Bok Steps Out
Posted November 8th, 2008 by Chip Bok
I'm moving on to other things. This is my last cartoon for the Akron Beacon Journal.
It seemed only fair after 22 years to give Mayor Plusquellic, Marco Sommerville, Dave Lieberth and others a whack at me. The truth is I never spent much time around politicians because I was afraid I would like them. I actually think they have the area's interests at heart and have done a pretty good job.
I plan to work on a follow-up book to The Great White House Breakout (an easy way to settle your Christmas buying concerns) and a comic strip. I'll also continue to draw 4 editorial cartoons a week for Creators Syndicate. I think the demise of newspapers is overated, so who knows?
This blog will remain as an archive on Ohio.com. I plan to post future cartoons to a new blog with the domain name bokbluster.com.
I'll miss the simple act of walking into the Beacon every morning. I'll also miss arguing with my boss and friend, editorial page editor Mike Douglas. Finally I'll miss the easy pleasure of being around talented people who love what they do.
So long.
(click image to enlarge)
November 8th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Chip:
I'll miss you and your cartoons. I would look at editorialcartoonists.com, ohiomm and also reason.com and I always looked forward to a new Bok.
Thanks for all the humor and best wishes you.
Stuart
p.s. try not to like politicians too much.
November 8th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Thanks for your work and good luck.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:08 am
Will you now admit that you were Mencken?
November 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I'll still be at Reason and the others through Creators Syndicate.
I'm not Menken but I miss having him around.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Well, there goes my last reason for getting the Beacon Journal. I wonder if David Black ever reads his own paper. Good luck, Chip. I hope you land in somebody's newsroom. That's where you belong. Mike Douglas must have been a good editor to have held onto you all this time.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I am so excited about the prospect of another book. Your wit is well placed in the world of children's literature with political satire. I've really enjoyed checking in here for your latest and will just change the bookmark to the Syndicate. I know the wind will be always at your back.
November 11th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Ditto Ed. After 18 years, I cancelled my subscription first thing Monday morning. The things that made the Beacon a paper unique and worth reading are vanishing into thin air and this was the last straw for me. Good luck Chip.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Ed and Wendy are right ,you were the last unique thing going for the Beacon.
I guess I had a clue when you said Black was suprised that the Beacon had a cartoonist.Now no cartoonist and no interest in the paper on my part.
Heck this was the job you wanted 32+ years ago, now you can do it without a boss. Other than yourself.Thanks for pissing me off and making me laugh.
November 14th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I'm touched to be remembered at this wake.
Trust me Smitty, Mencken is a figment of someone
other than Chip's imagination.
I knew the ABJ was in trouble when one of their photographers told me
that Black told them that they had the best camera equipment in the chain,
and that they were lucky to have what they did.
Good luck Chip.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Black also asked "is that all he does?" about Bok. His chain is weekly shoppers, which is what the Beacon is becoming. John Knight must be churning. How long until the Plain Dealer takes over? They've already got the sports.