BigStack
take a thing, now make it make big
Dear Patrons,
I know you think that we cartoonists are forever flowing fonts of uncountable hilarity and wisdom, that if you opened our brains you’d find pure pixie dust and magic banana peels, the stuff of comic genius. But I, Amy, am here to tell you that sometimes we too, like mere mortals, sit in front of blank piece of paper, a blank Word document, a blank Substack post and wonder…
what’s… like… an idea?
but no, like… a funny idea for a funny cartoon?
This question, it turns out, has an answer.
The answer is:
Take a thing.
Now, make it big.
This piece of literally foolproof advice was bestowed upon me and others by Emma Hunsinger (featured below) at our cartoonist’s panel at SPX Comics Festival the other week. Emma thought she was sharing a funny strategy that doesn’t always work, like once we get the “big thing” ideas out of the way, we can get to our truly great cartoons.
But no. It turns out: the big thing is the thing. Things being big is an endless source of humor. And I’m not talking about a couple extra pounds… that’s not funny that’s just people living life to the fullest. I’m talking superhero ginormous. I’m talking blue whales, T-rexs, Sequoia trees, The Great Barrier Reef, black holes, The Milky Way!
This insight is good news for my mother who keeps trying to pitch me on a cartoon about a giant bottle of sparkling water. (I’m working on it, Mom.)
Until I nail that cartoon, let’s look at a few others.
Bring in the giants…
-Amy K
I'm obsessed with those news stories about an old English couple who grow the world's biggest turnips, or the farmers the TV news people visit in Fall to hunt for "America's Biggest Pumpkin!" Why doesn't the carrot ever get a look in? What did carrots ever do to Television News Anchors? (Don't answer that if you know.)
Giant rocks aren't inherently funny--but what about finding long lasting peace and contentment? That’s where the joke is.
This was my first caption contest for The New Yorker. The winning caption was, "I don't know, what time do you think it is?" which is pretty funny. Do you have any alts?
He also likes model trains and Django Reinhardt, but no one ever asks about that.
This isn't so much a cartoon with a punchline, or even a concept that reveals something about our shared world. It's just an idea... just an idea for an exciting secret society. Anyone reading this is welcome to manifest the After Dark Dino-Dance Skeleton Marionette Society, by the way. Hit me up if you do and hire me to design your merch.
The restroom is pretty much everywhere.
It’s not easy being ginormous, scary, and hungry.
This to me feels less like a gag cartoon, and more like a wish. I would love to see this happen in real life one day. 🤞🤞🤞
This is the only time my initial "what if it was bigger" idea actually worked.
But wait, there’s more!
Hilary Campbell releases
every Friday!Watch ’s TED Talk! And check out her award-winning graphic memoir, Artificial: A Love Story.
Amy also teaches cartoon classes every month on Patreon! Sign up now to join the Creative Community.
Check out Navied Mahdavian’s critically acclaimed graphic memoir, This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America.
Jason Chatfield has two substacks: New York Cartoons (Cartoons about life in New York) & Process Junkie (Lessons on the creative process) and has a book coming out in Fall 2025 called "You're Not A Real New Yorker Until..." You can get a discount on your pre-order here.
Sofia Warren's got an advice column! Read it here.
Check out Emma Hunsinger’s fantastic graphic novel How It All Ends!
Enjoy more hilarious cartoons from Lonnie Millsap at his GoComics strip Bacön!
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