Matt Cohen
@mattcohen.bsky.social
Eisner Award nominee for "The Ghastlygun Tinies." Writes for MAD Magazine, The American Bystander, and The New Yorker. Created the hit card game Too Many Monkeys. Working on books for YOU. He/Him
1984 and The Handmaid's Tale are great dystopian fiction, but I keep thinking about Rhinoceros. Instead of focusing directly on fascists, it looks at the everyday people who *comply* with fascists. It explores what it feels like to be isolated in your resistance while your neighbors all capitulate.
November 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
1984 and The Handmaid's Tale are great dystopian fiction, but I keep thinking about Rhinoceros. Instead of focusing directly on fascists, it looks at the everyday people who *comply* with fascists. It explores what it feels like to be isolated in your resistance while your neighbors all capitulate.
They promised that the new ballroom wouldn't impact the original building... but surely we can trust them THIS time, right?
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
They promised that the new ballroom wouldn't impact the original building... but surely we can trust them THIS time, right?
They promised that the new ballroom wouldn't impact the original building.
November 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
They promised that the new ballroom wouldn't impact the original building.
Are you in a big rush to threaten your citizens by telling them you want to use the military to attack them if they're not sufficiently subservient to you? AI is ready to help you!
(5/X)
(5/X)
November 9, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Are you in a big rush to threaten your citizens by telling them you want to use the military to attack them if they're not sufficiently subservient to you? AI is ready to help you!
(5/X)
(5/X)
Want to reference some studies to back up your conspiracy theories before you gut the healthcare system? Just ask AI to write a report for you full of fake citations. Now you have something that LOOKS scientific that you can point to as you completely ignore real science.
(4/X)
(4/X)
November 9, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Want to reference some studies to back up your conspiracy theories before you gut the healthcare system? Just ask AI to write a report for you full of fake citations. Now you have something that LOOKS scientific that you can point to as you completely ignore real science.
(4/X)
(4/X)
Suppose you're a fascist who wants to appear tough, so you decide to implement tariffs to punish other countries. You won't need economists who know what they're doing. Just ask AI to spit out a tariff policy and then you can pretend you made Big Smart Strong Money Decisions.
(3/X)
(3/X)
November 9, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Suppose you're a fascist who wants to appear tough, so you decide to implement tariffs to punish other countries. You won't need economists who know what they're doing. Just ask AI to spit out a tariff policy and then you can pretend you made Big Smart Strong Money Decisions.
(3/X)
(3/X)
Cornell joins the pathetic parade of colleges, media outlets, and corporations who are capitulating to Trump. It reminds me of the scene in Pleasantville where Jeff Daniels' character says "Maybe you could pick [the colors] beforehand and then they wouldn't bother anybody." #StandUpToBullies
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Cornell joins the pathetic parade of colleges, media outlets, and corporations who are capitulating to Trump. It reminds me of the scene in Pleasantville where Jeff Daniels' character says "Maybe you could pick [the colors] beforehand and then they wouldn't bother anybody." #StandUpToBullies
I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish...
November 4, 2025 at 3:20 AM
I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish this wasn't still relevant. I wish...
I'm often sad that MAD Magazine (which was allegedly cancelled back in 2019) STILL manages to be more honest than mainstream journalists when it comes to talking about Trump and his incompetent agents of chaos. #SatireMatters
November 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I'm often sad that MAD Magazine (which was allegedly cancelled back in 2019) STILL manages to be more honest than mainstream journalists when it comes to talking about Trump and his incompetent agents of chaos. #SatireMatters
I'm biased, but I feel the same way about MAD Magazine. While other publications sane-washed Trump, MAD called him Putin's puppet.
November 2, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I'm biased, but I feel the same way about MAD Magazine. While other publications sane-washed Trump, MAD called him Putin's puppet.
In the end, only young Neville survived the family excursion (and he faired better than his namesake in The Gashlycrumb Tinies did.)
Wait a second... You don't suppose that they're the SAME Neville, do you? That would explain why he had ennui! #GoreyCinematicUniverse #popupbooks #kidlit
(8/X)
Wait a second... You don't suppose that they're the SAME Neville, do you? That would explain why he had ennui! #GoreyCinematicUniverse #popupbooks #kidlit
(8/X)
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
In the end, only young Neville survived the family excursion (and he faired better than his namesake in The Gashlycrumb Tinies did.)
Wait a second... You don't suppose that they're the SAME Neville, do you? That would explain why he had ennui! #GoreyCinematicUniverse #popupbooks #kidlit
(8/X)
Wait a second... You don't suppose that they're the SAME Neville, do you? That would explain why he had ennui! #GoreyCinematicUniverse #popupbooks #kidlit
(8/X)
Gorey and Penick saved the most impressive scene for last. I was always fascinated by the way this gazebo sprung to life when you turned the page.
