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Behind the Lines

Action and adventure

Big budgets, big explosions, big drama. Hardened heroes ride into a wild west town to weed out the bad guys. Eccentric mavericks fly to far-flung exotic locales in a race against time to save the world.

Hollywood action and adventure films seemed to contain everything except plausibility … until 2025 rolled around. This year’s international news had all that and more.

The first year of the second Donald Trump presidency has dominated world news, with an unprecedented blitz of policy changes and an unrelenting stream of social media messages. Our relationship with the United States has been marked by stop-start AUKUS negotiations and a welter of ever-changing tariff decisions that continue to reverberate around the world. There were elections in Canada, and the war in Ukraine is now in its fourth year. Our relationship with China also made news: Anthony Albanese visited the country and Chinese warships unexpectedly visited Australian waters.

A politician says to PM Anthony Albanese, 'These Chinese warships seem to be getting awfully close PM…' Albanese says, 'Let's not overreact.' Behind them, a warship sits in Lake Burley Griffin.

Awfully Close...

Warren Brown, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney),

PM Anthony Albanese following some giant footsteps along the Great Wall of China next to graffiti that says, ‘Gough was here.’

Footsteps

Harry Bruce, The Cairns Post,

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a military parade overlooking a large vehicle in the shape of former Victorian premier Dan Andrews.

The Parade of Useful Idiots

Badiucao, Nine Papers,

US President Donald Trump drives a wrecking ball through a building labelled 'US 2017 – 2021', saying, 'Now where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?' Behind him is a building labelled 'Constitution.'

The Wrecking Ball

Alan Moir, Self-published,

The title reads, 'Six ways of coping with Tr***p.' Six panels various suggestions, including keeping a bowl of Valium handy when you go online, wearing headphones 'for the next four years' and more.

Copable Culpable

Philip Somerville, Line of Thought,

In the style of Apocalypse Now, US President Donald Trump sits in a ruined landscape between Canada and Mexico. He says, 'I love the smell of trade tariffs in the morning.' A cow says, 'Who says Donald doesn't like a war?'

I Love the Smell of Tariffs in the Morning

Mark Knight, Herald Sun,

In the style of the Godfather, the title reads, 'The Odd father.' US President Donald Trump says, 'We do you a favour and then ask something in return.' Vice President JD Vance says, 'And always pay respect to the Don.'

The Oddfather

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

The title reads, 'America's changing political landscape.' Beside Mount Rushmore is a larger sculpture of US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s heads. President Lincoln's head says, 'And to the right of Mount Blowhard is Knob Hill…'

America's Changing Political Landscape

Greg 'Smithy' Smith, The Sunday Times (Perth),

The title reads, 'Now showing on a small screen near you!' Two people walk past movie posters depicting US President Donald Trump in parodies of the Godfather movies. One person says, 'It's supposed to be great television but I'm not so sure.'

Mafia Don

Fiona Katauskas, The Guardian Australia,

Looney Tunes character Wile E Coyote steps on one side of a board balanced on a box that reads, 'Canada votes.' It propels a bust of US President Donald Trump into the air.

MAGA Patented Conservative Launcher

David Pope, The Canberra Times,

The title reads, 'Lapdogs of war.' Russian President Putin holds the leashes of dogs with the faces of US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, barely holding them back from barking at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump's Dogs of War

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

On a TV, US President Donald Trump sits beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying, 'This is going to make great television.' Shirtless Russian President Vladimir Putin watches and says, 'You can say that again.'

Great Television

Johannes Leak, The Australian,

Deputy PM Richard Marles holds a submarine toy that reads, 'Aukus'. He says to a waiter at a restaurant, 'Did he at least leave a message?' The waiter replies, 'Just the bill,' and presents a paper labelled 'tariffs'.

Stood Up

Harry Bruce, The Cairns Post,

Against a backdrop of police in riot gear, two protestors in medical masks kiss.

LA Protests

Jess Kitty Parker, Instagram,

US Presidents Lincoln, Kennedy, Bush and Regan and activist Martin Luther King Jr, look at a newspaper which reads, 'Shot dead: conservative political activist Charlie Kirk gunned down.' Lincoln says, 'They're saying that this assassination will be the wake-up call America needs.'

The Wake-up Call?

Mark Knight, Herald Sun,

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