Two decades of editorial cartoons at the Peak will be celebrated in a soon-to-be released book. In honour of the Peak’s 20th anniversary this month, the paper’s longstanding editorial cartoonist wendy brown and its former managing editor, Janet Southcott, have assembled a book, which provides a unique retrospective of Powell River history.
The book, aptly titled 105 Editorial Cartoons, contains cartoons that comment on Powell River issues, including everything from politicians to late ferries.
“There aren’t as many ferry cartoons as you would think,” said brown. “It’s a mini history of Powell River from a skewed perspective.”
That “skewed perspective” belongs to brown, who refers to herself as a “slightly bitchy person by nature.”
Preferring her name written in lower case laters, brown is a former advertising artist from Toronto. After experiencing enough of ‘80s corporate culture, brown said she wanted to move to Powell River so her family could enjoy the open spaces and she could pursue a career doing something creative.
“I came to town thinking it would accept me, a big shot Toronto artist, with open arms,” said brown. “But it wasn’t until [publisher] Joyce Carlson started up the Peak that I got my shot.”
brown said she was happy to be welcomed on to the Peak’s newspaper team in 1995. However, despite the warm welcome, she said there was a steep learning curve.
“Joyce was so patient with me as I figured out what I was doing,” said brown. “It’s harder to tell a story in a single-panel picture than you would think.”
Soon she caught on and learned how to develop a cartooning shorthand for drawing things such as ferries and faces.
“All of those faces I drew, that was me making the face and drawing it out,” said brown. “Drawing cartoons is a wonderful outlet. Although people always got mad at me, thinking my opinion was the one expressed by the people drawn in the cartoon.”
Retiring as Peak publisher in January, Carlson wrote the forward for brown’s book.
“People don’t always understand the purpose of a cartoon, which they can confuse with comics,” said Carlson. “They can be funny, but most often are thought-provoking or even disturbing. Just because something makes you uncomfortable doesn’t mean it has no value as commentary.”
brown has sold her comics to the Peak as a freelance artist nearly every week for 20 years.
“She, along with the paper, has been both congratulated and condemned during that time,” said Carlson.
A particularly notable cartoon, according to brown, was one drawn in solidarity with the 12 people killed at the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. The magazine, known for its anti-racist and far-left wing content, was targeted after publishing controversial cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad.
“It was such a simple image of a fist upthrust in protest holding a pencil,” said Wendy. “I am really proud of that one.”
With many editorial cartoonists losing their jobs at newspapers across the country, brown said still being able to reflect and poke at happenings here in Powell River is a privilege.
“It’s social commentary,” said brown. “Editorial cartoons are supposed to make people think.”
105 Editorial Cartoons will be released in time for Christmas, said Brown.
Southcott and brown will be offering interested readers an advance look at the book, and a chance to place early orders, 2 to 5 pm on Wednesday, November 25, at the Peak office during the paper’s 20th anniversary open house.
