Bill Woodman: The Funniest Cartoon in the World

We've talked about magazine gag cartoon cliches before. The one and only Bill Woodman puts them all together in one image (above). Here are a few of the cliches that encompass The Funniest Cartoon in the World, from the May 1973 issue of National Lampoon.

• Psychiatrist's couch
• Man on bed of nails
• Flying carpet
• Mountain clmber thwarted by goat
• Elopement
• Patent office
• Stork w/baby
• Bum
• Counting sheep
• St. Bernard w/whiskey barrel
• 2 people wearing horse costume

• Cannibals
• Large fish eating medium sized fish eating small fish, etc.
• Prisoner
• Wife in bathrobe, curlers & holding rolling pin as weapon
• Man in desert
• Boxer
• Shackled pilgrim
• Mermaid
• Wishing well
• Guy painting himself into corner
• "End is Near" protest sign

• UFO
• Suicidal businessman ready to jump
• Bandaged-up guy in hospital bed
• Father throwing daughter and illegit infant into cold, cruel world
• Shark fins

And those cliche signs:

• "Eat at Joe's"
• "Out to Lunch"
• "Watch Your Hat and Coat"
• "Beware of Dog"
• "The World is Coming to an End"

And, while we're in 1973, here are a few more scans. First, the great cover by Warren Sattler of Ralph Nader as Dick Tracy:

And some great adverts:



 A big hat tip to Sam Henderson for telling me about The Funniest Cartoon in the World!!

EDIT: the next evening, December 20, 2011, I had the opportunity to have dinner in Portland, ME with Bill Woodman.

From left: me, Bill Woodman, Jeff Pert and David Jacobson.