Speaking of Penick, he designed tons of pop-up books for @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social including titles based on Star Wars and Sesame Street. (7/X)
Speaking of Penick, he designed tons of pop-up books for @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social including titles based on Star Wars and Sesame Street. (7/X)
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Gorey and Penick saved the most impressive scene for last. I was always fascinated by the way this gazebo sprung to life when you turned the page.
Speaking of Penick, he designed tons of pop-up books for @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social including titles based on Star Wars and Sesame Street. (7/X)
Speaking of Penick, he designed tons of pop-up books for @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social including titles based on Star Wars and Sesame Street. (7/X)
If you're a character in an Edward Gorey book, going to visit tombs is a bad idea.
I love the way the statue collapses when you pull the tab.
(6/X)
I love the way the statue collapses when you pull the tab.
(6/X)
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
If you're a character in an Edward Gorey book, going to visit tombs is a bad idea.
I love the way the statue collapses when you pull the tab.
(6/X)
I love the way the statue collapses when you pull the tab.
(6/X)
Augustus decided to go rowing alone. Surely his family will notice if anything should go amiss, right?
(5/X)
(5/X)
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Augustus decided to go rowing alone. Surely his family will notice if anything should go amiss, right?
(5/X)
(5/X)
Mother vanished off the tower. #edwardgorey
(4/X)
(4/X)
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Mother vanished off the tower. #edwardgorey
(4/X)
(4/X)
Note how the book makes you complicit by asking you to turn the paper lever that will swoop Amanda away (while her oblivious family tours the Hickyacket Hall grotto.)
(3/X)
(3/X)
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Note how the book makes you complicit by asking you to turn the paper lever that will swoop Amanda away (while her oblivious family tours the Hickyacket Hall grotto.)
(3/X)
(3/X)
The story concerns a family of seven who go sightseeing at Hickyacket Hall. On each spread, one family member goes mysteriously missing... starting with Lambert.
(2/X)
(2/X)
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
The story concerns a family of seven who go sightseeing at Hickyacket Hall. On each spread, one family member goes mysteriously missing... starting with Lambert.
(2/X)
(2/X)
When I was a kid, I had a library book that was years overdue. Instead of fining me 87 kajillion dollars, the librarian told me to keep the book. I still have it.
It's an Edward Gorey pop-up book called The Dwindling Party. The paper engineering was by Ib Penick. Are you ready to take a trip?
(1/X)
It's an Edward Gorey pop-up book called The Dwindling Party. The paper engineering was by Ib Penick. Are you ready to take a trip?
(1/X)
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
When I was a kid, I had a library book that was years overdue. Instead of fining me 87 kajillion dollars, the librarian told me to keep the book. I still have it.
It's an Edward Gorey pop-up book called The Dwindling Party. The paper engineering was by Ib Penick. Are you ready to take a trip?
(1/X)
It's an Edward Gorey pop-up book called The Dwindling Party. The paper engineering was by Ib Penick. Are you ready to take a trip?
(1/X)
Post a perfect album from the 90's that isn't Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice In Chains.
October 31, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Post a perfect album from the 90's that isn't Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice In Chains.
Nothing against artist Tom Brannon... but nobody nails Dr. Seuss' line work quite like MAD's Marc Palm.
October 30, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Nothing against artist Tom Brannon... but nobody nails Dr. Seuss' line work quite like MAD's Marc Palm.
Speaking of which: In 1968 MAD Magazine ran a poem about CBS censoring The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. It's worth revisiting in light of <gestures vaguely to all of this.>
This couplet is especially apt:
"Don't pan the man who's bottle-tanned
Quit the wit that bites the hand..."
This couplet is especially apt:
"Don't pan the man who's bottle-tanned
Quit the wit that bites the hand..."
October 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Speaking of which: In 1968 MAD Magazine ran a poem about CBS censoring The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. It's worth revisiting in light of <gestures vaguely to all of this.>
This couplet is especially apt:
"Don't pan the man who's bottle-tanned
Quit the wit that bites the hand..."
This couplet is especially apt:
"Don't pan the man who's bottle-tanned
Quit the wit that bites the hand..."
I hope it helps a few people at least.
I think I've only gone back there to plug articles directly calls Musk out for being a bigot.
I think I've only gone back there to plug articles directly calls Musk out for being a bigot.
October 23, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I hope it helps a few people at least.
I think I've only gone back there to plug articles directly calls Musk out for being a bigot.
I think I've only gone back there to plug articles directly calls Musk out for being a bigot.
He's going to start selling Trump-branded pieces of Whitehouse rubble like they're holy relics, isn't he?
October 22, 2025 at 11:19 PM
He's going to start selling Trump-branded pieces of Whitehouse rubble like they're holy relics, isn't he?