Nat Gertler, comics thingdoer
@nat.gertler.com
Eisner-winning Peanuts nerd. Writer, publisher (About Comics), founder of 24 Hour Comics Day, sperm donor (retired). "Is he the guy who did that thing?" Yeah, prob'ly.
By the way, if you don't know @nilahmagruder.com 's work -- and I'll confess that I didn't -- here's a panel from the graphic novel in question.
If you want to show people that "a simple style" does not mean "leasy to draw", this makes a good example. This could've been wrong in so many ways.
If you want to show people that "a simple style" does not mean "leasy to draw", this makes a good example. This could've been wrong in so many ways.
January 13, 2026 at 12:31 AM
By the way, if you don't know @nilahmagruder.com 's work -- and I'll confess that I didn't -- here's a panel from the graphic novel in question.
If you want to show people that "a simple style" does not mean "leasy to draw", this makes a good example. This could've been wrong in so many ways.
If you want to show people that "a simple style" does not mean "leasy to draw", this makes a good example. This could've been wrong in so many ways.
But those artists' names are so obscure and hard to find!
January 12, 2026 at 11:48 PM
But those artists' names are so obscure and hard to find!
Putting this out in the world: a book collecting these 1923 greeting cards would be nice. I mean, look at that talent, from both the drawing and writing side!
January 11, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Putting this out in the world: a book collecting these 1923 greeting cards would be nice. I mean, look at that talent, from both the drawing and writing side!
Just to make things clear: it's specifically the 1916 The Little Girl Next Door. If you're just thinking of an old film by that name, you may be thinking of the 1912 one. Or the 1923 one. All unrelated. To the best of my knowledge, the others have no governors whatsoeever.
January 11, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Just to make things clear: it's specifically the 1916 The Little Girl Next Door. If you're just thinking of an old film by that name, you may be thinking of the 1912 one. Or the 1923 one. All unrelated. To the best of my knowledge, the others have no governors whatsoeever.
Not actually true. Both Thomas R. Marshall (then vice president; previously governor of Indiana) and Edward F. Dunne (Governor of Illinois) appeared in the 1916 film The Little Girl Next Door.
January 11, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Not actually true. Both Thomas R. Marshall (then vice president; previously governor of Indiana) and Edward F. Dunne (Governor of Illinois) appeared in the 1916 film The Little Girl Next Door.
But here is the cremé de la crap: a paragraph about my concerns on "political correctness", carefully sourced with three quotes from a single discussion.
And yes, all of those quotes were said in that discussion... but NONE of them were said by me.
And yes, all of those quotes were said in that discussion... but NONE of them were said by me.
![Screen text:
Commentary on Comics Industry Dynamics
Gertler has critiqued the stifling effects of ideological conformity in creative fields, particularly within comics. In a 2008 discussion on the legacy of Cerebus creator Dave Sim, he described political correctness as "a neutering force to art," emphasizing that compelling work often emerges from artists with controversial personal views rather than those adhering strictly to prevailing norms.[40] He argued that censoring discourse around such artists undermines artistic freedom, stating, "There is, however, a long distance between all of those things and censoring any discussion of his point of view, online or otherwise."[40] This perspective prioritizes merit-based evaluation of content over the moral standing of creators, with Gertler expressing a preference for "great work by an asshole then boring work by a saint any day of the week," highlighting how enforced ideological purity can produce unengaging output at the expense of innovation and audience interest.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hzkwkcvqq2qfho4pv37vclre/bafkreiaprsfaggh6p32sf6cxi2yhkubf6v7hl6747xfspvr6fvj3kwlhbi@jpeg)
January 10, 2026 at 7:24 PM
But here is the cremé de la crap: a paragraph about my concerns on "political correctness", carefully sourced with three quotes from a single discussion.
And yes, all of those quotes were said in that discussion... but NONE of them were said by me.
And yes, all of those quotes were said in that discussion... but NONE of them were said by me.
There is a visible anti-"woke" spin being given to the article. You can see it most blatantly when it goes off of a tangent in order to reach a point.
And dudes, you think that the guy who added Franklin and had strips about how women's sports were overlooked wasn't promoting diversity? Feh on you.
And dudes, you think that the guy who added Franklin and had strips about how women's sports were overlooked wasn't promoting diversity? Feh on you.
January 10, 2026 at 7:24 PM
There is a visible anti-"woke" spin being given to the article. You can see it most blatantly when it goes off of a tangent in order to reach a point.
And dudes, you think that the guy who added Franklin and had strips about how women's sports were overlooked wasn't promoting diversity? Feh on you.
And dudes, you think that the guy who added Franklin and had strips about how women's sports were overlooked wasn't promoting diversity? Feh on you.
Grokipedia analysis is drek. And I don't just mean its calling me "renowned" (at best, I am vaguely respected in certain small circles.) Nor just my talking about what works for awkward inept me being my critique of the industry.
No, there's a specific agenda going on here.
No, there's a specific agenda going on here.
January 10, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Grokipedia analysis is drek. And I don't just mean its calling me "renowned" (at best, I am vaguely respected in certain small circles.) Nor just my talking about what works for awkward inept me being my critique of the industry.
No, there's a specific agenda going on here.
No, there's a specific agenda going on here.
1913 crime spree: bad checks passed by... the Quaker Oats mascot?
