Looking Back...

Below are some of my own favorite caving cartoons from the 90's...

From 1987 until 1997, I drew a lot, I mean, a lot of cartoons. In 1997, I made an attempt to make a career out of it and came up a little short. I love drawing cartoons and comics, but lack, well, talent. At least the kind of talent and drive (not to mention guts) to make a living from it. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it.

I recently started digitizing the many cartoons, doodles and sketches I've done over the past 20 years. This task has even encouraged me to work on a new comic idea, the first project of this kind that I've attempted in years. Looking back, I have a new appreciation for what I created and I want to share some of them here.

"Come North to Cave"

While living in Vermont and doing a little caving with some local cavers, I came to know what New England caves were really like. Those trips inspired the following cartoons, perhaps the best caving cartoons I ever drew.

Mud is Always Funny...

My favorite cartoons were my Tales from the Lost Cavern strips and single panels. I drew over fifty of them. They weren't always that funny, but I loved them because they reflected the great times I had with the caving community I was part of.

...So Are Dated Cultural References (and Breakdown Blocks)

Here are two more of my favorites. Caving humor can become a little macabre.

A Few More

To wrap this up, I'll include a variety of cave cartoons. Again, maybe not the funniest, but all my cartoons were inspired by my caving friends. I doubt I would have drawn them without their support.

This first one was originally sketched on my first trip down to the Burnsville Cove region, home of what I believe is still the largest cave in Virginia.

I drew a dozen variations of the following. This version appeared the National Speleological Society NSS News.

Now that it's 2010, these should exist. I know this retired caver would buy one.

Finally, we will end on one of my inspirational cartoons!