War Plan Red
The quirky history behind the secret, full-scale invasion that the United States once planned for Canada, and vice versa.
illustration
A collection of 11 issues
A Recipe for Disasters
Calculating the probable dates for very bad things—a catastrophic solar megastorm; Seattle destroyed by earthquake—that are likely to occur.
Brush With Greatness
The TV trope where one character sees another character naked allows audiences to be pervy without taking responsibility. Only “The Simpsons” gets it right.
The Marriage Defense
The Supreme Court will soon deliver a definitive ruling on same-sex marriage, a subject that has roiled the United States since the colonial era—or not. A brief illustrated history.
The Pitch
Idea for a television show: a teenager has the power to turn fantasy into reality—but she doesn’t know it. It's “Amelia Bedelia” meets “Quantum Leap.”
Who Goes There
The Heartbleed Bug exposed a well-known secret: Passwords suck. But that’s really nothing new—just ask the Romans. Explaining the password’s past and future.
The Misplaced Birthday of President George Washington
The truth behind Washington’s Birthday, President’s Day, Presidents’ Day, or whatever the hell you want to call it, as briefly explained by puppets.
The Debt Ceiling
Once again the debt ceiling's up for grabs. Everything you need to know—in cartoon form—about previous fiascos.
Whither Greatness
Economic recession. Climate disaster. Chaos in the Middle East. The world cries out for leaders who will face our biggest dilemmas, and all we get are short-sighted narcissists. Where are the great leaders of today?
Bombs Over Damascus
As another military intervention gets underway—with your name on it—we thought a brief tour of recent history in Syria would be useful, with lots of pictures.
Chip Kidd
The estimable Chip Kidd, designer of books' fronts, backs, and spines, chats with our man in Boston about what it's like to work on the words that come in between.