CARtoons Magazine

''CARtoons magazine'' is an American publication that focuses on automotive humor and hot rod artwork. Originated by Carl Kohler and drag-racing artist Pete Millar, it was published by Robert E. Petersen Publication Company as a quarterly starting in 1959. Editors over the years included Dick Day, Jack Bonestell, and Dennis Ellefson. The original ''CARtoons'' went defunct in 1991. In 2016, ''CARtoons'' resumed publication under new ownership of the trademark, and is currently published bimonthly.

The original ''CARtoons'' featured articles, comic strips, step-by-step how-to drawing pages and more. The first issue included a comic strip, '' Rumpsville: The Saga of Rumpville'', illustrated by Millar. In the 1960s until 1975 it carried the ''Unk and them Varmints'' strip (by Mike Arens and Willie Ito).

Through the years, some of the featured artists were Alex Toth, Tom Medley, Mike Arens, Jim Willoughby, Russ Manning, Willie Ito, Dale Hale, George Trosley (creator of ''Krass & Bernie''), John Kovalic, Shawn Kerri (one of the few women who drew for the magazine), Duane Bibby, Steve Austin, Dave Deal, Joe Borer, Nelson Dewey, Bob Hardin, John Larter, Robert Williams, William Stout, Quentin Miller, Jim Grube, Errol McCarthy, and Dennis Ellefson.

Carl had four sons with his second wife, Sylvia: Glen, Christopher, Matt and Peter. The first issue of CARtoons was created at the family home in Burbank. At the time, Christopher was so inspired by it all that he decided to become a cartoonist when he grew up. And he did, beginning to sell some of his work in his teen years. He also did some cartoon pages for CARtoons and CYCLEtoons, years later when Ellefson was editor.

Publications closely related to the original ''CARtoons'' were ''CYCLEtoons'', ''SURFtoons'' and ''Hot Rod Cartoons''. (Peterson also published three issues of ''Choppertoons'', of which very little has been written.)

Publication history

Originally published quarterly, in 1962 the magazine became bi-monthly. During some years in the 1970s and 1980s, the magazine published eight issues per year.

In 1975, the magazine underwent a complete overhaul with a new logo, new artists and new features. The late 1970s and early 1980s issues included iron-ons, a feature which ended in 1983, later replaced by a center poster which often was a larger print of the cover art.

The original run of ''CARtoons'' magazine folded with the August 1991 issue.

In 2015, Ontario artist Marc Methot successfully filed for the abandoned ''CARtoons'' trademark. He resumed publication of the magazine in January 2016 and it continues to be published bimonthly.Williams, Greg
"On the Road: CARtoons back on track"
Feb. 11 2017

References

External links

* {{official, http://www.cartoonsmag.com

Pete Millar's home page



Nelson Dewey prints

Bob C. Hardin's home page


"An online sampling of graphic design, illustrations and cartoons by Christopher Kohler"]

Automobile magazines published in the United States
Bimonthly magazines published in the United States
Eight times annually magazines published in the United States
Quarterly magazines published in the United States
Defunct magazines published in the United States
Magazines established in 1959
Magazines disestablished in 1991