Brooke McEldowney won the newspaper strip award for 9 Chickweed Lane.

Jim Borgman won the award for editorial cartooning.

Ralph Steadman won the award for book illustration.

David Silverman won the television animation award for The Simpsons.

Ashley Smith and Archies artist Stan Goldberg

"Beetle Bailey" creator Mort Walker watches Chicago's Memorial Day parade.

"Foxtrot" creator Bill Amend at a book signing

Mort Walker and "Pajama Diaries" creator Terri Libenson

Jerry Van Amerongen (left) with his divisional award and award presenter, Family Circus creator Bil Keane

Van Amerongen accepts his award on stage at the Saturday night banquet.

"Mr. Ollie" creator Tim Oliphant

Andrew Pepoy, artist on the revival of Katy Keene

"The Pajama Diaries" creator Terri Libenson

Ashley Smith, wife of "Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro

"Lio" and "Heart of the City" creator Mark Tatulli wowed them at the karaoke performances.

Tatulli poured his heart into it, clearly.

"Candorville" and "Rudy Park" creator Darrin Bell with his wife, Laura Bustamante

Bell at a book signing.

"George" creator Mark Szorady

NCS president and "Soup to Nutz" creator Rick Stromoski grabs the karaoke spotlight.

"Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro and wife Ashley Smith entertain during the Reuben Award ceremony.

Smith and Piraro continue their performance...

...which culminated in this touching moment.

The popular couple relax after their acclaimed performance at the Reuben Award ceremony.

Ashley Smith sits beside the divisional awards to be given out at the Saturday night banquet.

Bob Rich, winner of the award for newspaper illustration, stands with cartoonist Arnold Roth.

Arnold Roth announces Bob Rich's name for the newspaper illustration divisional award.

Dan "Bizarro" Piraro and Ashley Smith, reigning king and queen of the Reuben Awards weekend.

Advertising illustrator Roy Doty and "Hamster Alley" creator Polly Keener

Gary McCoy and political cartoonist Ann Telnaes

Mark Pett of "Lucky Cow" (left) with "Frazz" creator Jef Mallett

MAD artist Mort Drucker and comic book artist Jose Delbo

Keith Robinson, "Making It" artist, and "Luann" creator Greg Evans

Political cartoonist Mike Ramirez

OSU comics archivist and Hogan's Alley writer Jenny Robb

Jenny Robb, "Bo Nanas" creator John Kovaleski and "Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro

Ashley Smith strikes her Reuben Award pose.

"Stone Soup" creator Jan Eliot speaks with "Luann" creator Greg Evans

The Friday night reception featured Chicago's soaring skyline.

Phil Pyster was behind the scenes, keeping the events running like a clock.

"Howard Huge" artist John Reiner shows his sartorial splendor.

"Through Thick and Thin" creator Ralph Smith

Smith and his daughter, Ashley Smith

"Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro (left) and "Hagar the Horrible" artist Chris Browne

Cartoonist and playwright Jules Feiffer with cartoonist Barbara Dale

Animator Chad Frye (left) and commercial artist Elwood Smith

"Laugh Parade" collaborators Bunny Hoest and John Reiner

King Features comics editor Jay Kennedy

Sports cartooning legend Bill Gallo (left) with Hogan's Alley writer Ed Black

"Laugh Parade"'s Bunny Hoest and "Beetle Bailey" artist Neal Walker

"Family Circus" artist Jeff Keane (left) performs a number with "Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro.

Jeannie Schulz, widow of "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz, and "Cathy" creator Cathy Guisewite.

"Curtis" creator Ray Billingsley

Sports cartooning legend Bill Gallo

"Tank McNamara" artist Bill Hinds

Illustration legend Ralph Steadman accepts the Milton Caniff Award for lifetime achievement.

"Cathy" creator Cathy Guisewite exhibits a sense of humor at her own expense at the roast held in her honor.

Guisewite and cartoonist Barbara Dale

Guisewite embraces "Family Circus" creator Bil Keane as Jeff Keane looks on.

Guisewite got her chance to give back to her roasters at the end of the event.

