The annual recap of news events allowed for the editors to adopt a looser style to address the reader, and we wanted a cover to reflect that. The Iraq War quickly led to a military deck of cards with images of the most wanted enemy figures still on the run from the coalition forces. We mocked that with a list of newsworthy characters from the past year. This was created in Illustrator, and about two dozen cards were created over a month's time.

I still like the choice to obscure the second word on the Dixie Chicks card. It can be whatever the reader decides. Notice Strom Thurmond on the lower left; I've drawn him more than any other person. This paper wrote on Strom whenever his name came up in the news, and he was in our Top 50 South Carolinian package. I can draw Strom with the lights off.