Next up, live shows. I just got back from my completely sold out tour of the midwest and it was awesome to meet so many of you in person.

Now I’m planning the next leg of the tour, and I need your help figuring out where to go. Fill out this Google form and I’ll hit up the cities with the most responses:

Click here

Also, for those of you who weren’t able to get tickets in Chicago, Detroit, or Minneapolis, fill out the same form. I know those shows all sold out quickly, so I’m going to plan encore dates in each of those cities. If you’re on the list, I’ll give you a heads up before announcing it wide.

Finally, a stickers update. I just dropped the last batch of the asher Summer of Stickers (ASS) in the mail, so it should be arriving shortly for those of you enrolled in the program. If you missed out on ASS and wish you could receive ASS now, it’s not too late. Simply become a paid subscriber and you’ll get a welcome message with instructions.

Okay, that’s it for now. Love you all.

Next, an announcement: I’m going on tour! I have a few stops already planned and a handful more in the pipeline. If you’d like me to come to your city, fill out THIS form (especially if you’re in Philly, Los Angeles, or Pittsburgh). My goal is to go everywhere there are enough ashholes to fill a venue, and I’ll use the data from the aforementioned form to find out where those places are. Here are the stops I have planned so far:

Minneapolis and Chicago both sold out quickly, so if you’re in one of those cities, use the same form I mentioned above to let me know. If enough people missed out, I’ll plan a return trip.

As is my wont, I will now recommend three things that I’ve enjoyed which I believe you may also enjoy, assuming our tastes are similar:

1. Emmy Blotnick’s new standup special, What’s Her Secret? I’m always so charmed by Emmy.

2. The If Books Could Kill podcast. My friend Nicole Conlan recommended this show to me and I’ve been inhaling it ever since. Basically, the hosts tear apart airport books and it’s really fun.

3. This quote from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan: “I have not used ChatGPT, because, as of yet, no one has held a shotgun to my head and made me do it…”

Finally, I just mailed my second batch of The asher Summer of Stickers, which we all know at this point forms the unfortunate acronym: ASS.

If you regret not signing up for ASS, it’s not too late. Simply become a paid subscriber and I’ll catch you up.

That’s all for now. Thank you all for being here.

But maybe I should back up.

I am a fulltime artist. I draw every day. I then turn around and sell my drawings, both to publications like The New Yorker and directly to my fans in the form of merch, like prints and tote bags. I also make books and write newsletters (like this one) that people generously pay for because they like what I do and want to support my ability to keep doing it. This is how I make my living. It’s precarious, but it works. And I love my job.

So, you can see why I might not have been thrilled at the introduction of generative artificial intelligence. Immediately, it was clear that this new technology posed a threat to all creatives. These models were not only cheap, they were fast. With a few keystrokes, anyone could produce, say, a New Yorker-style cartoon in mere seconds. On top of that, the reason these products could perform this miraculous feat was that they had been trained on the very artists whose jobs they were now threatening. For this reason, a new term emerged for anything that produced AI art: “theft machine.”

While the problem was clear, the solution was not. “The toothpaste is out of the tube” became a common refrain amongst techno-optimists and skeptics alike. Nevertheless, artists resisted. Some called for government regulation, a few took to the courts, others boycotted. I was one of these resisters and I enthusiastically joined my peers in the unifying message of: fuck this.

So, given everything I’ve just said, why am I writing an essay in defense of AI art? My answer is simple: the quality is now so undeniable, I have no choice. As they say, I know when I’m beat, and, frankly, I’m crying “uncle.”

