The Challenge of Michael Jackson Obituary Cartoons
By Rob Tornoe | June 26th, 2009 | PERMALINK
With the death of Michael Jackson, cartoonists are confronted with a dilemma: focus on positive influence his music had on millions, or on the more darker aspects that plagued him until his death. Daryl Cagle had a great post about the thought process that goes into coming up with an idea that is both timely and funny, while at the same time tackling some of the tougher issues in Jackson’s life.
Mike Luckovich, the staff cartoonist for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, completed this challenging cartoon which appears in today’s paper. Thus far, 65% of people voting on the ajc.com website give the cartoon thumbs down.
“I find this cartoon offensive and hateful,” posted a reader on the CNN site. “Michael Jackson was a musical genius, philanthropist and set an example on how to use your celebrity to make the world better.
Mike will be on CNN today at 1p EST to talk about it, so tune in. I’ll post a video of it as soon as it appears on their website.
What do you think of the toon?
And while you’re waiting, you can view more of Mike’s cartoons here.
UPDATE: Here’s the video from CNN of Mike Luckovich’s appearance. It’s just a shame how quickly that have to squeeze him in.
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Comments
Comment from Rufus
Time June 27, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Maybe Satan and God want to flip a coin to see who gets to listen to Michael Jackson’s musical genius for eternity. Personally, I think God should get him, but Satan gets to log into God’s AirTunes 
Comment from Gwynne
Time June 27, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Why is it that when someone dies, we’re all of a sudden supposed to completely forget the controversy that surrounded their lives? As if everything questionable they ever did suddenly ceases to exist, and we’re supposed to only remember the good.
I thought the cartoon was hilarious, and it emphasized the conundrum that was Michael Jackson. Great musician and dancer, heavily influenced our culture, but still, his behavior of the last few decades was questionable at best, and despicable at worst.
Comment from Indigo
Time June 27, 2009 at 5:23 pm
The problem I have with this comic is that people are still declaring Michael Jackson guilty of a crime for which he was acquitted…and for which people have testified and repeatedly stepped up and said he had never committed.
It’s not a crime to be weird.
It’s not a crime to deal with self-loathing coming from hating an abusive father.
It’s not a crime to do things in the attempt to figure out who you are.
Nobody but Michael Jackson himself REALLY knows the truth about those allegations. To condemn him for doing what he was acquitted in a court of law for doing is understandable but unfortunate: the human need to kick somebody when they’re down to feel superior. And the human tendency to hate and fear what we don’t understand. As well as the human tendency to believe the worst of others rather than the best.
His talent and generosity deserve to be celebrated.
I’m not so sure that the unproven beliefs of people who steadfastly hold that he was some sort of monster underneath the strangeness deserve the attention they’re getting.
After all, isn’t it considered bad form to speak ill of the dead?
Comment from Lissa from Montreal
Time June 27, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Well said, Indigo.
Comment from Km
Time June 27, 2009 at 5:56 pm
That an increased number of people have come out to speak well of Michael Jackson is an odd testament to the reverence that death grants.
While he was never convicted of any alleged improprieties with children, one can just as easily point to several prominent, known mobsters who have likewise never been convicted of any crimes. The law is a fickle mistress with certain standards not directly designed to reveal truth as much as to reveal what can be absolutely proven.
Whether he did those things are not is a non-issue. That he was known the world over for both his incredible talent and his questionable behavior clearly justifies this kind of commentary.
The fact that he is now dead has allowed many to gloss over the latter portion of his reputation, as if his passing somehow altered past facts. While it shouldn’t be used as tasteless joke fodder, fair commentary should not be stifled on account of a universal inevitability. What would have been acceptable before should be equally acceptable now.
Comment from Michael
Time July 27, 2009 at 5:32 pm
WHO THE FUCK CARES!
Comment from neeraj gupta
Time June 26, 2009 at 11:11 am
i find this cartoon against the image and honor that Michael carries…. he was a great musician , dancer & a noble man ………..
we all must respect him
may his soul rest in peace..