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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
12 days ago

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

5
Reply
Judy Orich
Judy Orich
12 days ago

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

3
Reply
Joanna
Joanna
12 days ago

Step inside, Gary. You never know!

5
Reply
Neal
Neal
12 days 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 12 days ago by Neal
3
Reply
Fatemeh Modarres
Fatemeh Modarres
11 days ago
Reply to  Neal

Yes the one on west end avenue works

2
Reply
Ian Alterman
Ian Alterman
12 days 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.

5
Reply
Miriam
Miriam
12 days ago

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

2
Reply
Debfrombrooklyn
Debfrombrooklyn
12 days ago

Hahahaha! That’s terrific. Who knows?

2
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
12 days 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!

6
Reply
Tuna Jack
Tuna Jack
12 days ago

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

4
Reply
Howie
Howie
12 days ago

Happy 2 year Anniversary!

3
Reply
Mia T
Mia T
12 days ago

We’re all waiting for Superman these days!

3
Reply
Sue Taffet
Sue Taffet
12 days ago

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

4
Reply
uncle bill
uncle bill
12 days 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

5
Reply
Rosie
Rosie
12 days ago
Reply to  uncle bill

Excellent!

0
Reply
Paula
Paula
12 days ago

Memories ❤️

1
Reply
Floria
Floria
12 days ago

Remember using those to check your answering machine?

2
Reply
Nina
Nina
12 days ago

We need Superman more than ever!

3
Reply
Ellen Freeman
Ellen Freeman
12 days ago

I vote for Gary…Superman of UWS!

3
Reply
steve
steve
12 days ago

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

2
Reply
Pat Hogan
Pat Hogan
12 days 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
12 days 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
11 days ago

These cartoons are so obtuse.

2
Reply
Fatemeh Modarres
Fatemeh Modarres
11 days ago

Do nothing. Just let them be there

1
Reply
Joe Chiplock
Joe Chiplock
11 days 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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