Lockdown Cartoons

Lockdown Cartoons #1

by Sunil Agarwal, Ian Baker, Scott Dikkers (Foreword)

Need some light relief from the Grim Reaper’s march? Bored with bizarre presidential briefings? Don’t know if you should be wearing a mask or a frown? Leading cartoonists Sunil Agarwal and Ian Baker have been poking fun at human foolishness for years with insightful and satirical observations in Reader’s Digest, National Lampoon, and The Times of India. Now they’re here to share their wit and wisdom so you can inject a shot of reality-checks into coronavirus chaos. Lockdown The Cartoon Book for Surviving Quarantine, Boredom and Isolation contains 100 snappily drawn gags that will help you view recent world events with a sacrilegious comic perspective. If confinement feels more like a punishment for your brain than a life-saving necessity, just turn to any page for an instant relief package. Take a break from global disruption for a healthy dose of the absurd. With a foreword written by The Onion founder Scott Dikkers, Lockdown Cartoons is an irreverent, thought-provoking jab at our current quarantine conditions. If you like cheeky humor, wicked satire, and a humorous take on a crazy era, then you’ll love Sunil Agarwal & Ian Baker’s sharp-eyed sendup.

Genres: Humor

106 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2020

About the author

Sunil Agarwal is a cartoon gag writer for the Times of India, one of the largest English print newspapers in the world. He has co-created and published over a thousand cartoons in the daily since 2015.

Reviews

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid comics. First thing I've knowingly seen by the writer and artist. Vaguely curious, after reading the book, about what the nudity standards are in India. I mention because all three books have at least one panel with at least one topless woman in the panel. Not an issue with me, though makes it vaguely harder to recommend or not recommend since I have to note: there's brief causal nudity in all three Lockdown books. See, that was difficult and stuff - I had to think of the words and write them.

[Samuel Edme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted here (with sample images since Goodreads keeps giving me an image error every time I try using the URL from my Imgur page): https://sammythecritic.blogspot.com/2...

Synopsis: A collection of one-panel comics by Times of India writer Sunil Agarwal and British cartoonist Ian Baker.


My Thoughts: Ah 2020, a revolutionary opening to a new decade that has so far brought forth niceties such as… COVID, COVID, COVID which has further opened to doors to conspiracies, anti-maskers, quarantine, and absolute socioeconomic chaos. For all these qualities this year has been emblematic of, I suppose it was inevitable that we would have entire books primarily dedicated to these surreal happenings such as this short comic strip compilation.

In the vein of single-panel features such as The Far Side and New Yorker cartoons, these comics exaggerate the droll absurdities of daily living by infusing it within lines of crudely basic yet distinctively charming drawings. While most of the book comprises of cartoon germane to the pandemic, there are also several concerning other subjects to serve as a well-needed reprieve. Tantamount to the beforementioned single-panel comics, many of the ones contained here made me chuckle or at least smile at the astute subtleties embedded within the dry humor.

That being said, not unlike many of these forms of gag-a-days, there were also quite a few jokes where I just shrugged in confusion at their opaque nature which may or may not be my fault for not spending more time looking into it.


Final Thoughts: Despite the occasional esoteric quip scattered throughout, Lockdown Cartoons 1 is still an entertaining collection worth your time if you’re in the mood for a quick read (I finished it in less than 15 minutes tops) to console you from the insanity that is this year.

Thank you Book Sirens for this free e-book copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ambedkar Balasubramaniam Meganathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subtle humour, refreshing and relevant to the times

[Rosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just grabbed this ARC for some much needed laughs. I should have picked up a children’s storybook instead.
This collection is just light humour, satirical in some cases. The cartoons are funny but most would induce only a smile. Just a few of the gags are actually LOL rib-tickling. Unlike what the title says, only about half of the toons are related to the pandemic and/or the lockdown. This isn’t a flaw of course; the variety of topics brings a nice spice to what would otherwise have been a repetitive theme.
The book doesn’t take much of your time and is a super-quick read.

I received an advance review copy of the book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sarabjeet Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was light and fun read.
Subtle humor, while occasionally adding a touch light sarcasm, on the situations we are facing during the lockdown due to Covid-19.

[Astrid Galactic · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the time of our Covid-19 lockdown, who doesn't need a little levity to help our days go smoother? Even if you are one of those who are loving your personal time away from the rest of the mad world, you'll still enjoy this little pearl of modern culture in a world of pandemically driven intensified tech madness.