Allow me to explain via a single case study. Five years ago, I made this cartoon that went viral:

The gag is simple, the drawing elegant. There’s really nothing I would change about it. Is what I thought at the time. What a fool I was. You see, a few weeks ago, it came to my attention that people on the internet had been feeding my work into AI engines like Midjourney. These “artists” were then sharing the new, AI-generated/altered images rather than my original work online. I scoffed, assuming this was nothing more than a cynical ploy to drive engagement without having to properly credit the original artist. But then I saw what they had made, and it. changed. everything. Here is an example:

At first glance, I just knew this version was better than my original. There’s just a certain je ne sais quoi to it. But then I started drilling down into the details and I found so many specific reasons for its superiority. I’ll enumerate them here:

1. The bargoers are all identical.

What an interesting layer! Rather than a story about a tavern full of strangers unified in their distaste for long songs, the scene is now a group of septuplets whose private family gathering is being rudely interrupted by a random bald baby man, which brings me to…

2. The bald baby man.

An undeniable upgrade, what I love most is that, unlike my mustachio’d hero, the bald baby man isn’t carrying cash with him, or even a credit card. This edit is fun because it means that, while he is in fact moving in the direction of the jukebox, he has no intention of selecting a song. Now the story is about an emotional mob attacking a total innocent. What social commentary! And, finally…

3. There’s a ghost.

I’m ashamed to admit it, but it didn’t even occur to me to put a weird spectral form in the background of mine. The presence of this ghost brother elevates this cartoon from merely a little joke to a full-ass horror movie. It also implies a stronger background story for the septuplets. Maybe the reason they’re gathered in the bar is to mourn the passing of their brother! This makes the bald baby man’s intrusion so much worse. It’s been heightened. That’s what we like to call in the business: “raising the stakes.”

Here’s another AI version of my cartoon:

Masterpiece. Three reasons:

1. The man isn’t actually going for the jukebox. He’s going for the “jukebax.”

What is a jukebax? That’s up to the viewer! This is theater of the absurd. Samuel Beckett would approve.

2) The expressions.

Unlike the boring neutral faces in mine, these bargoers are literally insane. They’re about to tear their fucking skin off their faces and descend into sheer madness like something out of Lovecraftian horror.

Of course, this isn’t true of all of them. This guy looks more like he’s a cartoon wolf who’s just seen a babe so hot his tongue is about to roll out of his mouth and hit the bar.

3) The jukebax-goer is saying the line himself.

Many people online were quick to point this out like it’s some kind of flaw, but the truth is it’s brilliant. For who is our greatest enemy if not ourselves? We have all made disastrous decisions while simultaneously panicking, helpless to stop ourselves. On top of that, you’ll notice the line is both in quotes and in a word bubble. Who is he quoting? Himself? The patrons? Perhaps his disapproving father. That subtle change has now transformed this single panel into an epic tale of generational trauma.

These are just two examples of many. For instance, there’s this AI-colorized version where the bar jumper has a mysterious third hand reaching out of his back:

And this fun video game version which replaces the patrons with demons from Doom, which is fun because they would want to kill the man regardless of where he was headed:

I could go on, but I will rest my case here.

The truth is: human-made art had a nice, long run. I understand you might still bristle at AI-generated content for other reasons, like its environmental impact or the aforementioned fact that it is literally theft. But as an artist, I have to admit that the quality is now super human. AI art, I give you three thumbs up.

P.S. If somehow you remain unconvinced and would like to support this human artist, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

I STARTED A PODCAST.

Well, me and my friend Michael Cruz Kayne did. It’s called But Also with Michael and Asher. Here’s the logo:

The first episode is now available everywhere you can listen to such things (including YouTube, if video is more your speed). For more information, I yield my time to the press release:

Anyways, I know you’re mostly here for my toons, so I promise I won’t turn this into a place where I endlessly hype up my podcast, but I just thought I’d let you know in case you’re into this sort of thing.

If, and only if, you feel like supporting the pod in our first week, here’s what you can do:

-Subscribe on whatever podcast service you use / YouTube.

-Drop a comment and thumbs up / rating / review.

-Follow our official podcast instagram.

