do something
Oct
28
2016
A green ghoul wearing a patched suit and a shirt labeled 2016 ELECTION stands in a graveyard under a full moon, declaring it will keep the spirit alive after Halloween. The October 28 2016 cartoon by Rick McKee captures the ugly persistence of that year's presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton just days before voting.
Apr
21
2016
Luojie's 2016 cartoon captures the fall of oil prices through a roller coaster metaphor, where a barrel labeled 'OIL PRICES' hurtles down steep tracks. Arms clad in various attires—suit sleeves, keffiyeh, plaid shirt—stick out, gesturing wildly with thumbs up, pointing fingers, and a steering wheel. Exclamation points, dollar signs, stars, and hash marks fly around, emphasizing the turmoil. This image tags oil, price, fall, roller coaster, and oil producing countries, illustrating the volatile ride of global energy markets in a straightforward, humorous jab at economic instability.
Apr
14
2015
Steve Sack's tax frustration cartoon shows a balding man in four panels, venting anger through symbolic profanity while working on a laptop surrounded by papers. The sequence builds to a punchline about filling the memo line on his income taxes check with implied curses. This income tax filing humor resonates with widespread taxpayer frustration, capturing the annual dread of April 15 deadlines. The IRS check memo line satire uses visual exaggeration for dry wit, avoiding direct profanity but implying it through symbols like skulls and spirals. Such cartoons thrive in syndication for their relatable take on bureaucratic hassles. The piece maintains a light touch on universal gripes without delving into policy debates.
May
14
2013
Dave Granlund's 2013 cartoon captures the IRS scandal with a burly, bare-chested figure dressed in gladiator gear, a belt marked IRS, and a spiked mace in hand. The character clutches his head in dismay, exclaiming that the scandal could ruin their image. Tags such as internal revenue service, taxes, profiling, tea party, targeting, and over-reach underscore the commentary on the agency's alleged scrutiny of conservative groups seeking tax exempt status. The image uses exaggeration to highlight concerns over power abuse in politics, with the figure's shocked expression and muscular build emphasizing the irony of a fearsome entity worried about its reputation. Republicans and GOP elements are implied through the context of the scandal.
Apr
12
2013
Pat Bagley's 2013 color cartoon captures a luxurious yacht scene labeled 'THE RICH,' where three women embody wealth amid tax season complaints. One lounges in a bikini, another receives a massage, and the third gripes about the stress on her CPAs, lawyers, and lobbyists. A red helicopter hovers above the vessel on blue waters under a clear sky. The artwork ties into IRS, taxes 2013, April 15, tax day, and the 1% themes, offering dry satire on how the elite navigate fiscal duties through hired help. No deeper symbols lurk; it's straightforward visual humor on economic divides.
Mar
30
2011
In this sharp political cartoon from 2011, a balding dad, mom, and two kids in swimsuits perch anxiously on a diving board, staring down at a massive IRS 1040 form masquerading as a Swimming Pool. Shark fins slice through the blue tax document waters, symbolizing the predatory bite of Income Tax obligations. Tagged with Income Tax, IRS, Tax Day, Family, Federal, and Sharks, the image captures the universal dread of April 15th filings. The family's wide-eyed expressions highlight the perilous plunge into bureaucratic depths, a timeless jab at the Internal Revenue Service's complex forms. Cagle's dry style nails the everyday taxpayer's plight without overstatement.
