Ski Slopes Anarchy

Chaos rules this snowy mountain, and that is exactly the point. Created by British illustrator Martin Handford, this packed ski scene comes from his wildly popular "Where's Wally" series, first published in the late 1980s. In North America the striped hero goes by "Waldo," but the mission is the same everywhere. Somewhere in this sea of tiny skiers, tumblers, and tree-crashers hides one man in a red and white sweater, waiting to be found among hundreds of others.

Handford filled every inch of the slope with its own little drama. Some skiers zoom downhill in perfect form while others collapse face first into the snow, and a few lucky souls warm up inside the wooden cabins at the bottom. The flat, bright colors and thin cartoon lines make the whole thing feel light and funny, and there is a small joke tucked into nearly every corner. Your eyes bounce around with no clear place to rest, which is part of the joy.

Fittingly titled "Ski Slopes Anarchy," this scene abandons any sense of order on the hill. Before you even begin the hunt for Wally, half the fun is simply soaking in the happy mayhem and noticing all the mini misadventures. This is not a picture to view from across a room. It works best up close, where you can dig into the crowd and let the searching begin.