Close to Home

By John McPherson

John McPherson makes us howl at his adroit mix of everyday settings and extraordinary events. McPherson's offbeat, oddball characters turn up in familiar places, but their actions are always hilarious and unexpected. To read more than 800 hand-selected comics that highlight the quick-witted and zany characters of "Close to Home", buy "The Close to Home 30th Anniversary Treasury" now.

Interested in a Close To Home Original?
Contact John: closetohome@mac.com

Daily

Sunday

Daily & Sunday

Digital

Panel

Available in Color

Family

Men

Editor's Picks

A humorous cartoon depicting a tattoo artist showing a client a drawing of a beagle while the client, a bald man with various tattoos, asks about his tattoo of a large eagle. The tattoo shop's sign reflects in the mirror, adding context to the scene. This image illustrates the playful nature of tattoo culture and personal expression.

A humorous cartoon depicting a group of people at a Halloween gathering, with one character in a Travis Kelce costume expressing frustration about the popularity of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce costumes. The scene captures the lighthearted spirit of Halloween celebrations and pop culture trends.

Darth Vader using a lightsaber to mow a lawn in front of a house with a

A cartoon depicting a hospital scene with a patient in a bed covered in bandages, receiving an IV drip, while three visitors—a man and two children—look on. A festive wreath hangs on the wall, adding a humorous contrast to the situation.

Cartoon depicting a board game of Risk, with players strategizing over a colorful game board featuring territories and armies. One player is animatedly declaring their intention to claim territories, while the others look on, engaged in the game.

Cartoon depicting a man jumping out of an airplane seat with a shocked expression, while two flight attendants look on in surprise. The scene humorously captures the discomfort of flying, emphasizing travel-related anxieties.

Cartoon depicting a humorous scene at a reception desk where a disheveled man and woman, appearing confused, are greeted by a jovial receptionist in a white coat, surrounded by fluffy clouds, suggesting a whimsical or surreal setting.

A lively crowd at a baseball game, featuring enthusiastic fans holding a sign that says

Cartoon depicting a couple in a red car, with the woman looking annoyed and the man appearing frustrated, as they engage in a humorous argument. The scene captures a relatable moment of tension in a vehicle, emphasizing communication challenges in relationships.

A humorous cartoon depicting a therapist asking a patient to complete a number series (2, 4, 8, 16), while the patient humorously responds with

About John McPherson

Born and raised in Painted Post, New York, John McPherson first began drawing cartoons on the dining room wall at age 5. Discouraged by the poor reviews these cartoons received, John put his cartooning career on hold until he was 25.

After graduating from Bucknell University in 1983 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering, McPherson worked for seven years as a design engineer while cartooning on the side. McPherson moonlighted his way to a thriving freelance career, working as a regular contributor to 30 national publications including The Saturday Evening Post and Campus Life.

In 1990, McPherson made the irresponsible decision to leave his engineering job and leap into the terrifying world of full-time freelancing. After publishing five books of his cartoons, McPherson teamed up with Universal Press Syndicate, now Andrews McMeel Syndication, and in November 1992 "Close To Home" debuted in 50 papers. Known for its offbeat glimpse at home life, marriage, kids, school, the workplace, and medicine, "Close To Home" now runs in over 400 newspapers.

McPherson has published numerous "Close To Home" collections plus four Chicken Soup for the Soul collections, page-a-day calendars, a children's book, a book of medical cartoons, a line of award-winning greeting cards, and more.

McPherson is also a well-known national speaker about humor, stress, and creativity. The father of two sons, McPherson lives on a hilltop in northern New York.