Sunil Agarwal offers us a selection of classic New Yorker style inked one framed illustrations and captions that highlight life as we know it at a time when we've been locked away in our homes trying to adjust to a whole new reality. The book is full of corona comets, masks, tech gadgets, Alexa household members, disoriented individuals and other sorts of observations of today's current new lifestyle due, in part, to the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

There's plenty of wonderfully humorous commentary on what we have turned into and how many of us are dealing with the lockdown. They may not all be your reality but you can't help but understand that it is for so many out there. This will definitely hit home and you may even want to revisit some of these in the future because they are so relatable. If you have someone in your life who might need a little smile on their face right now; behind their mask, that is; this would make a nice little gift just to lighten up their sullen mood. It certainly had me laughing out loud.

Thanks to Book Sirens for a copy of the eBook for a fair and honest review.

[hermionegrangerlifegoals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good comics, the foreward by Scott Dikkers really sold me, but I was already really intrigued. High rated humor paired with existential dread about the chaotic new lifestyles the world over has had to adopt. The comics are to the point and illustrated with simple drawings. Easy to understand and even easier to relate to. It's been over 7 months since Covid-19 has taken over the world and these comics make you feel like you're not the only one living through life with a new dread hanging over along with work deadlines and misery over spending time with family but also wanting some space. Excellent work on all accounts. My fav comics as listed below.

Pilot announcing their decision to wfh
Haircut options for zoom or facetime
Carrier pigeons stealthily walking by covid testing area
Vacillating spiderman - to mask or to double mask?
Amazon delivery of worms
Second opinion at doctor’s office
Maggot hitting covid19 on the golf course
Vogue cover
CDC calling Walter White for help
Stonehenge conference call in the nude
Anonymous on a conference call
Batman confirming masked Joker’s identity without covering up the correct half of his own face
Overworked mom exclaiming she's focused on her work
Zoom etiquette - the new genre at the local bookstore


I highly recommend for those who want a little humor today to go along with the misery.

*Thank you to the publishers, the author, Sunil Agarwal, and Booksirens for my free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review.

[Raghav · Rating 4 out of 5]

At a time when the world is perpetually on edge due to a pandemic, humor might seem like an odd choice for a book genre. However, while scientists across the globe struggle to find a cure, it looks like laughter is the best, and only medicine available to us.

Lockdown Cartoons by Sunil Agarwal and Ian Baker brilliantly capture the mood of the world through single cartoons that are to the point, profound at times, and laugh-out-loud at others. Lockdown Cartoons is unique in that it tackles different aspects of everyday life. From the strains on marriages, now that couples are “forced” to be together all the time, to political fallacies that happen daily and leave people confused and angry, the authors cover everything related to the pandemic.

The book is a quick read. Still, it manages to display a distinct set of emotions, humor being predominant, that we all can relate with at present. In the end, it is the kind of light-hearted read that can get us through another day, stuck in a lockdown.

Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Catriona Lovett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quarantine Needs Humor As Much As Snacks

These cartoons are a funny diversion from 2020's tedium/stress roller coaster. They cover a lot of perspectives in a lighthearted way that's safe for work and/or children, depending on your needs. The book may not take the place of your stash of munchables, but you can enjoy both at the same time!

My review is my own opinion on a free advance reader's copy of the book. I provided my own brownies.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this time of uncertainty and angst, Agarwal comes up with an antidote of pure hilarity. The cartoon range the full gamut from snarky, cheesy, hilarious, groans, and even a few guffaws. I'm especially attracted to this volume because the cartoons easily cross so many boundaries and are relatable to everyone.
Recommended to anyone that needs a chuckle during these Covid times.

**This was a review copy given to me for an honest review.**

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of cartoons and think the title is so appropriate for these times. I had some much needed laughs and chuckles-some of the cartoons surprised me. All in all a nice collection of cartoons if you’re looking for a laugh break! Enjoy!

I received an advance free review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Meghan Brownjohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Some of the jokes went over my head with political / nonpolitical references which may be because I live under a rock (haha). There were some zingers though. Also, some of these cartoons aren't meant for children. ... In my opinion. I mean ... there's some mild nudity.

[Indra · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very relevant, current and best of humour. Keep them coming, Sunil and Ian.

[Anu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious
This book makes you laugh and brings smile to your face in this pandemic.
Engaging with wonderfully portrayed illustrations.