Okay, I have a more substantial post planned for later this month. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this clip:

Next, a couple quick updates:

1. I’ll be hitting the road this summer and doing live shows in the following cities: Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, and Madison. I’ll do a full announcement soon with all the links, but if you want early access to any of the shows, email me and I’ll hook you up: cartoonsbyasher@gmail.com

2. For those of you in New York, I’ll also be at Union Hall tomorrow with Jordan Klepper and at UCB on June 20th.

3. I’m currently packing up the first batch of the asher Summer of Stickers, which I realized too late forms the acronym ASS. If you’re a paid subscriber and want in on ASS, peep my previous post and fill out the form.

   The asher Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

   ---

Here are a couple of things that I’ve been enjoying that I think you might also like:

1. Widow’s Bay.

   

   This is a new(ish) show that fully lives up to the hype. Funny! Spooky! Plus, its creator wrote one of the greatest tweets of all time back in the good ol’ days when Twitter was fun:

   

2. Brick. I’ve been using this little grey box for over a year now, and it’s a game changer. Basically, you tap your phone to it and it locks you out of all the annoying, time-sucking apps. They’re not paying me to say this — I’m just a fan of it. As I am of you, dear reader.

Finally, a guest feature! A buddy of mine has a very cool Substack where he reviews restaurants (onlygoodrestaurants.substack.com) and he wrote a piece where he uses my cartoons to talk about NYC hotspots. I’ll let him take if from here:

Asher, quite famously, does not like food. He may not even consume it, and instead survives on an IV of Greek yogurt and vegetable purees. So, he was obviously not aware which delicious New York restaurants he was drawing in the following cartoons, but I’m happy to clarify.

To be fair, almost all of the tables at Minetta Tavern are tiny and it’s part of the charm. The bar is cramped, the room presses in. You won’t mind the intimacy if you are seated, as I was during my last visit, five feet from Bruce Springsteen. It’s a gem in the West Village and every bite soars. The burger is famous—order one alone at the bar and you’re likely to get free champagne. Drink martinis, enjoy the West Village. New York’s cramped nature is part of its cool and should be enjoyed liberally.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a table of bulls anywhere in New York City, but if you were going to find them anywhere, it would be at Carbone. The much-hyped red sauce, red wine joint has gone through numerous booms and busts of its hype cycle, only to land firmly in place as a fantastic restaurant that is a serious pain in the ass to get into. As a result, it’s hard for the place to exceed expectations, but the brand is strong and the spicy rigatoni slaps. I remain bullish on their long-term future.

The first time I went to Four and Twenty Blackbirds in Gowanus, I realized that I had never been to a true pie shop. They have coffees of course, teas and whatnot. But no other baked goods. Just pie. Lots of pies. Incredible pies! Like Asher’s comfort-seeking neurotic here, I have always had a romanticized notion of a late-night coffee with a slice of pie at a diner, exclusively from seeing detectives and runaways enjoy it on TV. In reality, I’ve only done it a couple times. But it’s a heavenly ritual anywhere, anytime. Popping in for a cup of something and a slice of pie. What a delight. What a way to enjoy living!

A candlelit table. Cocktails and wine. A date looking to not break the bank. You’re having a great night of Italian food at Nolita’s Rubirosa. The pizza is the well-known standout, but you can’t find a miss on the menu, and the pastas overperform for the price. Let’s be honest, we all need to think of our pocketbooks these days, especially in New York, and certainly if you’re going on more first dates than seconds.

Cafe Mado in Prospect Heights is a sunny café with a skylit dining room and even sunnier hospitality. Everyone you know will find a nosh, or a dish, or a bunch of things they’re excited about on the menu, which generally rotates through straightforward but perfectly executed options. Worst case, there’s always great bread and butter, dessert and wine. What more do you need, to sit with good friends, and enjoy every minute of your many bad jokes?

