Chris Browne ("Hagar the Horrible") sends a desperate message to Desmond.

Bill Amend ("Fox Trot"), eventual winner of the weekend's top award, relaxes with his children.

Sam Viviano (left), art director of MAD, and Nick Meglin, former MAD editor.

Jerry Van Amerongen, Dan Collins, Rick Kirkman, and Mell Lazarus

Carla Ventresca, winner of the greeting card division award, with Cathy Guisewite.

Bill Amend, Mike Luckovich, and Universal Press' executive editor Lee Salem.

Garry Trudeau (left) with Mike Ramirez, winner of the editorial cartooning division award.

Henry Beckett and Carla Ventresca, the husband-wife team on the "On A Claire Day" comic strip

Jerry Van Amerongen talks during a seminar he conducted.

Garry Trudeau (left), Washington Post Writers Group comics editor Amy Lago and "Pearls Before Swine" creator Stephan Pastis

Bill Guisewite cuts the rug with daughter Cathy.

Jon Paul Boscacci (left), Jenny Robb and Daryl Cagle attend a seminar.

"Jane's World" creator Paige Braddock accepts the comic book division award on behalf of "American Born Chinese" creator Gene Luen Yang.

Laurie Triefeldt, who won the book illustration division award

Paige Braddock of "Jane's World" and Sam Viviano, MAD art director

Brian Walker of the books on cartooning history and "Beetle Bailey"

Carla Ventresca accepts the award for the greeting card division.

Chris Browne of "Hagar the Horrible," Betty Evans (wife of "Luann" creator Greg Evans) and Bill Amend of "Foxtrot."

Mark Tatulli of "Lio" and Hilary Price of "Rhymes With Orange"

Frank Caruso (left) of King Features Syndicate and "Curtis" creator Ray Billingsley

Chris Browne of "Hagar the Horrible" and his wife, Carroll, flank Universal Press executive editor Lee Salem.

Mark Tatulli of "Lio" and United Feature Syndicate's Lisa Klem Wilson.

Lucy Caswell of the OSU Cartoon Research Library and Patrick McDonnell ("Mutts").

"Soup to Nutz" cartoonist Rick Stromoski, who is also stepping down as NCS president.

Lucy Caswell (left) and Jenny Robb, both of the OSU Cartoon Research Library

Tom Stemmle (left), Patrick McDonnell and Jeannie Schulz

Illustrator C.F. Payne

Jeannie Schulz and "Pearls Before Swine" creator Stephan Pastis.

Disney animator Chad Frye

Bill Schorr ("The Grizzwells") and Jane Mascorro

Dave Coverly ("Speed Bump") congratulates Reuben winner Bill Amend.

Roy Schneider ("The Humble Stumble"), editorial cartoonist Mike Luckovich and "Non Sequitur" creator Wiley Miller

Greg Cravens ("The Buckets"), MAD artist Tom Richmond, Disney artist Chad Frye and cartoonist Tom Stemmle at a business meeting.

Jeannie Schulz and "Piranha Club" creator Bud Grace

King Features executive emeritus Joe D'Angelo (left) and "Beetle Bailey" creator Mort Walker

Drew Dernavich won the gag cartoon division award.

John Rose of "Snuffy Smith" and Greg Cravens of "The Buckets" in a seminar audience

Illustrator Roy Doty (left) and gag cartoonist Sam Gross

Drew Dernavich speaks as he accepts the gag cartooning division award.

Roy Schneider, musician and creator of "The Humble Stumble"

Illustrator Roy Doty (left) shows "Mother Goose and Grimm" artist Mike Peters how special he is.

Keith Robinson ("Making It"), right, and Jane Mascorro

Hogan's Alley writer Ed Black

Ashley Smith, wife of "Bizarro" cartoonist Dan Piraro, sits with the evening's awards, including the Reuben Award (far left).

Greg Evans of "Luann" (left) and former MAD editor Nick Meglin

Popeye wandered the grounds during an evening reception.

Popeye and "Laugh Parade" doyenne Bunny Hoest

Popeye and Archie artist Stan Goldberg

Ashley Smith gives Popeye a lesson in pipe-smoking.

Popeye seemed very popular with the ladies. Perhaps they'd heard about this.

Illustrator Roy Doty catches up with "Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro.

Scott Shorter of uClick and Melissa Lin of Creators Syndicate.

Animator Mark Fiore (left, partially obscured), Keith Robinson ("Making It") and Jenny Robb of OSU's Cartoon Research Library

Animator Chad Frye, illustrator Stephen Silver and "Laugh Parade" cartoonist John Reiner

Keith Robinson, R.C. Harvey and Craig Nelson

New Yorker cartoonist Mort Gerberg

Mort Walker shows he's got the kavorka with Jenny Robb (left) and Jane Mascorro.

