#20: Asher Perlman
Someone You Might Like if You Like Jokes That Make You Shit Yourself Laughing.
#20: — Cartoonist & Comedy Writer
Earlier this year I received a book that had me crying laughing on nearly every page. It's the kind of book that makes a cartoonist want to throw it all in and become a New Jersey bus driver. The book is called “Well, this is me!”— a reference to a cartoon trope that gets used a bunch to different effects. The cover gives you an idea of the absurdity inside:
Asher is prolific with his cartoon output and has one of the highest hit rates of ‘certified bangers’ of any cartoonist working today. He somehow fits his cartooning around his job writing for Stephen Colbert on The Late Show.
The thing I like about Asher’s cartoons is that they not only reflect his comic voice, but the drawing style fits perfectly to the tone of the joke. They’re silly, they’re funny, the captions make you laugh even before you look back up at the image. His line economy is great; there aren’t any extraneous details pulling focus from the gag— same with the shading; it only ever leads the eye around the image the way he intends it to. He’s good. I’m a fan.
The book arrived alongside some coasters, and a wine glass with a reference to one of the best cartoons in the book:
Some of the cartoons in the book can be found on Asher’s Instagram — but please pre-order the book. It’s hard to shift a book in this day and age without prostrating yourself before the algorithmic Gods and hoping that 0.00001% of your followers will see the creation you poured your heart and soul into.
Official Book Launch This Week
His book launch and comedy show is at Littlefield in Brooklyn next week, hosted by the Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper, but I think it may have already sold out. Either way, try to grab one of the last tickets if there are any left:
Littlefield, Brooklyn NY
June 21, 2024, 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm
Min. Age: 21+