Okay, it’s asher again. Love you, it’s June, go outside <3

The rest of the stickers will remain SECRET until they arrive at your door. If this sounds like fun, here’s how to participate in the asher Summer of Stickers™:

1. Become a paid subscriber to my newsletter.

2. I’ll send you a welcome email that includes a Google form you can use to submit your preferred shipping address (US-only).

3. Enjoy period stickers all summer.

And if you think for even one second that this is a cynical ploy to build out my newsletter now because I’m losing my job in five days, you, my friend, are absolutely right.

<3

asher

P.S. If you’re already a paid subscriber, first of all, thank you, you are perfect. Second of all, here’s the form for you:

Read more

Welcome to issue number [I’ve lost track] of The asher Newsletter. To quote the title of this very piece, April showers bring May cartoons, so let’s kick things off with this month’s collection of buds:

Next, a couple updates.

1. After a bit of a delay, I’ve restocked both The asher Mug and The asher Tote.

Grab one if you’re into that kind of thing, and, remember, paid subscribers get a discount (hit me up if you don’t already have the code): cartoonsbyasher@gmail.com

Subscribe now

2. I’m planning a little midwest tour this summer. I’ll definitely be swinging by Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago, and maybe more?? I’ll drop details here when I got em.

Finally, here are three things I enjoyed this month that I think you might also enjoy:

1. This cartoon from Zach Kanin:

   

2. This old quote from Modest Mouse: “Other people’s lives seem more interesting cuz they ain’t mine.”

3. I’m almost a year behind here, but the new(ish) Clipse album is so good. I teared up listening to this song about the death of their parents. Hug your loved ones.

Speaking of loved ones, I love you all. My job as a writer on The Late Show officially ends in three weeks, and I’m planning on building this out even more after that, so I hope you’re ready for a SURVEY.

Until next time <3

First up, here is this month’s cartoon collection:

Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments and the rest will sent to a cartoon farm upstate. While you mull over which you want to save from the slaughter, here’s a bonus one: an illustrated quote from the great .

Next up, here are some things I enjoyed this month that I think you might enjoy as well:

1. This cartoon from Zach Kanin:

2. This quote from Camus:

“The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

3. This book from Will McPhail, who is painfully good at drawing. Unfortunately, he’s also a really nice guy.

Finally, a couple announcements:

1. Live shows

It was great to some of you last month in Virginia and Brooklyn. If you’d like to see me in April, here are your chances:

4/15 - Brooklyn, NY. Jordan Klepper: New Goods (Tickets here)

4/16 - Princeton, NJ. The Improvised Shakespeare (Tickets here)

4/17 -Princeton, NJ. The Improvised Shakespeare (Tickets here)

4/18 - Brooklyn, NY. The Improvised Shakespeare (Tickets here)

4/19 - Brooklyn, NY. The Improvised Shakespeare (Tickets here)

4/23 - Manhattan NY. Michael and Asher Try Everything (Tickets here)

4/30 - Brooklyn, NY. Jordan Klepper: New Goods (Tickets here)

2. My bookmark giveaway for paid subscribers was delayed because there was an issue at the printer, so I’m giving you another chance to get in on it if you’d like.

   

   If you already submitted the form, no need to resubmit, but if you missed it last month, you can still give me your info here and I’ll drop an official The asher Bookmark in the mail next week.

Okay, thanks for being here. Love you all <3

One of those appeared in The New Yorker. I’ll let you guess which.

As always, if you want a print, or other merch, you can pick one up here:

The asher Shop

Don’t forget: paid subscribers get a discount code.

Subscribe now

If you can’t find it, let me know.

Next up, some live shows. I’ve been doing more and more live events this year and it’s been truly so nice to meet some of you in person. Some highlights include this stop in Seattle, WA at Elliott Bay Books, which I’ve been assured is iconic:

Mostly, it was fun to see my mom’s crew all rockin’ Eugene hats:

If you want to catch me live, here are some opportunities in March:

For info on each, here’s a link:

The asher Tour, March

Finally, an offer. I made a bookmark! Here’s one side:

Here’s the other side:

And here it is in a random book I happened to find:

If you’re a paid subscriber and would like one, fill out this form my 3/1 and I’ll mail one to you:

The asher Bookmark

K that's it for now. Thanks for being here <3

If you’d like to see me live, I have three upcoming opportunities in three different cities.

