Global Political Cartoons

As news happens, political cartoonists around the globe take up their brush pen or pencil and come up with images and often a few choice words to comment on the events of the day. Each week, The World’s Carol Hills selects a group of cartoons that reflect on issues in the news. For cartoons prior to June 2009, please click here.

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Russia’s Dmitri Medvedev: The Mini-Me to Vladimir Putin

By Carol Hills ⋅ March 9, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Dmitri Medvedev is leaving the Russian presidency in May 2012 but for many political cartoonists, he never really arrived. Looking back at cartoons published during his presidency, The World’s Carol Hills finds Medvedev portrayed as the ultimate ‘mini-me’ to Vladimir Putin, the puppet on a string, the dog ordered to fetch, basically a doormat. Enjoy.

Soviet Era Dark Humor Makes a Comeback

By Brigid McCarthy ⋅ February 29, 2012 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅

'Goodbye Putin!' – reference to the German film “Goodbye Lenin!”, uses a well recognized poster for that film as a visual point of reference.

The Soviet jokes disappeared when the Soviet Union collapsed, but that brand of dark humor has made a comeback in Russia today.

Batwing: An African Superhero Takes on Congo

By Carol Hills ⋅ February 16, 2012 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅

Batwing Issue 4. (Illustration courtesy of DC Comics)

DC Comics has created an African superhero modeled after Batman. His name is Batwing and he’s battling evil in the Democratic Republic of Congo!

Cartoon Slideshow: Crisis in Syria

By Carol Hills ⋅ February 10, 2012 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅

Blood, blood and blood are the subjects of this cartoon slideshow about Syria. Cartoonists around the globe are responding to the blood being spilled in the violent crackdown on demonstrators — especially in the Syrian city of Homs. Bashar al-Assad is the villain and the images are graphic, in your face, and unsubtle.

Cartoon Slideshow: Russia’s Vladimir Putin

By Carol Hills ⋅ February 3, 2012 ⋅ One comment ⋅

Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is a man in the middle….the middle of a campaign. He wants to be Russia’s president — again. He’s in the middle of protests against him. So he’s staging his own support rally in response. And Putin is also in the middle of the international outrage over the violence in Syria. Russia sells lots of weapons to Syria and Putin (along with his representatives at the UN) are neutering any real efforts to end the government-sponsored violence in Syria.

Cartoon: Facebook Going Public

By Carol Hills ⋅ February 2, 2012 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅

Dutch cartoonist Tom Janssen uses a familiar emoticon to show how Facebook (the company) is probably feeling about the upcoming IPO.

Settler Cartoonist Shay Charka Skewers All Sectors of Israeli Society

By Matthew Bell ⋅ January 13, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Shay Charka flips through one of his books at his home studio in an Israeli settlement in the northern West Bank. (Photo: Matthew Bell)

The World’s Middle East correspondent, Matthew Bell, profiles Israeli cartoonist Shay Charka who lives in the West Bank. He hopes for peace with his Palestinian neighbors but doesn’t believe that a two-state solution is possible. Charka’s cartoons skewer all sectors of Israeli social and political society.

Understanding Haiti Through Comics

By Carol Hills ⋅ January 12, 2012 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅

Tent Beyond Tents by Pharés Jerome, Chevelin Pierre)

Cartoonist Matt Bors is editing a comic strip about life in Haiti since the earthquake. It’s drawn by a Haitian cartoonist and written by a Haitian reporter, both based in Port au Prince. The first installment of the comic strip was published online Thursday.

Zahra’s Paradise: A Graphic Novel Explores Iran’s Political Problems

By The World ⋅ January 11, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

‘Zahra’s Paradise’ is the new graphic novel by an Iranian-American author. He tells host Marco Werman how he created a webstrip based on the images streaming out of the Iranian protests in 2009.

Cartoon: Democracy According to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad

By Carol Hills ⋅ January 10, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Cartoon: Alan Moir, Sydney Morning Herald, Australia

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad doesn’t get why the whole world is demanding he introduce democratic reforms. Australian cartoonist Alan Moir captures al-Assad’s take on democracy.

Cartoon Slideshow: Fury Over Continued Violence in Syria

By Carol Hills ⋅ January 6, 2012 ⋅ One comment ⋅

There’s anger, sadness and downright fury over the continued violence in Syria. Much of the vitriol is directed against Arab League observers who arrived in Syria in late December to monitor the situation. There’s widespread feeling — which you’ll see in these cartoons — that the observers are ignoring the violence all around them.