Patty Mallett, letterer on "Frazz," and Nick Galifianakis, newspaper illustrator

Mort Gerberg, Mort Drucker, and Lynn Johnston

Hogan's Alley editor Tom Heintjes congratulates fellow Atlantan Mike Luckovich on the Reuben Award win.

Cartoonist Bill Janocha and Ashley Smith

Cartoonist and NCS Southeast Chapter President Bruce Higdon

Political cartoonist and commentator Daryl Cagle makes an award presentation.

"Hagar the Horrible" artist Chris Browne

"Speed Bump" creator with Patty Mallett

Jim Borgman, political cartoonist and "Zits" artist, stands with political cartoonist Jules Feiffer

Borgman receives congratulations from "For Better Or Worse" creator Lynn Johnston

Cartoonist Jon Paul Boscacci with Ohio State University Cartoon Library archivist and Hogan's Alley writer Jenny Robb

"Rose Is Rose" creator Pat Brady announced an award winner.

Artist Elwood Smith (left) stands with "Mutts" creator Patrick McDonnell.

Simpsons producer David Silverman on the karaoke stage

Simpsons producer David Silverman and OSU comics archivist and Hogan's Alley writer Jenny Robb

Artist and comics historian Scott Shaw! with Ralph Steadman

Not everyone was as interested in the speakers as Neal Walker was.

Jerry Scott, writer of "Baby Blues" and "Zits," and his wife, Kim.

Lynn Johnston of "For Better or Worse" and Gary McCoy, winner of the greeting card division.

Lynn Johnston of "For Better or Worse" (left) and Bunny ("Laugh Parade") Hoest

Polly Keener of "Hamster Alley" and the legendary Ralph Steadman.

John Kovaleski ("Bo Nanas"), left, speaks with Roy Schneider of "The Humble Stumble."

Hogan's Alley editor Tom Heintjes and his wife, Kathy Landwehr.

Mike Luckovich delivers his acceptance speech with his Reuben Award in hand.

Mike Luckovich kept his dignity intact following his Reuben Award win.

Patrick McDonnell of "Mutts" presented the book illustration award to Ralph Steadman.

Glenn McCoy gets a lift from brother Gary following Glenn's win for Best Gag Cartoonist.

Mike Luckovich was joined by his family at the awards banquet.

Mort Walker of "Beetle Bailey" signs a book for a young fan.

Mike Luckovich, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Reuben Award in 2006, talks with Dan "Bizarro" Piraro (right).

Mike Luckovich presents some artwork during the Cathy Guisewite roast.

Brooke McEldowney, left. won the Best Newspaper Strip category with "9 Chickweed Lane," and he stands with award presenter Mell Lazarus ("Momma," "Miss Peach").

MAD artist Sergio Aragones makes a point during the tribute panel to Will Eisner.

Andrews-McMeel editor Erin Friedrich talks with gag cartoonist Mort Gerberg

"Mutts" creator Patrick McDonnell announces one of the evening's winners.

Dondi artist Irwin Hasen (left) and NCS newsletter editor Frank Pauer.

The Friday night karaoke performance attracts an enthusiastic audience.

"Tank McNamara" artist Bill Hinds (left) speaks with MAD editor Nick Meglin.

Artist Everett Peck during his seminar

"Big Top" creator Rob Harrell and his wife, Amber.

Glenn McCoy, winner of the gag cartooning division.

NCS prez Steve McGarry with cartoon librarian and Hogan's Alley writer Jenny Robb.

MAD magazine's Mart Drucker (left) offers congratulations to Mike Luckovich for the Reuben Award win.

Jef Mallett of "Frazz" and Amy Lago, comics editor for the Washington Post Writers Group.

"The Family Circus" creator Bil Keane speaks during the Cathy Guisewite roast.

Steadman took the karaoke stage.

"American Idol" is missing out without Steadman.

NCS "It Girl" Ashley Smith

Lynn Johnston of "For Better or Worse" signs a collection of her work.

Greg Evans of "Luann" congratulates Mike Luckovich after the Reuben Award banquet.

Ashley Smith chronicles the karaoke performances (possibly for future blackmail).

Mort Walker of "Beetle Bailey" (left) presented the Reuben Award to Mike Luckovich.