Rubes Cartoons by Leigh Rubin is a comic review spotlighting the wonderfully warped world of one of the most original single-panel cartoonists in history. If you enjoy bizarre punchlines, absurd twists, and visual gags that defy Logic Welcome to your new obsession.
Leigh Rubin is the mind behind Rubes, a long-running syndicated cartoon that’s been bending brains and tickling funny bones since 1984. With a background in advertising and graphic design, Rubin launched his cartooning career with a flair for surrealism and puns. His comics, which appear in hundreds of newspapers across the globe, are unmistakable: single-panel gags that often feature animals behaving like People Or people behaving like lunatics.
What makes Rubin’s humor stand out is its sheer unpredictability. One moment, you’re chuckling at a cow with an existential crisis; the next, you’re watching aliens casually navigating domestic life. He plays with logic, flips clichés, and delivers punchlines that make you pause then laugh out loud. Over the decades, his work has been featured in books, calendars, greeting cards, and museum exhibits. Rubin’s cartoons are timeless, weird, and wonderfully sharp making Rubes an essential daily fix for fans of clever, offbeat humor.
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1. King Bong’s Smoke Show of a Debut
This parody of King Kong shows the mighty ape clutching a skyscraper-sized bong instead of a damsel. The joke is as ridiculous as it is funny, with the punchline “King Bong” slapping you right in the face. Leigh Rubin masterfully mashes monster movie tropes with modern vices to deliver a visual pun that’s both over-the-top and clever. It’s the kind of gag you laugh at — then wonder if you should be concerned that it made so much sense.
2. The Trojan Horse Gets a Gritty Reboot
In this strip, the legendary Trojan Horse isn’t surrounded by soldiers — it’s sitting on cinder blocks, wheels stolen. Rubin gives the myth a gritty, modern twist by imagining how even ancient tricks would struggle in today’s “bad neighborhoods.” The juxtaposition of historical grandeur and street-level crime is what makes this cartoon work so well. It’s one of those Rubes jokes that looks simple but lands perfectly with a delayed burst of laughter.
3. Kicking and Screaming Into Aversion Therapy
Few people love therapy sessions, but Rubin takes it to a whole new level by depicting a person literally being dragged into “Aversion Therapy.” The kicker? They’re already averse to it — clearly. It’s a fantastic example of wordplay turned visual, and it captures the dread many feel about confronting uncomfortable topics. With exaggerated movement and expressive faces, this cartoon transforms anxiety into hilarity in classic Rubes fashion.
4. Aliens, UFOs, and Domestic Denial
Rubin flips reality in this alien-family comic where a child excitedly spots a UFO — only to be brushed off by mom, who says, “That’s just your father coming home from work.” It’s a brilliant reversal that places extraterrestrial beings in a human-like setting while mocking how we often explain away strange things. The gag is subtle, surreal, and oddly charming. Just another “normal” day in the universe of Rubes.
5. Dorothy Takes the Wrong Shortcut to Oz
Leigh Rubin turns The Wizard of Oz into a road construction nightmare. Instead of a magical path, Dorothy is met with detour signs and cones. The visual gag mocks modern travel chaos and our never-ending dependence on GPS — even in fairy tale lands. It’s that perfect blend of fantasy meets reality, reminding readers that even the yellow brick road isn’t safe from highway crews and reroutes.
6. Pen Pals or Pencil Punchline?
Two smug pens dominate one shirt pocket while a lonely pencil sulks in the other. The pens’ confidence and the pencil’s silent despair create an office supply melodrama. Rubin nails the power dynamics of everyday objects and turns a mundane scene into a mini workplace comedy. This cartoon works because we’ve all felt like that pencil — outnumbered, outdated, and low on ink (or self-esteem).
7. A Fraudulent Flat Fellow
A cardboard cutout stands trial for fraud, and the sheer literalness of it makes it hysterical. Rubin excels at turning language into bizarre visual setups, and this one takes the cake. It’s courtroom drama meets slapstick, and the cutout’s emotionless stare only adds to the absurdity. It’s a one-panel scene that tells a whole story — and completely derails it at the same time.
8. This Little Piggy Joined the Mob
Don’t be fooled by the innocent piggy exterior — this one has mobster vibes. He strolls through the barnyard exuding menace, clearly here for payback. Rubin plays with nursery rhymes by giving them a grown-up, edgy twist. The contrast between the pig’s thuggish look and the soft, childlike source material is where the real comedy hits. This cartoon is dark humor done right.
9. The Chicken Can’t Fly — And Neither Can You
A man sits buried in feathers after what appears to be a failed flying attempt involving a chicken. “Everybody knows chickens can’t fly,” he mutters. The absurdity here lies in the optimism of trying such a thing in the first place. Rubin’s humor often asks: “What if we took a bad idea seriously?” This cartoon is the answer — and it’s feathered, frustrated, and fabulous.
10. Reading Warning Signs — Too Late
A man points at a “Falling Rocks” sign… just as a boulder hovers ominously above him. It’s simple, classic slapstick with a Rubes twist. This cartoon takes the old “too little, too late” idea and visualizes it in the most literal, cartoonish way possible. The reader sees the danger before the character does — and that’s exactly why it lands so well.
