Robert Mankoff
: Robert “Bob” Mankoff (born 1944) is an American cartoonist, editor, and author, best known for his long tenure as the cartoon editor of The New Yorker. This article explores his life, creative journey, and insights about humor and imagination.
Introduction
Robert “Bob” Mankoff is an influential figure in American cartooning and humor. Born in 1944, he has made his mark as both an artist—through his own cartoons—and as an editor, especially as the longtime cartoon editor of The New Yorker. His work lies at the intersection of wit, visual economy, and the creativity of everyday absurdities. Over decades, Mankoff has shaped both how cartoons are made and how audiences think about them.
Early Life and Background
Bob Mankoff was born on May 1, 1944, in the Bronx, New York. Queens, New York, in a Jewish family.
During his youth, he attended the High School of Music & Art in New York City (a specialized arts high school). Syracuse University, graduating in 1966.
For a period, he pursued graduate study in experimental psychology at Queens College—but eventually shifted course to focus on humor and cartooning.
These early experiences—artistic schooling, study of human behavior, and creative restlessness—laid the groundwork for a career that combined visual wit and human insight.
Career and Contributions
Breaking In: First Cartoons
Mankoff began creating original cartoons around 1974, submitting them to various magazines. 1977, he sold his first cartoon to The New Yorker.
He then became a regular contributor to The New Yorker in the following years.
One of his early and enduring successes is the cartoon with caption:
“No, Thursday’s out. How about never — is never good for you?”
That cartoon became The New Yorker’s best-selling cartoon of all time.
The Cartoon Bank & Licensing Innovation
In 1991, Mankoff founded The Cartoon Bank — a licensing platform for cartoons, especially those published in The New Yorker.
This move was significant: it professionalized the business side of cartooning, helping creators monetize and distribute their work beyond magazine pages.
Cartoon or of The New Yorker
In 1997, Mankoff took over as Cartoon or of The New Yorker, succeeding Lee Lorenz.
He also edited many collections of New Yorker cartoons, including The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, which assembled decades of the magazine’s cartoon output.
In 2017, he stepped down as cartoon editor and moved on to other roles in humor editorial work (e.g. at Esquire).
Other Projects & Later Work
Beyond The New Yorker, Mankoff has continued writing, speaking, and teaching about creativity and cartooning. The Naked Cartoonist: A Way to Enhance Your Creativity and How About Never — Is Never Good for You? (a cartoon memoir).
He has also been involved in newer humor and AI ventures — for example, cofounding Botnik Studios, a humor/creativity lab blending human and algorithmic creativity.
Style, Themes & Influence
Mankoff’s cartoons characteristically combine a minimalist drawing style with sharp, often ironic or playful captions. His humor tends to spotlight everyday absurdities, linguistic quirks, social conventions, and human psychology.
As editor, he emphasized bringing in fresh cartoonists (particularly underrepresented voices), and fostering variety in tone.
His influence is evident in how cartooning is understood today: not just as single jokes but as a craft combining word, image, timing, and audience. Through his editorial role, collections, and licensing work, he helped shape cartoonists’ careers and how cartoons circulate in the digital age.
Famous Quotes
Here are a few insightful remarks attributed to Robert Mankoff:
“I spend each day pursuing that elusive thing called creativity and inspiring it in others.”
— From his professional bio.
“Old school, new school, it’s all rock and roll to me… cartooning takes a playful attitude toward the absurdities and incongruities of life.”
— On his view of cartooning styles.
“If you really want to hear about it … I could reply, ‘where I was born … and all that David Copperfield kind of crap …’ but I don’t feel like going into it.”
— From his New Yorker “My Story” column, reflecting his humor about autobiographical tropes.
“This dual identity [as cartoonist and editor] has led some to accuse me of a conflict of interest … I take this charge quite seriously.”
— From a New Yorker piece on cartoon ethics.
Many of his most meaningful reflections are embedded in essays and interviews about creativity, humor, and the life of a cartoonist.
Lessons from Bob Mankoff’s Journey
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Persistence is essential
Mankoff submitted hundreds (even thousands) of cartoons before breaking through. Creative success often requires tolerance for rejection and endurance. -
Develop both craft and taste
His dual role as artist and editor taught that understanding what works (and why) is as important as producing work. -
Bridge art and business
By founding The Cartoon Bank, he showed that creative work needs sustainable distribution and infrastructure to thrive. -
Champion diversity and renewal
In editorial capacity, he sought new voices, broader representation, and evolution within tradition. -
Humor as lens, not escape
Mankoff’s cartoons don’t merely amuse—they reflect oddities in behavior, language, and culture, offering viewers a way to see themselves and society with a slight tilt.
Conclusion
Robert “Bob” Mankoff has had a rare dual legacy: creating cartoons that delight and editing a generation of cartoonists with vision and integrity. From his early persistence in New York’s humor milieu to his shaping of The New Yorker’s cartoon page, and his innovation in cartoon licensing, his impact is broad and lasting. His voice teaches that wit, clarity, and creative rigor still matter—even in an age of visual and digital proliferation.