threat to world
Oct
30
2010
On October 30, 2010, Paresh Nath's cartoon depicts two figures dressed as ghosts carrying a trick-or-treat sign toward a suburban home. A woman in a pink star-patterned dress stands in the doorway with an open-mouthed expression of alarm. A large speech bubble above them reads EXPLOSIVE PACKAGES. The scene occurs against a night sky with a crescent moon and a carved pumpkin on the steps. The image directly references the al-Qaeda plot involving explosive devices hidden in cargo packages on flights, discovered days earlier. The visual equates the disguised parcels with Halloween trick-or-treaters arriving at the door.
Oct
30
2009
A 2009 cartoon by Bob Englehart depicts two people in full hazmat suits at a Halloween party declaring they are not in costume. The image responds directly to the active H1N1 swine flu outbreak that fall. Other guests appear in standard costumes including a cowboy, devil, and Frankenstein monster. The scene underscores public anxiety over the virus spreading at social events. The Hartford Courant published the work on October 30, 2009, as health officials urged precautions during the holiday season.
