Page 5 - wicks1995book

WICKS' WORLD

'd better be careful here. I wouldn't
want to say the wrong thing about
IRandy Wicks, because I've seen what
the man can do with a pen.
He is, indeed, the Wicked Wicks of
the West.
He's lampooned the best and the
worst of them, from local politicians all
the way up to the president of the United
States. Heck, he even drew a caricature
of God.
The man has no fear.
And, as a journalist, that's perhaps his
most endearing quality. Through his car-
toons, Wicks speaks his mind - as it
says on the New York Times masthead,
"Without fear or favor."
His cartoons are sometimes good for a
belly laugh, or a smirk or even a cringe
and sigh of relief that it's not you who is
the target of the day. Other days, Wicks
will make a poignant statement that
brings a tear to your eye.
It's an emotional roller coaster, let me
tell you. And I'm proud to have known
and worked with Wicks for the past half-
dozen or so years. His take-no-prisoners
approach to cartooning notwithstanding,
he's a kind soul who cares deeply for
those around him. He sticks to his prin-
ciples, liberal as they are relative to
Santa Clarita, the valley of Republicans.
He has the intellectual stamina to read
three newspapers per day, and as a result
of this remarkable feat, he knows every-
thing. If a reporter comes to me with a him a try. rock concerts and millions of people
tough question about history or current The rest is history. Wicks became one could use a helping hand. Through it all,
events, I'll invariably look thoughtfully of the best-known names in Santa Wicks consistently reminds us of our
at the ceiling until enough time has Clarita. instinct for survival, and the fact that we
passed so it appears as if I've given deep Wicks, 41, recently celebrated his 15th need to take care of this little blue planet
thought to the question, then I' 11 say, "I anniversary as The Signal's resident poi- we call home.
don't know. Ask Wicks." son pen. During that time, he's won 17 Then, in Part 2, Wicks Goes Local -
I have to admit, I still feel a bit of state and national awards and aggravated a collection of Wicks' best pokes, caress-
celebrity shock when I run into Wicks at more than a few politicians. And get this: es and jabs at the Santa Clarita Valley,
the office. When he first started at The He's gone 15 years without taking a sin- which Wicks, an Iowa native, has adopt-
Signal, I was in eighth grade at Arroyo gle sick day. ed as his second home. And finally, we
Seco Junior High School. I'd already Cal Ripken Jr., eat your heart out. take a look back at some of Wicks'
heard of Wicks through my grandfather, So there you have it. He's out there Blasts from the Past - sort of an all-
who worked in the dormitory at every day. Watching. Waiting. And, most time greatest hits from The Wicked One
California Institute of the Arts, where importantly, thinking. himself.
Wicks was studying animation. Wicks I know you' 11 enjoy this collection of It may make you laugh,· or cry, or kick
and Grandpa worked together one sum- Wicks' work. We're serving it up in three your cat in misdirected anger. But one
mer, and Randy credits Grandpa with parts. First, we'll take a look at "Wicks' thing's for sure: Randy Wicks' cartoons
teaching him how to clean toilets. World," a compendium of Wicks' com- are guaranteed to make you think.
A valuable and humbling lesson in mentary about national, international and Just stay on his good side.
life, don't you think? even celestial issues. He makes some
Soon after graduating from CalArts, perceptive observations about society -Tim Whyte
Wicks became The Signal's full-time and how it's changing. We live in a Managing Editor, The Signal
cartoonist after cajoling then-editor/pub- world where kids tote guns, sports fran- Santa Clarita, Calif.
lisher/ owner Scott Newhall into giving chises know no loyalty, yuppies pervade Sept. 24, 1995