Friends Forever
or at least while it's convenient
Quick! Think of three friendships that you have.
Now, how would you describe them? A subtle outlet for bragging? Genuine interaction with a whiff of jealousy? A sweet, companionable presence? Another thing to be maintained in a life full of maintaining things? Something you put in a bowl that will eventually die?
Ok, good talk. We bared our souls so now we’re all friends. See you again in a year.
-Kendra
PS - Unless you said you put your friendships in a bowl till they die. That means we are not friends and please stop doing that.
Hilary Campbell
Would it really be friendship if you weren't bragging about your allowance? Over Christmas as I watched my nephew run to call his friends right after he opened his presents, I remembered how I used to do the same thing with my bestie. We'd sit on the phone, listing out our gifts, and while all my gifts were for sure discount toys from Marshall's hers were from the Sharper Image and they were SO COOL. A robot dog?! A Grinch Remote Control Car!! My guess is she probably had a higher airport allowance as well. It's funny (or maybe not funny at all) how early we all become aware of money, while also not understanding it at all.... okay anyway this was supposed to be about friendship. Yay for having rich friends!!!!
Jason Chatfield
Sometimes I draw cartoons and wonder if the reference is too old for current audiences. I don't remember the last time I saw a Western where a cowboy said "This town ain't big enough for the both of us." Come to think of it, the last Western I saw was Flowers of The Killer Moon, and that town definitely had bigger issues. I think I need stick to watching Jason Statham films where he tends to bees between cracking skulls. Anyway, here are some friendly cowboys.
Navied Mahdavian
As a kid, I had a rabbit named Thumper (I was always creative, see). He was my first pet and a real friend. One day my dad told me that he ran away. I only found out years later he was, in fact, eaten by some animal after we moved his cage outside.
There's some lesson about friendship in there.
Kendra Allenby
All friendships need to be renewed, somehow, but it doesn't have to be hard. I’ve found sometimes you can do it just by thinking about having coffee together. That's a nice little DIY tip right there, give it a try.
Or, pin those friendships on your wall, baby. Taxidermy if you’re hard core, or I suppose a nice picture will do.
But wait, there's more!
Jason Chatfield has a new Substack launching about the creative process called Process Junkie. You can sign up here!
Amy Kurzweil’s graphic memoir, Artificial: A Love Story, was named a best book of 2023 by The New Yorker, NPR and Kirkus - give it a read!
Cartoons by Hilary comes out every Friday!
Navied Mahdavian’s graphic memoir, This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America is out, and it’s getting rave reviews.
Ellis Rosen’s DINK! is the perfect gift for the pickleball enthusiast in your life.
Check out Jason Katzenstein’s Patreon
Amy Kurzweil teaches cartoon classes on Patreon! Sign up now to get the recording of every past class!
Subscribe to Jason Chatfield’s weekly substack at NewYorkCartoons.com