January 10, 2026 at 4:26 AM
1913 crime spree: bad checks passed by... the Quaker Oats mascot?
Homosexuality references in comics: 1925
January 10, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Homosexuality references in comics: 1925
This kind of fumble is what happens when you ask Copilot to do your marketing, I reckon.
January 8, 2026 at 4:18 PM
This kind of fumble is what happens when you ask Copilot to do your marketing, I reckon.
Getting just one wrong answer in the entire night, the Gertler family (me, my wife, and our kids, 21 and 16 — no, thats not their names) easily won the local bar trivia tonight.
This is the people we are.
This is the people we are.
January 7, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Getting just one wrong answer in the entire night, the Gertler family (me, my wife, and our kids, 21 and 16 — no, thats not their names) easily won the local bar trivia tonight.
This is the people we are.
This is the people we are.
I've got some thoughts on Pluribus, which I've put in the alt text so it's not immediately in the eye-holes of those who have never seen the show (and you should see it.) Hopefully, you with screen readers can stop the reading before it gets to spoilers.
January 6, 2026 at 10:40 PM
I've got some thoughts on Pluribus, which I've put in the alt text so it's not immediately in the eye-holes of those who have never seen the show (and you should see it.) Hopefully, you with screen readers can stop the reading before it gets to spoilers.
Oh, you and your fancy modern computers! Some of us got a VIC-20!
January 6, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Oh, you and your fancy modern computers! Some of us got a VIC-20!
Ooh, there was a play about concern over a too-young Eva in an Uncle Tom show (realize that the stage plays were farcical versions of the serious novel)... and a movie adaptation!
January 6, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Ooh, there was a play about concern over a too-young Eva in an Uncle Tom show (realize that the stage plays were farcical versions of the serious novel)... and a movie adaptation!
Sheboygan Press, Feb 12, 1921. Times are always strange. (I suspect the objection had to do with concerns about little white girls on stage with
January 6, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Sheboygan Press, Feb 12, 1921. Times are always strange. (I suspect the objection had to do with concerns about little white girls on stage with
The Venezuela invasion is already having the intended effect!
January 6, 2026 at 4:36 PM
The Venezuela invasion is already having the intended effect!
We do not seek to disenfranchise the bears because they were here first and we are living on their land. We even use the flag that they designed as the symbol of our land.
January 6, 2026 at 2:58 AM
We do not seek to disenfranchise the bears because they were here first and we are living on their land. We even use the flag that they designed as the symbol of our land.
Once And Again is not available via streaming. Nor is the more successful Thirtysomething... which is in the same universe. The link? Tsome's character Miles Drentell continued in O&A.
Headcanon note: "Miles Drentell" was mjust a new identity taken on by Don Draper.
Headcanon note: "Miles Drentell" was mjust a new identity taken on by Don Draper.
January 5, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Once And Again is not available via streaming. Nor is the more successful Thirtysomething... which is in the same universe. The link? Tsome's character Miles Drentell continued in O&A.
Headcanon note: "Miles Drentell" was mjust a new identity taken on by Don Draper.
Headcanon note: "Miles Drentell" was mjust a new identity taken on by Don Draper.
My So-Called Life became a hit post-cancellation, so a few years later the producers and ABC tried Once And Again, a blatant attempt to continue MS-CL with names changed and the focus switched to the mother.
It ran 3 seasons, more than 3X the episodes of MSCL, but is basically forgotten today.
It ran 3 seasons, more than 3X the episodes of MSCL, but is basically forgotten today.
January 5, 2026 at 12:29 AM
My So-Called Life became a hit post-cancellation, so a few years later the producers and ABC tried Once And Again, a blatant attempt to continue MS-CL with names changed and the focus switched to the mother.
It ran 3 seasons, more than 3X the episodes of MSCL, but is basically forgotten today.
It ran 3 seasons, more than 3X the episodes of MSCL, but is basically forgotten today.
Reposting this with Alt text for the screen-reader crowd.
January 4, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Reposting this with Alt text for the screen-reader crowd.
Hadn't watched My So-Called Life in over a decade, but just introduced my 16 year old to it. It completely holds up. Amazing stuff.
We also watched The Hudsucker Proxy, which went over well.
Meanwhile, I'm reading to my wife the tale of Robert Poste's child.
Culture is good!
We also watched The Hudsucker Proxy, which went over well.
Meanwhile, I'm reading to my wife the tale of Robert Poste's child.
Culture is good!
January 3, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Hadn't watched My So-Called Life in over a decade, but just introduced my 16 year old to it. It completely holds up. Amazing stuff.
We also watched The Hudsucker Proxy, which went over well.
Meanwhile, I'm reading to my wife the tale of Robert Poste's child.
Culture is good!
We also watched The Hudsucker Proxy, which went over well.
Meanwhile, I'm reading to my wife the tale of Robert Poste's child.
Culture is good!
To see if you have Kindle Points, go to the listing of any Kindle edition of a book. You can use up to 300 of them for a penny-each discount on a book. These points time out eventually, so if you don't have plans to use them, might as well do some good with them.
January 2, 2026 at 4:21 PM
To see if you have Kindle Points, go to the listing of any Kindle edition of a book. You can use up to 300 of them for a penny-each discount on a book. These points time out eventually, so if you don't have plans to use them, might as well do some good with them.