ADVERTISEMENT

Matt Bors is a cartoonist and editor based in Portland, Oregon. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Foreign Policy, and other respected publications all over the world and the Internet. Bors also is a two-time Pulitzer Prize Finalist for his political cartoons (2012 and 2020).

He's one of those rare creators that have successfully intertwined their work and politics. In a time when many artists try to stay as neutral as possible so they won't alienate any of their audience and can appeal to as many people as they can (generate clicks), Bors continues to make bold statements, tackling some of the most difficult American social issues.

More info: mattbors.comthenib.com | Instagram

Bors always wanted to be a comic artist, but it wasn't until after 9/11 (he was 17 at the time) that he became political and alarmed at the direction the US was headed in. "I started drawing political cartoons for my college newspaper in the run up to the Iraq War and never stopped," he told Bored Panda.

The artist loves the medium — he has a thought balloon and a pen tattooed on his inner forearms — and believes it's a good medium to talk about anything. "I think with comics you have the ability to expose the way political arguments don't hold up and reveal how situations are absurd in a way that you just can't accomplish in a column."

But Bors doesn't just create comics. He also produces them. In 2013, he founded The Nib, an online magazine that shares strips on what is going down in the world. What's really interesting is The Nib is kind of owned by its readers — the independent project runs entirely on member subscriptions and donations.

"There was a hole in the publishing world that The Nib filled that is supportive of political and non-fiction cartoons and people want to support that," Bors said. "Editorial cartoons, in particular, used to be in most papers and provide hundreds of people with jobs, and now it's just a handful. So we're an outlet that makes sure this work has a home from established professionals to up-and-comers. We're fully independent, which means we can focus on comics and not the whims of a larger media company trying to grow infinitely or flip IP into movies—we just want to publish comics."

ADVERTISEMENT
#3

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
tomruns12 avatar
Thomas Robb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd love to see some data about party affiliation and covid rates. I suspect there might be a pattern.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

After all these years and accomplishments, however, Matt hasn't lost his passion for the craft. It's what keeps him going. "Awards are a nice boost sometimes, especially the ones that represent a blessing from colleagues, but they are ultimately meaningless if you're not happy doing the work without them."

#5

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
pragyafating_1 avatar
Jaded Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If ur not rich or important nobody gives jack s**t. And why should they u r just another cog in the wheel. U r nothing a nobody

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#7

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, a 22 year old white guy with an assaut rifle is a poor troubled boy. A 14 year old boy with a disassembled clock is a murdering terrorist. Just search Ahmed Mohamed Clock incident.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
pragyafating_1 avatar
Jaded Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish before we reach the 2nd panel we will be wiped out. Earth used to be so beautiful. Clean water flowing everywhere. Fruits from trees ripe for picking. Chirping birds and fluttering butterflies. I will always hate humans on a existencial level

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
pragyafating_1 avatar
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hypocrisy and victim blaming. Top 2 pictures: Victims of sexual harassment are either faking it or just too late to get justice. Bottom 2 pictures: Black people get send to jail for years for petty crimes, while a white guy ( Georg Zimmerman) who provoked and murdered an unarmed black boy walks away because he was "standing his ground".

Load More Replies...
makaylabolton avatar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@Michal: F**k you. YES. You should always believe someone. people who fake being raped make it harder for others to tell people "yes, I have been raped" but really, it's pretty easy to see who is lying and who is telling the truth. but If I was indeed raped, or was sexually harassed I shouldn't have to give evidence. like "yes, I was raped on the 6th of november at exactly 2:33 and he continued to rape me until 2:45. he was 6ft and 4.3 inches and his blood type was O-." similarly, if someone feels unsafe, but "nothing" has happened yet, they shouldn't have to give evidence as to why they feel unsafe.

veronica_vatter avatar
Veronica Vatter
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Well since he didn't rape anyone and there were multiple witnesses at the time....

jknbt2 avatar
jk nbt
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Dr Ford is a shameless liar. How about a cartoon showing her repenting in the corner of hell reserved for Liars? She was blue drunk in a dark room when one of the drunk teenage boys touched her... no proof it was Kavenaugh... but she is sure that because she got touched by someone this should disqualify Kavenaugh as a candidate for a judge's job 30 years later...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
jknbt2 avatar
jk nbt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

protesters pulled down the statue of Frederick Douglass, prominent black anti-slavery activist and lobbyist from NY state... they pulled it down on the 168th anniversary of his most famous speech denouncing slavery... hmm... this is what sort of education you get when you pull down historical statues and erase history...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
sashakuleshov avatar
Sasha Kuleshov
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have encountered more than 20 people with guns in stores in the US, who are they afraid of?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest: This is the exact impression that Europeans have about Americans and their healthcare insurance.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He lives in the Trumplovers reality, where libtards and antifa are pushing a socialist agenda which will lead to corruption, abuse of powers and a total disrespect of the constitution.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
kanrrykang avatar
Kanrry Kang
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For the love of God, teach the truth and stop teaching White-washed European s**t.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Comics-Matt-Bors

mattbors Report

Add photo comments
POST
blugeagua avatar
blugeagua
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if all of that did happen. Nope! There's still a LOT of work to do in the fight for equality.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 54 images. It’s been shortened to the top 20 images based on user votes.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda