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, backgrounds, and skill levels.
Our founders went on to start clubs in other states and begin/continue careers in syndication. Many of our members have worked for comic book publishers Marvel, DC Comics, Image, Dark Horse and others, as well as self-publishing their own creator-owned projects and teaching others.
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 (or mornings), a podcast, and more. In 2022 the MSCA celebrated 35 years of drawing funny!
We hope to provide a social group to help more cartoonists, writers, and animators 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 come check us out. If you love cartoons, are drawn to comics, or just like writing and drawing funny then the MSCA is the group/association for you…and it’s free to join us. To join in on the cartooning fun, either join our mailing list, interact with us on social media, message us on Facebook, or stop by an MSCA event and say “hi”. It’s pretty simple and doesn’t have to cost you anything.
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. We always love to have folks bring along what they’ve been working on to show the group, talk toons, draw on jam pieces, or doodle on napkins with us!
We’ve also been known to have some fun freebies for attendees to enjoy.
If you’d like to join us in person, we meet on the first Tuesday of each month from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza near the U of M – 3530 Walker Ave., Memphis, TN 38111
If you have any kids that are interested in getting into cartooning 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 sketchy strangers all by yourself, then feel free to bring along a friend with you. We’re the group in the large room on the right.
Note: Since March 2022 we have resumed in-person meetings and will continue to in 2023, 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, being a guest on our podcast, 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
Garibaldi’s Pizza – www(dot)garibaldispizza(dot)com
If you can’t make it out to join us for dinner, you can also pick up some free MSCA and Drawing Funny swag at local comic shops in Memphis (Comics & Collectibles, 901 Comics, and The Cellar), and the DeSoto Arts Council in Hernando, MS (while supplies last).
You can find out even more info about the MSCA by listening to the podcast player above or by clicking here.