A complete, restored issue of Judge from 1885-02-21 — all 16 pages of color political cartoons and topical humor, free to page through at comicbooks.com.

On the cover: # Analysis of "The Judge," February 21, 1885 This political cartoon satirizes a figure labeled "Bayard" who is depicted riding a bull while trying to catch it—an absurd, contradictory action. The caption reads: "Bayard, instead of taking the bull by the horns, catches on." The cartoon likely references Thomas F. Bayard, a prominent Democratic politician of the era. The "bull" metaphor suggests a difficult political situation or crisis that requires decisive action. The satire mocks Bayard for attempting an ineffective or illogical approach—literally trying to catch the bull he's already riding—implying his political strategy was backwards or self-defeating. The Washington Monument visible in the background suggests this concerns federal politics. Without additional context about specific 1885 events, the precise political issue remains unclear, but the core joke criticizes fumbling leadership.

🖼️ Every page has a plain-English note on what you’re looking at — the figures, the references, the point of the satire.

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