1. New York City/live-streamed, January 10th, 7pm.

   

   My friend and fellow Late Show writer Michael Cruz Kayne and I are back, this time with special guest star, fashion designer Rachel Antonoff. More info here. Come say hi.

2. Seattle, WA, February 9th, 7pm.

   

   My friend and fellow New Yorker cartoonist Tom Toro and I are having a book signing and conversation in my hometown. Tickets are free, but you need to reserve a spot here. Come say hello.

3. Olympia, WA, February 11th, 6pm. I’ll be at Browser’s Books for a solo presentation and signing. Info here. Come say good evening.

Side note: If you’re looking for the perfect thing to keep track of events like these ones (as well as everything else in your life), you can pick up The 2026 asher Calendar.

Next, a look back. Here are my most popular cartoons from this year, as decided by you, the people who like them:

And, finally, a look inward. I just want to take this time to let you know how much I appreciate all of you. I found out this year that I’m losing my job in May, and I really can’t tell you how much fun it’s been to double down on cartooning as a full-time gig, a big part of which was starting this newsletter. Thank you for being here, and a special thanks to those of you chose to be paid subscribers — I don’t take you for granted <3

First, here is the November, 2025 collection of cartoons. The first toon was published last month by The New Yorker, but you might notice it looks different than the others. That’s because the magazine bought it four years ago when my style was in flux.

Share

Next, a gift guide. My shop is currently open and taking print/merch orders for the holidays. Just make sure you get your order in by December 10th to guarantee it arrives in time for Christmas.

We’re talking prints, books, totes, mugs, calendars, hats, pins, you name it!*

*So long as what you name is prints, books, totes, mugs, calendars, hats, or pins, because that’s what I have.

If, like me, you find shopping for presents to be a paralyzing experience, I created some easy bundles, including The Ultimate asher Gift Bundle, for the biggest ashhole in your life.

Also, if you’re a paid subscriber, you get a discount on my shop. I’ll share that at the bottom of this post.

Next a few updates:

1. On Friday, my friend and fellow Late Show writer Michael Cruz Kayne and I debuted our new show at UCB (along with special guests Pablo Torre and Jack DeBoe), Michael and Asher Try Everything. Among the things we tried: standup, cartoons, writing a country song, improv, and MENTALISM (honestly that one went pretty well). It was so fun to see some of you there — thanks for sticking around and saying hi.

   Here we are backstage:

   

   Next show is January 10th at 7pm. If you’re in the city (or want to livestream it), mark your calendars.

2. I drew the window art for Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn. Swing by if you want to see it in person. Here’s a taste:

3. Finally, for those of you who opted in, I mailed my hand-drawn holiday cards to you. If they haven’t arrived yet, they will soon:

And speaking of opting in, I’m gonna share the discount code here, below the paywall. Sincerely thank you to all of you who support me. I love you all.

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First, here is the October, 2025 collection of toons. If you’re reading this in the Substack app, drop a comment with your favorite one and fight over who is right.

(The first two were published last month in The New Yorker).

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Some updates:

1. The New Yorker held its annual festival, where I was tasked with hosting a trivia show that pitted a team of the magazine’s writers against their editors. The editors won.

Here are some pics from the after party, where the passed hors d’oeuvres included the largest pretzels on the planet:

(polaroids taken by the great Andrew Tess)

2. Also in October, I did my very funny friend (and Late Night with Seth Meyers writer) Jenny Hagel’s show, Late Night Trash Can, at LittleField in Brooklyn:

(Picture from the great Kayla Freeman)

3. Speaking of shows, my good buddy (and fellow Colbert writer) Michael Cruz Kayne and I are doing an insane one in December at UCB. It’ll be live-streamed for those of you who don’t live in the city. Info here.

