The above cartoon actually came out of another graph cartoon I was working on.
I don’t remember the original now, but I know the graph in the presentation wasn’t central to the gag. I’d first sketched in a line graph, but I do a lot of those, so to shake things up I sketched a pie
chart over it.
When I went to ink the final I noticed that the original line graph ended up looking like a slice in the pie chart, so, after drawing the original cartoon, I threw the sketch in my idea box and came up with the caption later. It’s not often you get a cartoon twofer!
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About the Author: Mark Anderson’s cartoons appear in publications including The Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review. Anderson is the creator of the popular cartoon website, Andertoons.com, where he licenses his cartoons for presentations, newsletters and other projects. He blogs at Andertoons cartoon blog.
Anita Campbell
Hi Mark,
This reminds me of some charts I’ve seen in my day. Some were so complicated, with lines going everywhere, that I’d sit there baffled — just trying to figure out how to read the chart (let alone understand the numbers on it)!
And the thing is, I knew others were just as confused. But everybody would be sitting there pretending to understand some complicated, practically-indecipherable chart.
This brings back memories. 🙂
— Anita
Mike Lynch
Speaking as fellow pro cartoonist colleague of Mark’s, who has also done a lot of these kinds of cartoons, I have to say I really admire the ability to take a narrow set of parameters (meeting, graph, presentation) and mine it so deeply and funnily!
Aw shucks…
Mmm pie, now you’re making me hungry along with making me chuckle! 🙂
Martin Lindeskog
Mark,
What is a “twofer”? Is it a “2 for 1” deal or “2 in 1” multi-tool widget?! 😉
What about “shucks”? Is it like Alfred E. Neumann’s saying: “What-Me worry?” 😉
Anyway, T.G.I.F and time to check out your new cartoon! 🙂
This was great. It just reminded me of the people who try and make very impressive graphs that are very difficult to read.
I agree with you bren. I have met a a few who does very well in helping us not to understand their graphs. LOL!
Luz Spielberg
I hate reading complicated charts. Well you reminded me with my past experiences Mark. Nice cartoon. Keep them coming!
Jennifer Rai
Thank you for the laugh!
Phil Dubuc
Funny enough, found this site while searching for pie charts in google. Its become one of the top results.
For those looking for non comic pie charts, try the National Center for Education website chart or chartgo graph They’re both very pretty useful.