Rick McKee’s world of “Mt. Pleasant” will make its new home in The Augusta Press.
“I’m really excited to be included,” said McKee, who is known to many in the Augusta area for his editorial cartoons. He was the longtime editorial cartoonist for The Augusta Chronicle. He still draws political cartoons; they are syndicated by Cagle Cartoons.
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The strip, which is about two children who move from the city to live with their grandparents on a farm, launched on Jan 1with papers such as the Chicago Tribune, The Virginian-Pilot and the Orlando Sentinel printing it in their pages.
McKee also draws a reader-participation strip called “Pluggers,” a legacy strip created by “Shoe” cartoonist Jeff MacNelly who died in 2000. McKee is the third cartoonist to work on the strip, which is generated through reader suggestions.
“It’s not my creation, but “Mt. Pleasant” is. I came up with the concept. It’s my baby,” said McKee who collaborates with writer Kent Sligh on the comic.
While not autobiographical, “Mt. Pleasant” draws from McKee’s childhood experiences of moving from Tallahassee, Fla. to a tiny unincorporated area called Mount Pleasant, Fla.
McKee said he’s glad to know that area residents will have the chance to read his newest comic and maybe see him in a different light from his political cartoons.
“Hopefully people who have read me for years can continue to read me in The Augusta Press. I really appreciate the opportunity,” he said.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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