Next up, here are some things I enjoyed this month that I think you might like as well:

1. This cartoon by Gahan Wilson from 1979:

   

2. This quote from Nathan Dufour:

   “Even though we are mere dust, there’s meaning in being thus.”

3. The show Haha, You Clowns from Joe Cappa. If you haven’t checked it out yet, give it a watch.

   

Okay, that’s just about it. Before I let you go, two quick reminders:

1. My shop is now open for holiday orders. If you’re looking for a unique gift for a loved one:

   

2. For paid subscribers, first of all, thank you! I literally couldn’t do this without you, and I don’t take that for granted. Second of all, I’d love to send you a doodle for the holidays. If you’d like one: fill out this form and I’ll mail it to you <3

   Subscribe now

Leave a comment

As always, thank you to my paid subscribers for making this possible. If you’d like to become one, that is a actually a very attainable goal.

And if you’re already a paid subscriber (or just became one after I strong-armed you above), and you’d like a signed bookplate to put in your book, send me a message and I’ll mail one to you.

Okay, thanks for watching/reading. Talk to you all soon <3

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Next, some updates:

1. Earlier this month, I released my new cartoon collection, which, thanks to you all, is currently sitting at number one in its category:

I’m not sure who that asshole is in second place, but I plan to keep him at bay as long as I can.

2. I kicked off the first leg of my book tour (NYC —> LA —> Phillie). I’ll share a video excerpt of the launch at the end of this post, but, in the meantime, here are some pics.

First, my Brooklyn release party, where I sat in conversation with my pal Gary Gulman (whose standup is perfect, in case you’re unfamiliar):

Next, LA, where I chatted with my pal and fellow Improvised Shakespeare player Brendan Dowling

And finally, Phillie, where I had the pleasure of speaking with my pal Ann Marie Baldonado (who you might know from NPR’s Fresh Air):

My favorite part of any of these events is always the signing line. It’s so nice to meet you all in person. Special shoutout to those of you who brought me pieces of your own art — I find that so touching, even when you are clearly more skilled at drawing than I am and I find that threatening.

Next stop: Seattle.

3. I announced my 2026 calendar. You can pick it up on my site (along with other things like, mugs, totes, prints, etc.): here.

Here are some things that I’ve enjoyed recently:

1. This cartoon from Ellis Rosen which is perfectly caption-less:

   

2. This quote from Kierkegaard:

   “It is really true what philosophy tells us, that life must be understood backwards. But with this, one forgets the second proposition, that it must be lived forwards.”

3. This quote from Adam Grant:

   “I don’t expect you to agree with everything I think. I don’t even agree with everything I think.”

4. This book by Lorenzo Latronico:

   

   It is a stark portrayal of millennial life and the quest for meaning/identity. The best part: at 130 pages, it is brisk. Not, like, cartoon book brisk, but nevertheless: brisk.

Finally, here’s a video of the presentation I did at my Brooklyn launch party in which I talk about various topics like my career, AI, and the (gulp) state of the industry:

Read more

HERE is the link.

A more robust newsletter is in the works and will be sending shortly.

-asher

It was also cool to see David up close. Did you know his eyes have hearts in them like a damn Looney Tunes cartoon??

Anyway, the trip was very fun and I did my best to not spend the whole time thinking about the fact that we planned it before The Late Show (where I work as a writer) was canceled. On a total unrelated note:

Here’s my cartoon in this week’s New Yorker:

Next, some updates:

1. My new book comes out in 8 days. If you haven’t preordered it yet, scientists say that now is mathematically the perfect time to do so.

