The job of drawing Sisyphus-related cartoons, and keeping track of them, never seems to approach an end, as noted by Arvy, who contributed these first three.
The collaboration of cartoon artist Harry Bliss with comedian Steve Martin has now resulted in a book. For those who haven’t used up their NYT views, here is a review of the book: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/books/steve-martin-harry-bliss-wealth-of-pigeons.html
Steve Martin wanted to make cartoons, but he can only draw stick figures. He teamed up with the illustrator Harry Bliss, and the result is their new book, “A Wealth of Pigeons.”
New York Times 2020-11-11
Sometime-NewYorker cartoonist Jason Adam Katzenstein can’t seem to let go of the Sisyphus theme! The “work at home” one also qualifies for our “pandemic-related” tag.
In addition to those from Arvy, here’s a long one from Existential Comics.
And another one: https://www.existentialcomics.com/comic/110
Comics I Don't Understand 
Maybe I should have waited a few more days before sending those three. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHjHm1Xp8-g/?igshid=w0fm3bflgh2i
It is a fresh drawing as well as new thought in the caption — but the drawing is inevitably similar.
As the Bliss/Martin one points out, the angle shown is often impossibly steep!
Why is the ticket-taker in the non-included Existential Comics a vampire?
That’s Camus! In a pose with cigarette out the side of mouth and collar half up.
My mom was literally a philosopher, but there would be no chance of my recognizing Camus in a caricature.
I half recognized his caricature from other recent cartoons — but also, the cartoonist tells us, in the “Philosophers in this Comic” line.
The ExistentialComic artist usually tells you explicitly tells you the names of the philosophers in the comic, or in the title. He only doesn’t bother for a few philosophers, like Camus, Sartre, or Simone de Beauvoir, who appear very regularly in the strip. It does make them unidentifiable if you’re just dropped into the strip.
From https://letterstoamoderndayjob.com/
Thanks for that animation!
It shows even more of a steep slope, as Bliss/Martin were remarking.
Winter say: The ExistentialComic artist usually tells you explicitly tells you the names of the philosophers in the comic, or in the title.
Or also, as in this episode, in a note centered in the footer area right under the comic itself. This is fun when he has done a crowd scene or historical overview type of thing, and you can check off the names against the pictures.
There’s also the fact that one of Camus’ more famous works is titled “The Myth of Sisyphus”.
Ah yes, that ought to be mentioned, as the reason to show vampire Camus in the first place!
The Bliss/Martin book is now officially published.
The radio interview includes a discussion of this Sisyphus cartoon!
@ Mitch4 – Here’s a direct link to the NPR interview.
And speaking of Existential:
Grabbing more Sisyphus comics is a never-ending job, it appears …
And if you want to check the Hax column, it was here.
Whoa! A bit topical here:
From RWO:
This might be Atlas, not Sisyphus. But similar profile!
I liked the latest one. Stuck carrying the Moon as well. Of course, Atlas was actually holding up the sky or “celestial sphere” which is the round object in many depictions.
Today’s “Off the Mark”, sent in by Mark M:
Wrong hands in this morning’s email (have we seen this one before?)
This almost made it as a CIDU, or as an LOL, but in the end is relegated to thread-addon (and maybe also the next “didn’t quite make it” collection).
Sisyphus wanted some help, but this isn’t what he had in mind. (Non Sequitur 3/31/2022):
Not showing him on the job, just some back-story:
Romance can be tough when you’re cursed.
“Romance can be tough when you’re cursed.”
Not tonight, dear, I’ve got the curse — what? No, I just meant there’s a full moon out and so I’ll be turning into a werewofl.”
As I just wrote in another thread, sometimes typos are better left ignored, but that one made me think of Elmer Fudd (“wolling on the floor, laughing”).
Today’s Pooch Cafe had a metaphorical dream version:
https://www.gocomics.com/poochcafe/2022/11/27
@ Mitch – At least he’s consistent: 27 months and 5 days later, and he’s still drinking the same beer. :-)
(Not a synchronicity) But these are from the same date and both mention Sisyphus in some form — so let’s drop them in this never-ending thread!
(If you don’t see it right off in the Home Free, check for written text)
(Eyebeam and Home Free)
A Six Chix, this one by Bannerman:
I’m not sure whether altering the gender of the title character is a significant improvement over Atkinson’s version (see @27), but if so, then I think the name should have been changed to “Sisyphette”.
See Arnold Zwicky’s blog for a discussion of this same Bizarro cartoon, other Sisyphus cartoons, and rock’n’roll history and prospects.
At some point last year, PBF addressed the Sisyphus meme:
That’s pretty funny.
Blazek in the new year:
We might as well counter the cat version with one from Pooch Cafe:
Another one from Wiley:
https://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2024/05/29