Drawing a Blank

YEGwords No. 023

Author

Brandon Cathcart
July 18, 2025

Here at YEGwords HQ (my house’s sunroom), we love a crossword that feels different. There are tons out there that serve the purpose of a word puzzle, but it takes a particular intent to make one that is genuinely fun. One that feels clever, or goofy, or pushes the boundaries in a way that can’t help but make you smile. This week’s guest constructor got the assignment. Enter, Michael J Johnson of Michael J Comics.

Only slightly better than Jokerman (source: Michael J Comics on Instagram)

Michael popped onto my radar early in the YEGwords journey, and for months, I had “I gotta do a collab with this guy” rolling around the back of my head. Well, after a few DMs, Michael was on board and constructed a crossword that combines his artistic skills, humour, and wordplay. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Discussion, a note from Michael, and spoilers! below the break.

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Drawing a Blank by Michael J Johnson (edited by Brandon Cathcart)

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Discussion

I hope you enjoyed this puzzle! Thanks to Brandon for providing the theme idea and editing the puzzle. I love a crossword that plays with the form, so I was excited by the idea of having picture clues that are their own little puzzles. You can check out my comics and doodles on Instagram at @michaeljcomics. You can also subscribe to my brand new newsletter: Number of the Month Club, where you get a new number delivered to your inbox every month. Thanks!

- Michael J Johnson

It’s true - I pitched the theme idea to Michael, and he ran with it. Not only did he knock it out of the park with the drawings, but the puzzle has lots of fun moments, including this somewhat subtle Reba reference (shout out to my mom for watching a lot of Reba during my childhood).

Today’s Theme

Drawing is the name of the game! Each theme answer references an image, and the answer is a description of the image. A DOODLE of a DOODLE, a COMIC of a COMIC, a STRIP of a STRIP, and a SKETCH of a SKETCH. Some even go deeper - is that a strip strip strip? A comic comic comic? We’re getting into Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo territory here. Some other potential themers that didn’t make the cut were a DRAWING DRAWING and a PANEL PANEL.

Behind the Clues

1A. I loved those cheesy Volkswagen commercials that ran for a few years. Unfortunately, they weren’t during the era of [2000's Volkswagen slogan: "___ Auto"], but I know my Volkswagen commercials well enough to know it’s DAS Auto. Very German.

22A. You may not be familiar with all the cool music terminology - that’s okay, not everyone is as wicked cool as Michael and I. But make sure when you go to the next DMC World Championship, you fit in. [One on the ones and twos] is a DJ, scratching and mixing beats.

45A. This term was new to me but I love it - [Subculture revived in "The RAWRing 20s"'] is EMO and honestly, what a playful yet accurate way to describe the revitalized scene scene. Break out your All American Rejects and Panic at the Disco! CDs, and black nail paint. It’s time to join The Black Parade.

12D. Does Zoolander hold up? I’ve been rewatching movies from my childhood over the last few years and most of them don’t cut the mustard anymore. I have hope that Zoolander, with the [Much meme'd Zoolander line: "Hansel, SO HOT right now"], will still be funny in 2025 (will report back later this year).

20D. This clue made me audibly chuckle. There’s a lot of things that would fit [You can get one for a dollar at Superstore], but the truest answer is a CART. They’re practically giving those things away!

35D. Michael included a fun pairing in this clue that I almost overlooked the first time. [Rabbit or Griffin] are the last names of PETERs, but they are also animals! Look at him in his little coat! So cute, I want him.

I hope you enjoyed this puzzle!

Until next Friday,

Brandon

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