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Adam Douglas Thompson has a knack for turning everyday moments into clever single-panel comics. His humor feels effortless, yet every drawing is packed with sharp wit and charm. If you’ve ever flipped through The New Yorker, chances are you’ve chuckled at one of his creations. His comics don’t just make you laugh—they often make you pause and think, all in the span of a single frame.

But Thompson’s talent doesn’t stop at the pages of magazines. His art has also been celebrated in galleries, showing off his ability to mix humor with a unique artistic style. Whether it’s a cheeky punchline or a subtle jab at modern life, Thompson’s work has a way of connecting with everyone who sees it. Scroll down for some of his latest comics and enjoy a dose of his sharp, relatable humor!

More info: Instagram | adamdouglasthompson.com | x.com

#1

Slinky toys on stairs with faces, one coiled, one stretching down stairs. Humor and charm captured by Adam Douglas Thompson.

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Bored Panda contacted Adam Douglas Thompson again to find out more about his creative process and his journey. Thompson's work offers a funny take on everyday life, but we're curious if there are any topics or themes he purposely avoids in his creations. "I don’t consciously avoid certain topics, although there are certain realms I don’t cover very much I suppose. I have a limited amount of s*x and scatological stuff, for instance. Not much violence either. Maybe I'm a bit squeamish. Or maybe I just like making jokes about sort of boring stuff, like assembling furniture or making toast."

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    We asked Thompson about the role of humor in addressing serious or controversial topics and what he thinks its impact is. "Serious stuff is always a ripe target for humor because the feelings of tension and discomfort that surround serious topics are always beginning for release. When tackling difficult subjects, you of course have to be careful and thoughtful - mainly it’s a matter of following the cardinal rule of punching up toward the powerful, rather than down toward the vulnerable."

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    There's something truly fascinating about stepping into someone else's world, even if just for a moment. So, we asked Thompson to give us a glimpse into his daily life as a cartoonist—what does a typical day look like for him? "I do other jobs (including parenting) besides cartooning, so the cartooning is often sort of squeezed in around the edges," the artist shared. "Cartoons usually start as ideas in my notes app (I have a note that is thousands of lines long full of ideas accumulated over the last few years). For me, just finding the right ideas to work on is about half the battle. Once I have the ideas, drawing them is occasionally tricky, but mostly fairly quick and fun."

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    For aspiring cartoonists, we asked Thompson to share any advice he would offer to someone hoping to break into the world of single-panel comics. "I sort of stumbled my way into single-panel cartooning after decades of doing other kinds of art, so I wouldn't say my own trajectory is a model for how to do things. Like anything, you learn it by doing it over and over. Finding good strategies for brainstorming effectively is key. Playing word association games helps. I highly recommend sharing what you are doing online, even if you feel like a total beginner. The cartoonist community is really friendly, and if you start posting decent cartoons on Instagram, and start following and interacting with other cartoonists you like, you'll soon feel like part of the community."

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    #8

    One-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson: rotating restaurant, people inside thrown around humorously.

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    #9

    Airplane passengers in a one-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson, illustrating humor and charm.

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    #13

    Cavemen humor: one listens to a record player labeled "Fire," while others watch skeptically in a cave.

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    Hoi-Polloi
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Hey, have you heard of Fire?" "Feh. It was cool before it got big."

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    #15

    Two men observe a bookshelf with a clock labeled "DOOM" in a humorous one-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson.

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    #18

    Two men walking on a city street, one holding a coffee cup, discussing productivity with humor and charm.

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    #19

    Comic by Adam Douglas Thompson featuring animals taking selfies in a forest.

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    #20

    One-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson depicting a chaotic mind as a decorated interior space.

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    #21

    A humorous one-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson featuring a person in a bathtub with dishes being added to soak.

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    #22

    One-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson showing a car and truck with a "Perspective Reversal Ahead" sign.

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    #23

    A humorous one-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson featuring two people discussing a dark corner and a lava lamp.

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    #24

    Two people jogging past Joe's Fish Shack, with humor and charm in a one-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson.

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    #26

    One-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson featuring polished silverware reflecting household items.

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    Karina
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    copper and silver objects, a gift of annual work. My mom tried to give me her work, but i would rather not.

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    #27

    Two people walking through a barren landscape, humorously noting the "stark beauty" around them.

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    #28

    Two vampires in conversation about a navy coffin, adding humor and charm to Adam Douglas Thompson's comic.

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    #30

    A comic by Adam Douglas Thompson shows a person looking at a mirror, stating they dislike how a striped shirt makes them look.

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    Lotekguy
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you don't like the color, it also comes in Clockwork.Orange.

    #31

    Man guessing beans in a jar; comic by Adam Douglas Thompson with humor and charm.

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    #32

    Two people observe sunglasses at a door labeled "Perdu," capturing lighthearted humor by Adam Douglas Thompson.

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    #33

    Two women with drinks observe a man in a suit, highlighting humor in Adam Douglas Thompson's comic.

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    #35

    One-panel comic by Adam Douglas Thompson showing a person in a messy room and a robot in a circuitry-like environment.

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