John Darkow's cartoon captures the Artemis II crew gazing through their spacecraft window at the far side of the moon, where craters frame an unexpected sight: the Midvale School for the Gifted from Gary Larson's The Far Side, complete with a striped-shirted figure fumbling at a 'pull' door on stairs. Tagged with artemis ii, moon flyby, far side, gary larson, nasa, space, and science, the image blends real space exploration with absurd humor. One crew member exclaims excitement, labeled with Artemis II Crew and NASA markings. This satire highlights the blend of high-stakes missions and pop culture whimsy, poking fun at what astronauts might hope to find beyond the visible lunar surface. The dry wit underscores how science fiction tropes collide with actual programs like Artemis II.
Jeff Koterba's cartoon shows a NASA astronaut brushing away moon dust from a 'Lunar Log' clipboard that lists Apollo 17 from 1972 and the upcoming Artemis 2 mission. The image evokes hopeful and inspirational vibes about space travel and lunar exploration, with the moon glowing in the background amid a starry sky. Tags like NASA, moon, Artemis, Apollo, space travel, and science highlight the theme of dusting off old logs for new journeys in the solar system. The composition suggests a fresh start in exploration, blending nostalgia with future aspirations in a straightforward, illustrative style.
Arcadio Esquivel's 2019 cartoon features a stout figure resembling Nicolás Maduro, dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt, and red tie, with arms flung wide and hands trembling, set against a solid red background. The man's face shows wide white eyes and a downturned mouth under a thick black mustache, suggesting intense emotion. Tagged with Maduro, Venezuela, Socialismo, Sur América, the piece highlights themes in South American politics. The signature 'Arcadio' and date '1/1/19' appear at the bottom left. This straightforward caricature avoids complex symbolism, sticking to visible elements like the red field and the figure's pose. In the world of political cartoons, such simple setups often pack a punch without needing bells and whistles.
