ingle panel comics have a magical way of delivering a punchline faster than you can scroll past it—and when they’re created by Tom Reese, they don’t just land, they leave a dent. In this comic review, we’re diving into 20 of Tom Reese’s sharpest, strangest, and most hilarious cartoons. Whether it’s existential therapy bells, literal-minded HR disasters, or awkward animal conversations, these bite-sized illustrations pack big-time humor with a twist of absurdity. If you’re a fan of dry wit, dark comedy, and cartoons that make you go “Wait… what?”, this collection is your perfect scroll break.
Meet Tom Reese
Tom Reese is the kind of cartoonist who can take a single image, add a line of dialogue, and leave you howling with laughter or squinting at the existential crisis he just planted in your head. His specialty? Single panel comics that fuse surreal scenarios with biting commentary on work, therapy, relationships, and everything awkwardly human.
#1 Donkey With Delusions.
A doctor informs a hopeful patient that the term “unicorn” strictly applies to horses, not donkeys with cranial deformities. Tom Reese turns fantasy into a clinical diagnosis, crushing dreams in the driest way possible. Classic Reese: absurd, deadpan, and borderline poetic in its cruelty.
#2 The Perfect Hire.
When told to hire someone they’d like to have a beer with, the recruiter chooses a squid-like creature. The literal interpretation turns corporate clichés upside down, proving once again that HR guidelines need an asterisk when handed to a Reese character.
#3 Family Dinner Rules.
Thanksgiving just got a lot darker. The rule at this family table? No politics—only personal attacks. Tom captures the passive-aggressive chaos of family gatherings with the precision of a turkey carving knife.
#4 Never Too Old to Play.
An elderly man reaches for the mobile dangling over a crib. The nurse tells him it’s a “young man’s game.” Ageism meets absurdity here in a way that makes you chuckle—and possibly feel targeted.
#5 Existential Bell Service.
“Ring this bell to remind yourself that we are all alone.” Thanks, Tom. Now bedtime anxiety has a new mascot. It’s both hilarious and devastating in one fell line—a Reese trademark.
#6 Axe-Man Misunderstanding.
A literal axe-wielding executioner sits nervously in a job interview. The hiring manager clarifies they wanted a figurative axe-man. The panel skewers corporate buzzwords with razor-sharp irony (and one really sharp weapon).
#7 Therapist Boarding Only.
A man’s travel dreams are crushed when told only therapy therapists are allowed to board. A hilarious jab at airport chaos, self-help culture, and the state of collective emotional baggage.
#8 Sell the Fantasy.
“You’re not just selling a reverse mortgage—you’re selling a fantasy.” A sleazy pep talk for sleazier sales. Tom Reese lampoons corporate manipulation with a wink, a collar button, and a well-timed pause.
#9 Owl’s Council Speech.
A dignified owl addresses a council: “You may remember me from last year—I spoke in support of breadcrumbs.” Animal politics? Reese nails it with the most dignified nonsense you’ll ever see.
#10 Elegant Math Solution.
Two professors admire an equation on a board featuring… a top hat and a magician’s wand. “Most elegant solution I’ve ever seen.” Math jokes rarely land this smoothly—unless they wear a monocle and carry a cane.
#11 Blubber Holiday Surprise.
A sailor guesses a leaking gift is blubber. A bizarre yet oddly festive moment, proving Reese can bring absurdity even to the holiday spirit—with a little whale fat on the side.
#12 Squadron of Responsibility.
“This mission is to burden the enemy with unimaginable responsibility.” A team of birds in military attire listen solemnly. Reese’s satire strikes again—warfare replaced with the crushing weight of adulting.
#13 Serious Escape Plan.
A prisoner is disappointed by his cellmate’s dog-door idea. “Do I look like a dog to you?” The brilliance here lies in the dog-paw-sized escape hatch, and the look of utter defeat. Genius minimalism.
#14 Cowboy Heartbreak.
A cowboy sips wine across from a literal horse. “You knew I was a buckin’ bronco when we met.” Relationship drama meets barnyard pun—an oddly tender metaphor in classic Reese fashion.
#15 Stepping Stone to What?
“Modeling was a stepping stone,” says a guy awkwardly holding a cat. What’s next? Cat-herding? The blank stare of both man and feline seals this one-panel slice of artistic confusion.
#16 Plant-Based Kyle.
“I feel better since they replaced Kyle with a plant-based Kyle alternative.” Office politics meets tofu-level pettiness in one of Reese’s most hilariously deadpan works.
#17 Should’ve Saved the Wife.
In a raft, a man reevaluates giving a sea creature his wife’s spot. Too late for regrets, but not too late for a punchline soaked in saltwater guilt.
#18 Boring Park Talk.
A guy reflects on a chance meeting turning into a “boring ten or fifteen minute conversation.” Social anxiety, mastered. Who knew casual small talk could be this tragically accurate?
#19 The Tag Snipper.
A masked figure is praised for his secret talent: removing clothing tags. Dramatic tension meets household chore. Reese elevates the mundane to mythical in one brilliant swoop.
#20 It Makes Sense… But.
A lion in a tie turns down a man’s proposal—not because it’s flawed, but because he doesn’t like the smell of his… well, you know. Office politics has never smelled so bad.
Final Thoughts
If you love your laughs quick, quirky, and just the right amount of uncomfortable, these single panel comics by Tom Reese are a goldmine. Each cartoon punches well above its size—both visually and verbally. Reese’s mastery lies in his ability to distill wit, absurdity, and social critique into a single frame, creating moments that linger in your brain long after the chuckle fades.
Credit: All comics featured are by Tom Reese.
📌 Official Website: Not officially listed
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