A cartoonist behind a controversial illustration has taken his pen and aimed it squarely at an under fire newspaper editor.

Last week the Otago Daily Times issued a front page apology days after running a cartoon by Garrick Tremain, which mocked the deadly Samoan measles epidemic.

The editor, Barry Stewart, stood down the cartoonist – pending a review.

Garrick Tremain/Supplied Garrick Tremain's new cartoon 'An Ode to Capitulation' hits back at an editor.

However Tremain, who declined to comment when approached by Stuff, appeared to have taken matter into his own hands by drawing two cartoons and publishing them on his website.

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The first cartoon – under the heading 'An Ode to Capitulation' shows the image of a man under a bus and the caption, "An editor, so timid, spooked by PC fuss ... Tossed his ace cartoonist, underneath the bus".

Another cartoon, set in a pub, has a patron asking the publican if the ODT front page story he is reading "He's Dog Tucker' is about Prince Andrew.

"This is serious mate ... some cartoonist making jokes," the publican replied.

Last week Tremain published an apology on the same website saying the cartoon should not have been put forward for publication and acknowledging "the lack of judgement on my part".

Supplied Queenstown cartoonist Garrick Tremain has apologised for the cartoon.

Stewart was approached for comment about the cartoons and pending review.

In a statement he said: "As we outlined in media statements last week, we are in a review process. I have no comment on the cartoons."

Last week's backlash against Tremain and the newspaper prompted a protest outside its Dunedin office.

Hamish McNeilly/Stuff The Otago Daily Times has printed a front page apology over a Garrick Tremain cartoon.

The front page apology published on Thursday was headlined "We got it wrong".

The cartoon depicted two women walking out of a travel agent, with one saying to the other: "I asked, 'What are the least popular spots at the moment?' She said: 'The ones people are picking up in Samoa'."

The Samoan Ministry of Health has confirmed 70 people have died of the virus, which continues to kill the most vulnerable.

HAMISH MCNEILLY/STUFF Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart prepares to front those protesting Garrick Tremain's Samoa cartoon

Newspaper executives had met with Samoan community leaders, while implementing a new process for how it selected each cartoon, previously the responsibility of the editor.

"Our daily cartoons will now be considered and debated by our broader editorial team," the paper's apology said.

"We are very sorry for what we did. I want to apologise personally to our Samoan communities and to the people of Samoa, who continue to deal with the impacts of an awful tragedy," Stewart said.

Screenshot of ODT The cartoon by Garrick Tremain which was published in the Otago Daily Times this week.

"To them and the many thousands of people we have hurt and let down, I am sincerely sorry."

Donate via Unicef here to help get children in Samoa immunised against measles.