Troy

Welcome to ancient Troy, or at least Troy as imagined by the "Where's Wally?" series, called "Where's Waldo?" in some countries. This teeming illustration comes from the mind of British artist Martin Handford, who built his reputation on scenes stuffed with tiny people doing a hundred different things at once. Golden city walls rise above sandy slopes, boats bob along the shore, and hundreds of little figures scramble, tumble, and squabble across every part of the picture. Buried somewhere in this cheerful madness is Wally himself, dressed in his red and white stripes, waiting patiently to be spotted.

The real joy of these pictures lies in the tiny stories packed into each corner. Wander around the crowd and you will find people rolling down hills, strange run-ins between groups, and small gags tucked into places you might skim right past. Handford loved recreating the feel of noisy, crowded spaces, and setting one in a legendary city like Troy gives the whole thing a fun historical flavor.

Nobody would call this fine art, and it does not pretend to be. It is simply a game drawn with enormous patience and a sense of humor, made to keep you searching long after you think you have found everything. Give it a while, and Wally, along with a few surprises, will eventually turn up.