Local artist publishes book of his Wide Open! cartoons

ASHEBORO — Local artist and illustrator Rich Powell, an award-winning cartoonist, has published a book of some of his favorite cartoons from his popular Wide Open! series.

Powell, who lives in Asheboro, is known for his work in Highlights magazine, MAD Magazine and many others, as well as other work he has performed for local projects and businesses.

Online, he’s best known for his syndicated cartoon panel “Wide Open!” which won The National Cartoonist’s Society Silver Reuben in both 2021 and 2022. 

Additionally, his line of humorous wildlife art, Callahan’s Quest for Adventure, garnered him another Silver Reuben for Product Illustration in 2013 and the Our State television show that featured him illustrating Andy Griffith’s “What it Was, Was Football” won the Emmy for Best Magazine Program at the 31st Midsouth Emmy Awards.

He began his career as a conceptual artist and art director at Sierra On-Line, a pioneer in the computer game industry and his work appeared in such beloved titles as King’s Quest, Space Quest and many others.

He also produced work seen regularly in the now-defunct Get This! weekly magazine produced for years by The Courier-Tribune.

Powell’s book sells for $20 on Amazon. The 120-page offering published on March 18.

The online description for the book reads:

“Here’s a collection of the best Wide Open! cartoons from the squishy, twisted mind of cartoonist Rich Powell. Wide Open! is the hilarious, award winning cartoon syndicated by Universal Uclick. It’s won the National Cartoonists Society’s award for the Best Online Cartoon Panel twice! That means the greatest cartoonists around think Wide Open! is one of the best cartoons around! What?!!? Here’s your chance to see why in the comfort of your own bathroom ... or wherever you read great books. After all, there’s nothing like a good laugh to make your day brighter and keep you regular as rain! Rich’s best, weirdest, beautiful cartoons are here to leap off the page and bounce off your ventromedial prefrontal cortex. So, grab a copy of Ignore This Singing Pig for yourself or get one for someone you think is just about as twisted as you!”