Issue Two

For this issue of The asher Newsletter, I’d like to share an excerpt of I wrote as the guest editor of this week’s ToonStack. If you don’t already follow ToonStack, it’s one of my favorite cartooning newsletters and it’s run by some of my favorite cartoonists. If you stick around til the end, I’ll share a little bonus. Without further ado:

---

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…