Client: Miami New Times
Art Director: Miche Ratto
Recognition: American Illustration 34 (2015)
For their annual "Best of 2014" issue, the Miami New Times decided to go with a "Game On!" video game theme. They wanted the cover, and each section opener, to imagine iconic video game characters experiencing the best that Miami has to offer.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/0976f1386e7b2f50f9f576732c6fa0b5/4425c64f96a10ae14d4fcf32_rw_1920.jpg?h=735a90d8c2d6ac96cd5f910878eb45d8)
For the cover illustration, they wanted to parody the Super Mario Bros. engaging in their favorite summer activity: rollerblading.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/0976f1386e7b2f50f9f576732c6fa0b5/f3dddc8ddcedc234bbf051de_rw_1920.jpg?h=28126bde456eaff8902310830c8229a6)
For the "Bars and Music" section, we decided that Donkey Kong was the party animal most likely to throw a raging kegger.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/0976f1386e7b2f50f9f576732c6fa0b5/a8f1cd1dfe0dce23757d1296_rw_1920.jpg?h=667c079eb084bde05a95cb688f203f0b)
For the "Shops and Wares" section, we imagined that after winning the title of Street Fighter World Champion, Chun Li would want to celebrate with a shopping spree in downtown Miami.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/0976f1386e7b2f50f9f576732c6fa0b5/9ed0b916726d5e26614b5064_rw_1920.jpg?h=6f1040c76514bcfaaf19e3bc86f94d6d)
For the "City Life" section, we thought who better to serve up that nice cold ice cream than the coolest Mortal Kombat fighter of all time, Sub-Zero.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/0976f1386e7b2f50f9f576732c6fa0b5/20fe90a8f1b7ac05205e18d1_rw_1920.jpg?h=6d25798774997a5b04999e03ad80bafe)
For the "Finest Foods" section, it seemed a no-brainer to use a character who literally eats his enemies for breakfast.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/0976f1386e7b2f50f9f576732c6fa0b5/636dbbd420db135421c1894f_rw_1920.jpg?h=a5798751fbdcfe5088186e713b3e0d7b)
For the "Arts and Culture" section, we went for DOUBLE PARODY POINTS with this mashup of The Legend of Zelda and the film Titanic.