2. I’m doing a little book tour, which, if theory holds, will be incredibly fun. I’m announcing all the stops here first because I love you most, and I’ll later open it up to my Instagram followers (who I love less). Here’s what I have planned so far (with links for tickets):

9/5 Brooklyn

9/13 Los Angeles

9/20 Philadelphia

I also have a couple other cities tentatively planned (like Minneapolis, Seattle, and Olympia). I’ll announce those as soon as they’re confirmed (here first, again, because of the love). If you want me to come to your city and it’s not on the list, please let me know and I’ll do my best to make that happen.

And now for some things I enjoyed this week:

1. This cartoon from Lars Kenseth:

   

2. This short quote from Austin Kleon: “The best editor is you, tomorrow.”

3. This longer quote from Josh Radnor in which he quotes someone else:

   

Finally, for paid subscribers, here are some bonus cartoons from me that you can’t find anywhere else:

Read more

Asher Perlman here. Longtime contributor, first time editor. The kind folks over at ToonStack HQ graciously offered to let me take over this week’s newsletter to celebrate the upcoming release of my new cartoon collection, Hi, It’s Me Again.

It’s a follow-up to my debut, last year’s national bestseller, Well, This Is Me. I worked really hard on it and I think you’ll enjoy it. That being said, if you don’t end up liking it, remember that we learn more in life from hardship than pleasure, so, really, you can’t lose.

Still not convinced? Here are some nice things that cool people have said:

“Asher Perlman can do in one frame what I need two hours and seventeen minutes to accomplish half as well! Insightful, human, and hilarious.” - Judd Apatow

“The profane amount of whimsy is only matched by the obscene level of hilarity. PERLMAN IS MEDDLING IN GOD’S DOMAIN.” - Patton Oswalt

“Very funny, keenly attuned to the inherent strangeness of existence.” - Stephen Colbert

“Asher Perlman’s cartoons are the kind of funny that make you question what it is to be a person, but in a good way.” - Ben Stiller

“In my fantasy version of myself, I see things that no one else can see. True things. I am brief and winning in the way I point them out and when I do this, I bring not only a smile, but can change the way another person looks at the world. Apparently, in my fantasy version of myself, I am Asher Perlman.” - John Dickerson

"I find myself wanting to live in the worlds Asher creates, until I realize they're not too far from the one I'm in (I own several genies). Asher Perlman is still my favorite cartoonist/modern day Sisyphus." - Bowen Yang

“Asher Perlman makes your favorite comic’s favorite comics.” - Nikki Glaser

“Hilariously perceptive of life’s mundane tragedies. Asher articulates that voice in my head that is stressing over existential fears, social obligations and magicians, apparently. I feel seen and also ridiculed.” - Jordan Klepper

"At once hilarious and plaintive, Asher’s brilliant cartoons fit every occasion. They pair beautifully with a bold Bordeaux, a crackling fireplace, and a deep sense of existential satisfaction. But they are just as enjoyable in a dim parking lot with a gas station hot dog and all of the haunting regret of your life choices. A triumph." - Ed Helms

“Asher Perlman belongs to the great American Tradition of the Deadpan: not only the classic cartoonists like Thurber and George(s) Price and Booth, but Buster Keaton and (stay with me) They Might Be Giants. The world is a big, weird place and it takes a special talent to manage it for us. Relax: Asher’s got this.” - Michael McKean

"Asher Perlman cartoons are hilarious, fresh, and brilliant. He works with familiar cartoon genres (doctors, courtrooms, cocktail parties, death, etc.) and invents many of his own. I am in awe." - Roz Chast

So, those are the blurbs. If you still need further convincing: I know where you live!

Okay, hopefully one of those tactics worked and you’re itching to place your pre-order. If so, click here. Or, if you want an autographed copy (and live in the US), there is a limited number available here.

Finally, I’m having a release party on 9/5 at The Bell House in Brooklyn with some friends and I’d love to see you there. There will be door prizes! I made sunglasses!