Mort Gerberg and Greg Walker

MAD magazine Tom Richmond, owner of cartooning's biggest biceps.

Phil Pyster of the NCS's management company stuffs goodie bags and masterfully oversaw the weekend's daunting logistics.

Paul Gilligan, creator of "Pooch Cafe," takes a break while find a new use for the Reuben Award: as a handy armrest!

Jenny Robb and Ashley Smith take to the dance floor.

Hogan's Alley editor Tom Heintjes and Betty Evans, wife of "Luann" creator Greg Evans.

"Bizarro" artist Dan Piraro and wife Ashley Smith, the First Couple of the NCS, partake of a public display of affection.

Archie cartoonist Stan Goldberg (left) and gag cartoonist Don Orehek

"Piranha Club" cartoonist Bud Grace and "Family Circus" creator Bil Keane

"Rhymes With Orange" creator Hilary Price (left), winner of the comic panel division award, with partner Kerry LaBounty

"Piranha Club" cartoonist Bud Grace gives a talk on his career.

Greg Evans ("Luann") and wife, Betty.

Greg Cravens of "The Buckets"

Ohio State University Cartoon Library archivist and Hogan's Alley writer Jenny Robb and Mell Lazarus of "Momma"

"Pooch Cafe" creator Paul Gilligan (right) with Hogan's Alley editor Tom Heintjes.

King Features executive emeritus Joe D'Angelo.

John Matthews of Universal Press Syndicate stands with the Reuben Award freshly won by UPS' Bill Amend ("FoxTrot").

"Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro sketches.

Larry Katzman (foreground), Frank Springer and Stan Goldberg sit in a seminar audience.

Dan Piraro and Jenny Robb make beautiful music together...with maracas.

Bil Keane ("The Family Circus") and Betty Evans, wife of "Luann" creator Greg Evans.

The It Couple of the NCS, "Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro and Ashley Smith (daughter of "Through Thick and Thin" cartoonist Ralph Smith).

Bil Keane ("The Family Circus") and Cathy Guisewite ("Cathy") enjoy a seminar.

"Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro (left) and gag cartooning giant Sam Gross.

Washington Post Writers Group comics editor Amy Lago and Ashley Smith.

"Mother Goose and Grimm" creator Mike Peters speaks during the awards ceremony.

Every year, some fool cartoonist gets the Reuben Award lodged in his nose. This year, it was John Kovaleski ("Bo Nanas").

"Mother Goose and Grimm" creator Mike Peters (left) and Chris Browne ("Hagar the Horrible").

John Kovaleski ("Bo Nanas") and OSU Cartoon Library's Jenny Robb

Illustrator C.F. Payne (left) and MAD artist Tom Richmond

Kristen Amend (wife of "FoxTrot" creator Bill Amend) and "Pooch Cafe" cartoonist Paul Gilligan

"Momma" creator Mell Lazarus (left) and "Speed Bump" cartoonist Dave Coverly.

Illustrator C.F. Payne (left) and editorial cartoonist Mike Ramirez.

"Momma" creator Mell Lazarus (left) and comics historian (and Hogan's Alley writer) R.C. Harvey

"Pearls Before Swine" creator Stephan Pastis (left) and Keith Robinson ("Making It") flank Jane Mascorro.

"Momma" creator Mell Lazarus and "Laugh Parade" doyenne Bunny Hoest

"Pearls Before Swine" creator Stephan Pastis (left), Creators Syndicate's Melissa Lin and "FoxTrot" creator Bill Amend

Mike Lester with his award for the book illustration division

"Pearls Before Swine" creator Stephan Pastis accepts his award for Best Newspaper Strip.

Margo and Mike Luckovich with editorial cartoonist Daryl Cagle (right)

The ever-dapper gag cartoonist/bon vivant Don Orehek

Jane Mascorro (left) and Ashley Smith cozy up to "Momma" creator Mell Lazarus.

So we include a lot of pictures of attractive women. Sue us! Jane Mascorro (left) and OSU Cartoon Library's Jenny Robb.

Mort Walker with his Gold Key Award for Lifetime Achievement

Mort Walker makes clear how much the Gold Key Award means to him.

Wiley Miller ("Non Sequitur"), left, and King Features executive emeritus Joe D'Angelo.

Mort Walker and son Greg sit in on a seminar.

Frank Caruso of King Features registers for the weekend.

Mort Walker ("Beetle Bailey"), left, talks with Bill Guisewite, father of "Cathy" creator Cathy Guisewite.

Wiley Miller ("Non Sequitur"), left, and former MAD editor Nick Meglin

Wiley Miller ("Non Sequitur"), left, and Robin Rosenthal

The paparazzi won't give poor Dan Piraro ("Bizarro") a moment's peace.

Jerry Van Amerongen does a sketch for a fan.

Check out the cover to our forthcoming issue!