West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • GET WSR FREE IN YOUR INBOX
    • SEND US TIPS AND IDEAS
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

Favorite WSR Stories

    SUPPORT THE RAG
    Get the neighborhood news that matters.
    Sign up for our free newsletter

    Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder

    July 7, 2024 | 5:48 AM
    in ART, COLUMNS
    48
    Illustration by Gary B. Martin.

    By Carol Tannenhauser

    Martoonerville is not immune to personal and collective struggles. “[I’m] submitting this image for what has been a very hard week and it’s only the beginning,” Gary Martin wrote, along with this week’s illustration. “Mostly it’s about the news from last week, the Supreme Court et al.”

    Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for over 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood and New York City.

    Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here, and help sustain the Rag by clicking on the purple support button below.

    Share this article:
    SUPPORT THE RAG
    Leave a comment

    Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration. Comments that take cheap shots, escalate conflict, or veer into ideological warfare detract from the constructive spirit we aim to cultivate. A detailed statement on comments and WSR policy can be read here.

    guest

    guest

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    48 Comments
    Steve
    Steve
    2 years ago

    As usual, Gary channels our feelings. A picture and a caption capture thousands of words!

    11
    Reply
    Birdie
    Birdie
    2 years ago

    Ooph! Gut punch! Watching last week’s news — Biden/Trump, Chevron decision, climate (change? what change?)– all while celebrating our nation’s independence, leaves enough residual angst to anticipate another coming week of exhaustion. Spot on Martoons!

    7
    Reply
    Barbara E. Morgan
    Barbara E. Morgan
    2 years ago
    Reply to  Birdie

    I wake up Every Single Day thinking “What fresh hell will we have to deal with today?” Meanwhile, we are almost literally Living in hell!

    0
    Reply
    Sharon
    Sharon
    2 years ago

    You nailed that on the head. Another great comic

    5
    Reply
    Ben Harris
    Ben Harris
    2 years ago

    What happens if you combine PTSD with PreTSD?

    3
    Reply
    Barbara E. Morgan
    Barbara E. Morgan
    2 years ago
    Reply to  Ben Harris

    Just plain T.

    0
    Reply
    Birdie
    Birdie
    2 years ago
    Reply to  Ben Harris

    ha.

    1
    Reply
    Laurie K
    Laurie K
    2 years ago

    I seriously almost just shot coffee out of my nose on this one! Way to wake me up and have me start my day with a laugh and cry. Now I have to wait another week though!!!!!

    3
    Reply
    Joanna
    Joanna
    2 years ago

    Oh Wow. This hits it right on the nose. Agree with Steve about channeling our feelings.

    4
    Reply
    Neal Leibowitz
    Neal Leibowitz
    2 years ago

    Smart, funny and (sadly) extremely accurate. If our cartoons can’t cope, what hope is there for the rest of us?

    8
    Reply
    gmartin
    gmartin
    2 years ago
    Reply to  Neal Leibowitz

    thank you for understanding. it’s gotten weird out here.

    2
    Reply
    Taggart
    Taggart
    2 years ago

    I wish I didn’t love this so much! Spot on.

    3
    Reply
    Miriam
    Miriam
    2 years ago

    You’re not kidding! I think I’ll skip next week…

    8
    Reply
    Edward Soloway
    Edward Soloway
    2 years ago

    I like the futuristic background and palette, reminiscent of The Jetsons and that suggestive cartoon era of easy times.

    4
    Reply
    Birdie
    Birdie
    2 years ago
    Reply to  Edward Soloway

    I think you make a great point about this cartoon capturing both the future and the past. Echoing what he said about ” grammar gods excus[ing] my use of the present perfect continuous tense to describe what’s coming.”

    1
    Reply
    gmartin
    gmartin
    2 years ago
    Reply to  Edward Soloway

    thank you sir. i was worried about the orange color.

    2
    Reply
    David
    David
    2 years ago

    Ouch!!!

    4
    Reply
    Mad Smith
    Mad Smith
    2 years ago

    So relatable!

    3
    Reply
    Adrienne
    Adrienne
    2 years ago

    I feel seen!

    4
    Reply
    Rebecca
    Rebecca
    2 years ago

    Is it Friday yet?!

    3
    Reply
    Ellen White
    Ellen White
    2 years ago

    Love this cartoon and the recurring character! Keep ‘em coming Gary Martin! ❤️❤️❤️

    3
    Reply
    Julian C. Lander
    Julian C. Lander
    2 years ago

    Surely the future perfect would have worked: “Next week will have been so exhausting.”

    3
    Reply
    Kathy
    Kathy
    2 years ago

    Seeing Gary’s weekly Martoon takes me back to the days when I looked forward to comics in the Sunday paper. Smile of the week!

    3
    Reply
    David
    David
    2 years ago

    Alas, so true. But, at least, very funny.

    4
    Reply
    Don
    Don
    2 years ago

    Hilarious and SO true!!!

    3
    Reply
    APC
    APC
    2 years ago

    The Sunday Scaries are very real this week.

    3
    Reply
    Anne Watkins
    Anne Watkins
    2 years ago

    Love the cartoon, the feeling, the phrase and the headline. Brilliant. Next up: Martoonerville’s Dictionary

    3
    Reply
    Agnes Frank
    Agnes Frank
    2 years ago

    Even without mentioning the French elections.