Okay, that’s enough from me. The theme for this week’s ToonStack is “writing a book” and some of my all-time favorite cartoonists contributed. Please enjoy. I love you all.

———

ROZ CHAST

The lesson here is: never look up.

WILL SANTINO

TOM TORO

A lifetime of stories in a few simple lines.

AKEEM ROBERTS

This might have been funnier in my head.

JOE DATOR

The late, great British comedian Peter Cook was once at a cocktail party where he met a man who told him "I'm writing a book." Without missing a beat, Cook replied "Really? Neither am I." Cook knew that if he pursued the conversation, eventually he'd find out that there was no book, so he skipped over the middle and went straight to the end. It's a great way to handle cocktail party conversations, often a good way to read a book, but a terrible way to approach life. Cook, for example, when he got to the end of his life, died. Not exactly a happy ending! It's best not to skip ahead, even if it feels like the suspense is killing you, because the death will kill you much less metaphorically. But at least Peter Cook stayed true to his word, proudly dying without having ever written a book. Sadly, I've never been able to match his great achievement. I gave in to temptation and wrote "INKED: Cartoons, Confessions, Rejected Ideas and Secret Sketches" (Prospect Park Books, 184 pages, ISBN 1684427770). Sorry, but I'm only flesh and blood, and complimentary bread rolls. I guess I just wanted to see my name on a spine somewhere, and the tattoo on Academy award-winning actress Cher's spine doesn't count (we had a brief fling, and nobody regrets it more than I do, except for her). I know I can never undo what's been done, but I like to think I've learned from my mistakes, and when I write my next book, I won't. Look for it soon!

LIANA FINCK

JASON CHATFIELD

They say, if you don't know what to write about, "Write what you know." Well, what if all you've known for the past three years is writing books and attempting to fling them into the world to see if anyone wants to read them? Writing about writing is like dancing about architecture, as the saying goes. (I think) Either way, I'd really like you to buy my new book so that I can afford to sit down and write another book. About writing. (Books.)

The visual gag here is that more than 2 people showed up for the unpopular writer's book signing.

DAVE OSTOW

Let me guess: you had the exact same idea for a cartoon like ten years ago. Well, get over it. It’s been ten years and I don’t go through your sketchbook anymore, or read your diary or even go through your garbage very often.

Okay, it’s Asher again. That’s all SubStack will let me show you without exceeding the size limit. If you’d like to see the whole thing, hop on over to ToonStack.

Before you go, here’s a bonus cartoon from me just for paid subscribers. I love you all from the bottom of my heart which is currently on fire from eating too much pesto (I’m in Italy— more on that later). Keep scrolling…

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I’ll keep this one quick.

1. My new book is coming out in 6 weeks, and I’m having a launch party at The Bell House in Brooklyn. I’m putting a lot of love into organizing it and I legit think it’s going to be so insane and fun (I made custom sunglasses to give away!) — Click HERE for details. If you’re in the area, swing by and say hello.

2. If you’re not in the area, but would still like to say hello, I’ll be doing a few other book tour stops. Drop a comment if you want me to add your city to the list. I sincerely have no idea where you all are. It would be incredible to find out that 100% of you are in Toledo or something. Needless to say, if that were the case, Ohio, here I come!

3. Oh, and one small thing: The Late Show, where I work, got canceled last night. On a totally unrelated note, it would mean a lot if 10,000 of you became paid subscribers right now. Just a fun, random thought!

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Here’s a cartoon to kick off your weekend:

And here are three things that I enjoyed this week that I think you might enjoy as well:

1. This cartoon from my nemesis Ellis Rosen:

   

2. This quote from Chris Williamson: “Perfectionism is procrastination masquerading as quality control.”

3. This article about how sloths do, in fact, fart (featuring a short video where a sloth in a bath tub, in fact, farts).

   

Finally, for paid subscribers, here are some bonus cartoons from me that you can’t find anywhere else (again, could be fun!):

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