Break Quote by Bill Watterson
“I think the experience forced me to consider how interested I was in political cartooning. After I was fired, I applied to other papers but political cartooning, like all cartooning, is a very tough field to break into. Newspapers are very reluctant to hire their own cartoonists when they can get Oliphant or MacNelly through syndication for a twentieth of the price.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Comic creator interview, 1995
Cartooning is a niche, competitive field where syndication dominates, making it hard for individual artists to find paid work.
In simple terms: Cartooning is tough because big syndicates cheapen the market.
Key Takeaway
Explore alternative platforms for cartoon distribution.
Themes
career
industry
economics
Mood
cautious
realistic
Type
strategic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- freelance comic publishing
- online platforms
- crowdfunding
- self‑publishing
Key Concepts
syndication
market dynamics
creative independence
Questions to Reflect On
- What are viable ways to sustain a cartooning career today?
- How can creators retain artistic control?
A Different Perspective
Syndication can limit creative freedom and diversity of voices.
![“I don't think that what I'm doing [political cartooning] is necessarily left versus right. What I'm addressing is top versus bottom. If I'm not spending a lot of time making fun of the more extreme elements of the Green Party, it's because what I do is to critique power.” quote by Tom Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebc/tom-tomorrow-48236_bottom_i-don-t-think-that-what-i-m-doing-politi_1704002.jpg)
