The biggest cartooning story of the week unfolded in the US, where Columbus Dispatch cartoonist Jeff Stahler has been accused of plagiarism and suspended from the paper. The Daily Cartoonist has details here, and Bloghorn will be looking at the story – and possible ramifications – in more detail in a dedicated post next week.

Bloghorn is sad to report that veteran gag cartoonist Hugh Burnett has died. Best known for his jokes featuring monks, one of which is reprinted by Private Eye this week to acknowledge his passing, Burnett was also a television producer who pioneered in-depth TV interviews for the BBC. You can read more about this side of his career from The Scotsman’s obituary.

In other sad news, Jerry Robinson – the comic-book artist who helped create iconic Batman characters including Robin and The Joker – has died aged 89. Newsarama has tributes from other comics creators here.

Martin Rowson – political cartoonist for The Guardian and a member of the Professional Cartoonists’ Organisation, which runs the Bloghorn – will present My History of the World in 15 Minutes in a free talk at the Southbank Centre in London this Saturday. See the website for details.

Alan Moore has defended the Occupy protestors following negative comments by fellow comics legend Frank Miller, according to The Guardian.

Comics artist and teacher Chris Schweizer has begun a series of instructional blog posts about cartoon composition by looking at the perils of the tangent (thanks to Drawn for bringing this to our attention).

Finally, “this week’s guest publication”, Caravan Times, is offering one lucky reader the chance to be caricatured, along with their caravan, by the Bloghorn’s very own editor, Matt Buck. See the site for details.