11. Doggy Disaster in the Rug Burn Unit
A dachshund is wheeled into a hospital’s “Rug Burn Unit” after clearly dragging its belly across the carpet for too long. The visual pun is outrageous, yet somehow believable. Rubin turns a simple pet scenario into a medical emergency that plays on both wordplay and absurdity. The over-serious treatment of a hilarious injury makes this cartoon feel like a veterinary soap opera. It’s creative, charming, and one of the best literal puns in the Rubes universe.
12. Pinocchio Gets Busted for Speeding — Literally
Pinocchio’s nose is stuck through his car’s windshield as a cop grills him about speeding. The twist? The nose only grew because he lied about it. Rubin perfectly layers childhood nostalgia with adult consequences here. The gag lands by imagining a world where fairy tale logic clashes with real-world problems — like traffic tickets. The fact that the cop isn’t surprised makes it even better. It’s the kind of strip that keeps giving the longer you stare.
13. Snake Slide Hogging: Sibling Rivalry at Its Finest
Two young snakes are at the playground, but one refuses to share the slide. “Wally won’t let me have a turn,” the other one whines. It’s a funny, almost adorable moment where Rubin reimagines childhood behavior through slithery anatomy. The joke is enhanced by the visual of a snake coiled around the slide, essentially stuck mid-slide. It’s silly, sweet, and weirdly accurate — because even reptiles have to deal with selfish siblings, apparently.
14. Cliffhanger Lemmings Play for Keeps
A group of lemmings are locked in a high-stakes tug of war — right over the edge of a cliff. If you know lemming lore, you already know this won’t end well. Rubin uses their infamous “jumping” myth to stage a hilariously doomed contest of strength. It’s a dark joke hiding in a light-hearted image, which is Rubin’s bread and butter. You laugh, you gasp, and then you realize… yep, this is definitely Rubes.
15. Love and Cynicism at the Dog Park
One dog waxes poetic about unconditional love while a nearby cat scoffs and mutters, “Fanatic.” This cartoon beautifully captures the eternal cat-dog rivalry through one quiet, brilliant punchline. While dogs are open books of emotion, cats remain unimpressed. Leigh Rubin doesn’t even need much setup here — the dialogue and body language do all the work. It’s relatable, well-paced, and proof that sometimes, less really is more (unless you’re a dog).
16. Birdwatching Gone Booby-Trapped
A man peers through binoculars at some seabirds, attempting to sound educational while clearly ogling their name — “boobies.” His wife’s unimpressed glare says it all. Rubin plays with juvenile humor, but elevates it with perfect timing and subtle visual cues. It’s both a naughty joke and a smart commentary on how we justify our weirdest interests. Bonus points for anyone who’s ever Googled “blue-footed booby” and had to clear their browser history.
17. Jimmy Cracked Corn… And Mom Still Doesn’t Care
The classic folk song gets a literal and ridiculous makeover as Jimmy stands in the kitchen with corn kernels scattered everywhere. His mother stands motionless, deadpan, and unimpressed — because she “doesn’t care.” Rubin masterfully pulls this line out of the song and drags it into a real-world scenario. The result? A funny, visual reminder of how much nonsense parents put up with on a daily basis.
18. Exit… But Make It Theatrical
Faced with two choices — “Exit” and “Dramatic Exit” — one character can’t help but storm off through the latter. It’s a commentary on flair, attention-seeking, and the irresistible pull of the dramatic gesture. Rubin captures human behavior in its silliest form and shows how even the smallest choices can be overdone. Whether you’ve been that person or know someone who has, this one hits home. And yes, we’re all tempted by the dramatic door.
19. Courtroom Chaos with Mr. Jolly, Esq.
A defendant introduces his jester puppet as his legal counsel — “Mr. Jolly.” The courtroom looks unimpressed, but the absurdity is peak Rubes. Rubin plays with authority figures and legal drama by inserting utter nonsense into the setting. It’s a comic that asks, “What if the most ridiculous choice was treated as valid?” And somehow, with Rubin’s style, it almost seems logical. The quiet absurdity and the straight-faced characters are what make it so funny.
20. Easter Island Statues Have Teen Problems Too
Even stone-faced parents can’t escape teenage rebellion. In this cartoon, Easter Island heads lecture their son with the classic line, “As long as you live under our roof…” The absurdity of giant statues having parenting problems is instantly funny — but also surprisingly relatable. Rubin gives the cold, unmoving monoliths just enough personality to make you believe the argument. It’s ancient history meets modern family drama in the most ridiculous and hilarious way.
Final Thoughts
Rubes Cartoons by Leigh Rubin deliver weirdness in the most wonderful ways. With each panel, Rubin pokes holes in logic, mocks societal quirks, and stretches humor into totally unpredictable territory. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering Rubes for the first time, these 20 twisted gems prove why Rubin’s work stands the test of time.
Huge thanks to Leigh Rubin for keeping cartoon absurdity alive and thriving.
Explore more at RubesCartoons.com and for even more comic goodness, don’t forget to visit BoredComics.com!
