Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year #2009

The 2009 edition of this long-running annual anthology, edited by Charles Brooks, captures a pivotal moment in American history through Steve Breen's cover art — a beaming, radiant Lincoln Memorial statue dated "November 5th, 2008," glowing as if the stone itself has come alive with significance. Breen's linework is wonderfully expressive, giving the seated Lincoln an almost jubilant warmth that speaks volumes without a single word of editorial commentary. It's a fitting visual introduction to what promises to be a rich collection of the year's sharpest political cartooning.