present Day by "N" (with an arrow through it--you'll get it when you see the strip) takes second place, and Bruiser and Dude Child by Christopher Adams completes the field of prize winners. Second place receives a $100 gift certificate good at Bin 604 Wine Sellers (because we assume all cartoonists drink), and third place receives a $50 tab at Cinghiale Osteria, since we assume all cartoonists eat, but they have drinks there, too. Sincere Honorable Mention plaudits to (in alphabetical order) Dumb Ass by June Schmidt, Edgerock by M.G. Toth, Pickle Jar by Ryan Dumas, Sassyfrass by Jenna Brager, and Ben Steigler's untitled entry.

First Place: Just Ask Larnell

Comics Feature: by Larnell Custis Butler

Second Place: St. Sebastian Materializes In The Present Day

Comics Feature: by N

Third Place: Bruiser & Dude Child

Comics Feature: by Christopher Adams

Honorable Mention

Comics Feature: Edgerock by M.G. Toth, Untitled by Ben Stiegler, Pickle Jar by Ryan Dumas, Sassyfrass by Jenna Brager, and Dumb Ass by June Schmidt

The Rest

Comics Feature: The rest of the entries.

Simple Cartooning Tips for The Comics Inclined

Comics Feature: Some pointers for future would-be cartoonists thinking about entering the next City Paper Comics Contest. by Benn Ray

Comics Feature archives

toonman

3 comments.

Member since 9/9/2009

Every year you folks pick the worst EVER cartoonists! You must be kidding with Larnell PLEASE! Total garbage! Your judges must've been stoned to think this trash should merit first place. I really suggest you discontinue this farce,or have judges who have no vested interest in who wins. Yes, I've been rejected SEVEN years in a row! FLYNNTOONS! Yeah, you know me. Guess what? I moved out of stinkin Baltimore forever because of this kind of bullshit! No disrespect to the winner, they think they're great,well so do I. Your judges cartoons suck too by the way, that's my opinion!

This is a bridge I enjoy burning!!! You idiotic morons!

Posted 9.9.2009 12:26 PM

joecool

13 comments.

Member since 1/6/2009

Whadda buncha crap

http://www.flynntoons.com/

Posted 9.9.2009 4:58 PM

joecool

13 comments.

Member since 1/6/2009

That is to say, what a bunch of uninspired, unoriginal, insipid cartoons at that particular website. Somebody is whiny! At least the winning comics were unique. And by the way, Lulu Eightball and Dirt Farm RULE. And Perry Bible, The Pain Will When It End, and Super Amazing Adventures also ruled. Shabby Tabby and Important comics, not so much, but even they were unique at least and provoked some sort of reaction - even though for me it was usually frustration or anger.

Posted 9.9.2009 5:05 PM

hoooah

23 comments.

Member since 9/12/2007

I'd think this is an April fools joke only it's September, this cartoon is terrible. Terrible!!! Not amusing, thought provoking, anything, just plain bad. Is this person really goiong to get paid for this crap?

Posted 9.10.2009 6:35 AM

Sobo Boyo

14 comments.

Member since 4/22/2009

I'm hoping it really is sarcasm that I am reading in the write up, and that none of the top 3 were actually winners of any prize. It is a joke, right? Some of the honorable mentions and the rest were actually pretty funny on the other hand.

Posted 9.10.2009 8:43 AM

jennab

1 comments.

Member since 9/10/2009

thanks for the plaudits.

jenna b.

sassyfrasscircus.com

Posted 9.10.2009 5:42 PM

toonman

3 comments.

Member since 9/9/2009

Hey Joecool, if you honestly believe what you're writing then you're a moron too! Why don't you tell us what you're good at besides smokin dope and drinking beer at the Mt Royal Tavern. Nitwit!

Posted 9.10.2009 7:58 PM

Charles

394 comments.

Member since 1/11/2007

I seems the judges picked the winners out of a hat.

Posted 9.11.2009 12:19 AM

adidating

1 comments.

Member since 9/11/2009

High corruption. City Paper has insulted any and everyone with a sense of humor. Every single person who has seen the winning comics has been shocked at horribly shite they are. I suppose I'll be removing all City Papers from the newstand and putting them in the nearest recycling receptacle.

Posted 9.11.2009 8:42 AM

jeever

2 comments.

Member since 9/11/2009

Good job Citypaper-you’ve done it again.

How can you use superlatives such as “Great!” to describe this load of juvenile, moronic, base-level crap with any credibility? What a collection of junk! If you told me that these were ripped out of the notebooks of horny adolescent boys I’d have believed it!

Grow up, Citypaper!

Posted 9.11.2009 9:29 AM

Skizz

2 comments.

Member since 9/11/2009

I really don't get you guys. Are you trying to pick the suckiest entries. I have to agree with some off the others, you pick the worst comics year after year. You should get some judges outside of your world and lend some credibility to the process. I agree with Toonman. His cartoons ARE better than most of the crap you have posted. WTF????

Posted 9.11.2009 4:04 PM