Mike Lane Retires
By Daryl Cagle | September 17th, 2009 | PERMALINK
I’m saddened to write that one of the great editorial cartoonists has decided to retire. Mike Lane, who drew for the Baltimore Sun for decades and was one of the very first cartoonists to form our little syndicate, is calling it quits.
Mike stopped drawing early last month when he was slated for open heart surgery, but he assures me that health is not the reason for his retirement; he just feels it is time to move on. Â Mike writes,
My quitting editorial cartooning comes because it’s time, not because of my health. Which is quite good, notwithstanding. The operation was a terrific success, my recovery is rapid (as can be) and my repaired heart promises a long and robust future.
Mike writes about retirement:
When I was with The (Baltimore) Sun, I used to refer to my old cartooning pal Tommy Flannery (The Sun) and me (The Evening Sun) as the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of The Sunpapers.
R. and G. were minor characters in Hamlet, plotting and conniving and generally being a nuisance, not part of the aristocracy but always there. That is a fair description of the role of the editorial cartoonist , don’t you think? In the end Shakespeare kills them off: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead!”
Well, Rosencrantz (Tommy) is dead but Guildenstern (me) lives on! And it’s time for different plays, acts and so, I’ve drawn my last political/editorial cartoon. Time for watercolors, greeting cards, perhaps, whatever.
Mike’s last cartoon, from August 6th before his surgery, is below. Â See an archive of Mike’s cartoons here. Your work is wonderful, Mike. Â Editorial cartoon fans already miss you!
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Comments
Comment from Ernie
Time September 17, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Enjoy your retirement and relax
Comment from dan reynolds
Time September 17, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Good luck to you Mike and my wishes for a speedy recovery from heart surgery.
Comment from TowsonLen
Time September 17, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Mike,
You were often the only reason to read the Sunpapers (Well, maybe you and Gregory Kane). Your cartoons were always incisive and thought provoking. I lost track of the number that i \"screen captured\" and forwarded to those who did regularly read the Sun online.
May your days be happy and productive. Thank you for all the enlightenment you brought to the folks like me who were lucky enough to regularly view your cartoons.
Towson Len
Comment from Ed Brown
Time September 17, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Thanks for triggering my remembrance of that great song by Spirit, “Nature’s Way”
A listen of that song is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsTK2LHZKPQ
Comment from jim
Time September 17, 2009 at 11:25 pm
R.I.P., Mike Lane (Retire in Peace).
As for current events, everyone seems to be forgetting two things.
1) The United States of America and her people - still free and healthy after more than two hundred years.
2) The United States government - in continuous service of, by, and for the people since 1776.
Comment from Gloria Nelson
Time September 18, 2009 at 12:27 am
JackAss Cartoon. The GOP Grand Old Perverts is a party that would block progress in any way at any time possible.
Give me a break. the USA and her people, still used by the rich to further their wealth and still dumb as a brick about the concept of what is good for them and what is good for the rich.
This health care reform mess tells me that my professor of Poli Sci was correct with the 2/8/90 theory.
2% of the people run the country and are smart enough to know what is really going on and are milking the American People for every dollar they can milk..
8% know what is really going on and are getting very rich doing the milking for the 2%.
90% are sheep that eat whatever bull manure that is fed to them and gladly give the top 10% their money to protect their freedoms and rights.
The so called angry American People are not angry at government. They are angry that a man with brown skin is in the White House.
HOW SAD, HOW DISGUSTING, HOW 2/8/90. CANADA ANYONE?
Comment from Sick of Liberals
Time September 18, 2009 at 5:02 am
“They are angry that a man with brown skin is in the White House. ”
And gloria is angry and I guess is racist against people who are not black, you RACIST!
Comment from Sick of Liberals
Time September 18, 2009 at 5:04 am
“90% are sheep that eat whatever bull manure that is fed to them”
How does that manure Obama is feeding you taste?
Comment from Call Me Conservative, but…
Time September 18, 2009 at 6:18 am
Gloria…you\’re an idiot!
Comment from Jim
Time September 18, 2009 at 11:19 am
How typical of the liberals. The man can’t even write a column when he retires without someone bringing it around to bash the republicans. And I’m not even a republican. I’ll be so happy when the pendulum swings back around to the right side. And it will.
Comment from Jeff Parker
Time September 18, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Say it ain’t so!
Comment from Vincent
Time September 19, 2009 at 3:41 pm
The guy’s retiring. Show some respect to the man. He’s worked very hard, for a very long time, in a very demanding business.
I notice a lot of conservatives saying some very hateful things on this sight.
I would like to point out that hate and fear seem to be republicans bread and butter, and not to everyone’s taste.
I recommend a book by Bob Altemeyer, called the Authoritarians. It talks about the people just like these ‘Murkin’ hatemongers. We’re on to you.
Grow up, and join the human race.
Comment from Sick of Liberals
Time September 21, 2009 at 5:06 am
“Grow up, and join the human race.”
You first, vincent
Comment from Lyle
Time September 29, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Oh Mike will just love these latter comments. Befitting end to his career. Just hilarious! Enjoy Mike and all the best.
Comment from Kathleen
Time September 17, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Mike,
I am from Maryland and always enjoyed your cartoons in the Baltimore Sun. I will miss you.