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    Waiting for Superman on the Upper West Side

    May 31, 2026 | 9:15 AM
    in ABSURDITY, ART, COLUMNS
    25

    By Gary Martin

    It means more than you know.

    Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com

    Listen to Rag Radio’s interview with Gary Martin — HERE.

    Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.

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    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.

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    25 Comments
    Auntie Em
    Auntie Em
    3 months ago

    No one knows what to do with those few pay phone booths on the UWS. Where’s Superman when you need him?

    6
    Reply
    Judy Orich
    Judy Orich
    3 months ago

    Aliens communicate to their mothership. Check the coin drop for loose change !

    4
    Reply
    Joanna
    Joanna
    3 months ago

    Step inside, Gary. You never know!

    6
    Reply
    Neal
    Neal
    3 months ago

    I’ve long wondered about the booth at WEA and 100th. Is there actually a working pay phone in there? Does it provide a direct line to Gary?

    Last edited 3 months ago by Neal
    4
    Reply
    Fatemeh Modarres
    Fatemeh Modarres
    3 months ago
    Reply to  Neal

    Yes the one on west end avenue works

    3
    Reply
    Ian Alterman
    Ian Alterman
    3 months ago

    There is a scene in the first Superman movie (with Chris Reeve) in which he is looking for a place to “change.” He sees a “second generation” telephone booth (the metal ones with a
    “half” but open phone space). The camera looks at his face as he realizes he can’t use it, and he ducks into an alley instead. It is the perfect example of this cartoon.

    6
    Reply
    Miriam
    Miriam
    3 months ago

    Superman may be on his way- I’m pretty sure he’ll be able to fix everything

    3
    Reply
    Debfrombrooklyn
    Debfrombrooklyn
    3 months ago

    Hahahaha! That’s terrific. Who knows?

    3
    Reply
    Sarah
    Sarah
    3 months ago

    For a while there was an art project that installed a handful of pay phones (without booths) through the city. If someone picked up one receiver, it would ring at all the phones. (If anyone picked up, you could then talk to them.) I was walking by one late at night when it rang–talk about a jump scare!

    7
    Reply
    Tuna Jack
    Tuna Jack
    3 months ago

    I don’t know. But we need more phone booths. And we absolutely need Superman!

    5
    Reply
    Howie
    Howie
    3 months ago

    Happy 2 year Anniversary!

    4
    Reply
    Mia T
    Mia T
    3 months ago

    We’re all waiting for Superman these days!

    4
    Reply
    Sue Taffet
    Sue Taffet
    3 months ago

    I think we all are waiting for a Superman to rescue us! Gary certainly got it right!

    5
    Reply
    uncle bill
    uncle bill
    3 months ago

    I built a little iPhone app called 100 Burfords that keeps all 100 of Gary B. Martin’s WSR cartoons in one place — the full collection, plus
    thousands of your comments, ready to page through anytime. It’s free and you can get it here:
    https://apps.apple.com/us/app/100-burfords/id6766107636

    — Uncle Bill

    6
    Reply
    Rosie
    Rosie
    3 months ago
    Reply to  uncle bill

    Excellent!

    1
    Reply
    Paula
    Paula
    3 months ago

    Memories ❤️

    2
    Reply
    Floria
    Floria
    3 months ago

    Remember using those to check your answering machine?

    3
    Reply
    Nina
    Nina
    3 months ago

    We need Superman more than ever!

    4
    Reply
    Ellen Freeman
    Ellen Freeman
    3 months ago

    I vote for Gary…Superman of UWS!

    4
    Reply
    steve
    steve
    3 months ago

    Is the woman walking speaking on the batphone? How great for the Worlds Finest to get back together again!

    3
    Reply
    Pat Hogan
    Pat Hogan
    3 months ago

    When I was in Ireland I was thrilled to see that the old phone booths were repurposed and now have AED’s (automated external defibrillators) in them! Brilliant!

    4
    Reply
    Andy
    Andy
    3 months ago

    Love getting to explain to my kids what those weird glass and metal boxes are every time we walk by!

    3
    Reply
    Try again
    Try again
    3 months ago

    These cartoons are so obtuse.

    2
    Reply
    Fatemeh Modarres
    Fatemeh Modarres
    3 months ago

    Do nothing. Just let them be there

    1
    Reply
    Joe Chiplock
    Joe Chiplock
    3 months ago

    I LOVE walking by the phone booths with visiting friends and family members…they always comment on how great it is to see them. (And is that intrepid reporter Lois Lane in a blond wig???)

    1
    Reply

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