A really good cartoon would show where all the parts of a flare (or CME) fit together, nicely linking them to the all-embracing magnetic field. Many of the cartoons in this Archive don't do that - in fact, come to think of it, none of them do! However, at its best, the cartoon is an indispensable tool. It enables us to link parts of a problem that cannot be dealt with in a self-consistent theory. If the physical intuition going into the cartoon is accurate, it can guide us to improved or more focused observations of key things.
Some of the cartoons in this Archive probably don't really belong here in the sense above, because they are specifically focused on some particular aspect of the problem. The Archive even includes some working sketches from numerical simulations, which are often regarded as more realistic - a bit odd, since they usually start from the same stubby pencil! But, never mind, we are grateful for whatever insight they give us. Reflect please also on the words of the sages.
This Archive is open to all, please suggest your favorite one.
Hugh Hudson, hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu