5 Years of Riding the Waves of Annihilation

Happy Anniversary | March 11, 2025 | Newsletter 21

It’s been 5 years since I first published my editorial cartoon depicting the interconnected crises facing the world – from the COVID-19 pandemic to economic recession, climate change, and biodiversity collapse. This simple illustration has taken on a life of its own, spreading far beyond my original intent.

The cartoon was first published on March 11, 2020, the same day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. It showed two large waves – one labelled “Coronavirus” and the other “Recession” – highlighting how the public health crisis was devastating the economy.

In the years that followed, the cartoon was widely shared, adapted, and modified by people around the world. Some faithfully recreated the image, while others added additional waves to represent other looming threats like climate change and biodiversity loss. A few even cheekily inserted their own agendas, like the Extinction Rebellion group that slapped their logo over the top.

It is my most published illustration ever.

It was highlighted in a lead article published in a special edition of Scientific American dedicated to the Coronavirus in March 2022. Not bad for someone who flunked Chemistry in high school. Take that, Mr. Bourrie!

The Green Spirits at Westminster

Tracking where this cartoon has appeared has been fascinating – from major publications to grassroots activist groups. In the UK, the “Four Waves” banner was proudly paraded through the streets of Torbay by the Green Spirits environmental group. Then in 2022, the same banner led a climate protest march in front of the UK Parliament.

However, this widespread use raises important questions about the respect for artistic work. While some individuals have sought permission and credited the original artist, many others have appropriated the image without acknowledgment. This disregard for creativity can diminish the original message behind the artwork.

This issue isn’t isolated to just me; many of my colleagues face similar vandalism when signed editorial cartoons are defaced, cropped, and transformed into memes that skew the original messaging of our commentary. This trend not only undermines our artistic integrity but also dilutes the intended impact of our work.

Adding to this challenge is the rise of artificial intelligence, which can hijack our hard work and produce lifeless imitations that lack the nuance and creativity of human artistry. This growing threat raises further concerns about the future of artistic expression and the value placed on original work. More on this topic will be explored in a future post.

Movements like Extinction Rebellion, despite their vital mission to raise awareness about climate change, have faced criticism for their lack of respect for artists’ rights. The reactions of those who alter creative works vary—some recognize their mistakes and offer apologies, while others insist they have the right to modify and share images as they please. This behaviour highlights the ongoing need for greater respect for artists and their creations in our increasingly digital landscape.

Ultimately, I decided it was time to update the cartoon myself, incorporating a fifth “zombie apocalypse” wave. This reflected the growing sense of apathy and inaction in the face of these mounting crises. As one insightful commenter noted, the zombies represent those who passively watch as calamity unfolds, relinquishing their agency.

Seems pretty cute, in retrospect, when I added the fictional threat in 2024, which seem like a lifetime ago.

As we mark the 5-year anniversary, it is clear that a new, even more ominous wave is emerging – the threat of Donald Trump. His aggressive stance on tariffs and talk of annexation threatens Canadian sovereignty, while his plans to trim the civil service with mass firings signal domestic unrest. On the global stage, Trump’s actions to end U.S. security guarantees and his capitulation to Putin by withdrawing support for Ukraine’s war effort underscore a significant shift in international relations.

This new fifth wave represents a direct threat to the established order, challenging both national and global stability. It serves as a stark reminder that the actions of one leader can have profound implications, extending the metaphorical tsunami of crises we face.

The 2025 global measles outbreak has seen a significant rise in cases due to declining vaccination rates, with over 7,600 suspected cases reported worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for increased vaccination efforts to prevent further spread and protect public health. The first wave reflect this with the change from COVID-19 to Measles. The second wave, originally “recession”, has been changed to “tariffs”, again reflecting the actions of one leader.

The soft unveiling of this illustration occurred in a recent Substack post regarding Trump’s disgraceful environmental legacy. This latest version comes with encouragement from Michael Solomon, director of London-based Responsible 100, and the revision is featured in a piece that advocates for responsible business practices in the Trump 2.0 era, cautioning against both apathy and counterproductive "wokeness".

Five years on, this cartoon continues to resonate globally, serving as a message about the interconnected challenges confronting us. With the addition of the Trump wave, it underscores the urgent need for collective action to safeguard our world from impending disasters. We must confront these waves of crisis with resilience and solidarity before they overtake us all.

The original post form 2020 chronicling the evolution of this illustration is here.

Thank you to everyone who continues to subscribe to this weekly newsletter! This special edition deviates from my usual Saturday morning posts, where I typically offer a summary of the week through my editorial cartoons. Throughout the week, I also share daily ‘notes’ on my Substack, which enhance my weekly newsletters and include animated versions of my daily cartoons.

For now, all of my content remains free, but I recognize the uncertainty of my future as I face the possibility of losing my livelihood after three decades as a newspaper editorial cartoonist. In the meantime, I’m happy to accept pledges of support—these are just assurances of your support without any financial commitment. Your encouragement means a lot and helps me continue sharing my work with all of you!