What’s Osama Bin Laden’s Ghost up to?

Steve Brodner is a decidedly liberal, politically-charged, modern day Norman Rockwell meets Al Hirshfeld who satirizes the political arena by way of illustration and caricature. If you watched Warren Beaty run for Senator of Straight-Talkin’ Crazy Town in Bulworth or picked up a copy of Esquire, The Progressive, The Village Voice, or Harper’s Magazine in the last 30 years you’ve probably seen his work.

If not, you can catch Brodner’s art on his every other weekly or so Slate V web series Smashing Crayons. I’m guessing the title is a play on the drawing techniques of preschoolers and the artist’s three decades worth of frustration with government powers. At least that’s what it looks like. Whimsical cartoons with light, curly lines and vibrant colors fill each installment while Brodner’s voicever highlights whatever unsavory political issue is making headlines at the moment.

The latest installment ponders what Osama bin Laden is up to in the after life and what impact his spirt will have on future events. It looks like what a Neil Gaiman poem contracted for Air America would read like, which is to say its pretty, a little morbid, and left of center. It’s a cartoon, too. Show it to your kids and find out what darnedest things they have to say about bin Laden’s ghost.