Cox & Forkum
Encyclopedia
Cox & Forkum was an editorial cartoon
drawn by John Cox and written by Allen Forkum. The comic exists primarily on the web (as a webcomic
) but has also been published in newspapers, magazines, and four self-published compilations.
Cox and Forkum are self-proclaimed Objectivists
, and this is generally the perspective from which the cartoons were created. Although their message often seemed to be generally Neoconservative, the cartoons also criticized American conservatives on matters where Objectivists and Republicans
traditionally disagree, such as on religion
, abortion
, immigration
and government regulation of business.
In general, the comics were known for focusing heavily on the War on Terror
, attacking Islamic fundamentalism
and the religious right
, defending Israel
, and advocating war against countries such as Iran
:
The comics were published in blog
format, alongside the occasional stand-alone "newsmaker caricature
."
Cox and Forkum were featured in the Day by Day
webcomic for December 10 and 11, 2005.
Cox and Forkum ceased creating new cartoons on September 30, 2007 because Forkum could "no longer afford to divert so much time and attention away from my publishing business and other personal concerns, such as my family." They occasionally post new cartoons originally created for their other endeavors but which have a political bent, but to date (as of 2009) they have expressed no desire to start publishing purely political cartoons full-time again.
Editorial cartoon
An editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is an illustration containing a commentary that usually relates to current events or personalities....
drawn by John Cox and written by Allen Forkum. The comic exists primarily on the web (as a webcomic
Webcomic
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
) but has also been published in newspapers, magazines, and four self-published compilations.
Cox and Forkum are self-proclaimed Objectivists
Objectivism (Ayn Rand)
Objectivism is a philosophy created by the Russian-American philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand . Objectivism holds that reality exists independent of consciousness, that human beings have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that one can attain objective knowledge from perception...
, and this is generally the perspective from which the cartoons were created. Although their message often seemed to be generally Neoconservative, the cartoons also criticized American conservatives on matters where Objectivists and Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
traditionally disagree, such as on religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and government regulation of business.
In general, the comics were known for focusing heavily on the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, attacking Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic fundamentalism is a term used to describe religious ideologies seen as advocating a return to the "fundamentals" of Islam: the Quran and the Sunnah. Definitions of the term vary. According to Christine L...
and the religious right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
, defending Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and advocating war against countries such as Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
:
The Iranian theocracyTheocracyTheocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
is the world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism and a direct threat to America. We advocate regime change in Iran, specifically the establishment of a secular government that protects individual rights.
The comics were published in blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
format, alongside the occasional stand-alone "newsmaker caricature
Caricature
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...
."
Cox and Forkum were featured in the Day by Day
Day by Day (webcomic)
Day by Day is an American political webcomic by Chris Muir. The humor usually centers on four principal characters who had initially been presented as coworkers at an unspecified firm until the firm went out of business on December 25, 2007...
webcomic for December 10 and 11, 2005.
Cox and Forkum ceased creating new cartoons on September 30, 2007 because Forkum could "no longer afford to divert so much time and attention away from my publishing business and other personal concerns, such as my family." They occasionally post new cartoons originally created for their other endeavors but which have a political bent, but to date (as of 2009) they have expressed no desire to start publishing purely political cartoons full-time again.
Publications
- Black & White World, 2002, ISBN 0-9724569-0-2
- Black & White World II, 2004, ISBN 0-9724569-1-0
- Black & White World III, 2006, ISBN 0-9724569-2-9
- Black & White World IV, 2007, ISBN 0-9724569-3-7
External links
- Official website
- Interview on Blogs of War August 2003
- Interview on Dean's World blog July 2003
- "EGO" interview December 2003
- John Cox's original art