I love this cartoon because I tossed it off in a fit of pique that really captured the moment of how awful it is to be trapped in a meeting with a boss / king / potentate whose main task is not to lead the troops but suck all the oxygen out of the room and abuse one and all for the sake of entertainment. Ironically, the idea was born from a very uplifting commercial where a sincere guy started his business meetings with “Can everybody hear me?”

P.S.: You might noticed how truly “tossed off” the drawing is. In fact, it was returned to me with an obscure bit of notation at the bottom that read “Draw better.” I didn’t. I hope Mr. Thurber would be proud.

—Michael Shaw