    3
    Reply
    LJR
    LJR
    2 years ago

    Ha!!! Isn’t this so true of so many of us! Does this relatable character have a name? (Not that he needs one.) He’s becoming an icon of the UWS.

    2
    Reply
    Neal Leibowitz
    Neal Leibowitz
    2 years ago
    Reply to  LJR

    He’s a portrait of the artist.

    1
    Reply
    Alex
    Alex
    2 years ago

    So sadly accurate, but at least Martoonerville speaks the truth with humor.

    3
    Reply
    Mark
    Mark
    2 years ago

    Ugh. I *so* feel this. Unfortunately, we have a lot of next weeks ahead of us. But thanks for giving us a humorous way to think about them, Gary.

    5
    Reply
    Andrea R
    Andrea R
    2 years ago

    Boy, can I relate! The madness of it all is overwhelming with no end in sight…yet. Stay positive! Great job, Gary.

    2
    Reply
    Deb M
    Deb M
    2 years ago

    Laugh-out-loud funny! Spot on!

    2
    Reply
    OPOD
    OPOD
    2 years ago

    There are 2 types of Democrats, ones who knew Biden had severe cognitive problems, or ones who don’t pay attention. The media coverup of Biden is criminal, and put the whole world in danger.

    2
    Reply
    Howie Cherpakov
    Howie Cherpakov
    2 years ago

    Never mind next week; what about the week after that?!! 🙂

    1
    Reply
    Cork
    Cork
    2 years ago

    Thank god next week’s cartoon has been so entertaining as well.

    1
    Reply
    Lisa
    Lisa
    2 years ago

    I know the feeling

    1
    Reply
    Deborah
    Deborah
    2 years ago

    This is fantastic!

    2
    Reply
    Stacey
    Stacey
    2 years ago

    Gary nailed it again. Brilliant.

    2
    Reply
    Ron
    Ron
    2 years ago

    Exactly! Martoons hits it right on the head. (And it’s only gonna get worse!) I see a t-shirt in your future.

    2
    Reply
    Barbara
    Barbara
    2 years ago

    Another great creative Martoon.

    1
    Reply
    Meg Roberts
    Meg Roberts
    2 years ago

    This entire run up to the elections is causing me pre-traumatic stress! And it is combined with post traumatic stress disorder also! Thank you Gary – you continue to keep us at least smiling occasionally!

    4
    Reply
    Betty Samuels
    Betty Samuels
    2 years ago

    How about the next four months?

    1
    Reply
    Joe Chiplock
    Joe Chiplock
    2 years ago

    Writing this comment on Monday….Gary’s correct.

    1
    Reply
    Melissa
    Melissa
    2 years ago

    So funny and at the same time… so sad. You capture it perfectly Gary!

    1
    Reply
    Nelson
    Nelson
    2 years ago

    So true! And it looks like it will feel this way right up until elections in November!
    Great work Mr Martoons 😂🤣

    1
    Reply
    Mia T
    Mia T
    2 years ago

    My thoughts exactly! Well put Martoons!

    0
    Reply

    YOU MIGHT LIKE...

    Ruthless Advice for Upper West Siders: All of the Answers With None of the Expertise
    ABSURDITY

    Ruthless Advice for Upper West Siders: All of the Answers With None of the Expertise

    September 15, 2026 | 8:27 AM
    A Rainy Day on the Upper West Side Outside of Fairway: Photographs by Stephen Harmon
    ART

    A Rainy Day on the Upper West Side Outside of Fairway: Photographs by Stephen Harmon

    September 14, 2026 | 5:08 PM
    Previous Post

    Upper West Sider Theodore Dixon, 98, Inducted Into New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame

    Next Post

    Argument Leads to Slashing in Central Park: Police

    this week's events image
    Next Post
    Updated: Two Suspects Arrested in Three Riverside Park Sexual Assaults:  NYPD

    Argument Leads to Slashing in Central Park: Police

    Monday Bulletin: UWS Affordable Housing Lottery Opens; Local Eatery Named Among NYC’s Best Sushi Spots; Nadler Calls on Biden to Abandon his Election Bid; Neighborhood’s Tallest Building Makes Headlines Again; Shocking Bagel Crime

    Monday Bulletin: UWS Affordable Housing Lottery Opens; Local Eatery Named Among NYC's Best Sushi Spots; Nadler Calls on Biden to Abandon his Election Bid; Neighborhood's Tallest Building Makes Headlines Again; Shocking Bagel Crime

    Volunteer & Connect with an Older Neighbor this Thanksgiving

    Give a Little Time, Make a Big Impact!

    • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
    • NEWSLETTER
    • WSR MERCH!
    • ADVERTISE
    • EVENTS
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS OF USE
    • SITE MAP
    Site design by RLDGROUP

    © 2026 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • TOP NEWS
    • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
    • OPEN/CLOSED
    • FOOD
    • SCHOOLS
    • OUTDOORS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • ART & CULTURE
    • POLITICS
    • COLUMNS
    • CRIME
    • HISTORY
    • ABSURDITY
    • ABOUT
      • OUR STORY
      • CONTRIBUTORS
      • CONTACT US
      • GET WSR FREE IN YOUR INBOX
      • SEND US TIPS AND IDEAS
    • WSR SHOP

    © 2026 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.