The Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) is a non-profit organization comprised of professional cartoonists, aspiring cartoonists, and cartooning enthusiasts (and apparently mules).
Early in 1987, a small group of professional cartoonists came together to form The Memphis Cartoonists Group. The name didn’t stick. By December of that year, for the third meeting and first official newsletter, the name had become The Mid-South Cartoonist Association (with the word ‘Cartoonist’ becoming plural in 2000). The MSCA was created to bring together cartooning professionals, aspiring professionals and cartooning fans of all ages.
Our founders went on to start clubs in other states and begin careers in syndication. Many of our members have worked for comic book publishers Marvel, DC Comics, Image, and others, as well as self-publishing their own creator-owned projects.
Since its origins, the group has put its creative strengths behind various cartooning classes, appearances, conventions, fundraisers, art shows, anthology comics/zines, monthly drawing nights, a podcast, and more. In 2022 the MSCA celebrates 35 years of drawing funny!
We hope to provide a social group to help more cartoonists to reach their goals- no matter how young or old, published or just starting out. Whether you enjoy simply reading cartoons, stain your fingers every day drawing magazine cartoons or comic books, like to mentor others or want to learn, or even if you just need to find an artist to collaborate with for your funny ideas, please check us out. If you love cartoons, are drawn to comics, or just like drawing funny then the MSCA is the group/association for you…and it’s free to join us.
Monthly meet-ups are free and open to the public- just bring a few bucks to order off the menu and be sure to introduce yourself. Always love to have folks bring what they’ve been working on to show the group, talk toons, or doodle on napkins with us!
If you have kids that are interested please bring them out. If you are a kid, please have a parent attend with you. If you’re not sure about meeting a group of strangers by yourself, then feel free to bring along a friend with you.
Note: Since March 2022 we have resumed in-person meetings, but plan to follow Covid safety protocols as necessary. If safety requires, we will return to doing events virtually on Zoom. However, the best ways to keep up with all our future plans are to join the MSCA mailing list, watch our website, give our Drawing Funny Podcast a listen, and/or follow our social media posts. Any info on changes in meet-ups and other group related events will be shared through them.
If you’d like more info on becoming a member, attending events, or joining our mailing list please shoot us an email. Our contact info is listed below…
MSCA general info and mailing list e-mail: midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com
MSCA zine editor(s) email: mscapub(at)gmail(dot)com
MSCA podcast host email: podcast(at)drawingfunny(dot)com
Facebook account: www(dot)facebook(dot)com/midsouthcartoonists/
Twitter account: (at)MSCA_Memphis
Instagram account: (at)midsouthcartoonists
Podcast website: www(dot)drawingfunny(dot)com
