Even More Periscopes

The Push Button Heads are looking through too many periscopes lately, and it's starting to cause mood swings. Here's a primer on how to spot the various mindsets.

Apr 12, 2025

Cartoon showing a grid of illustrated periscopes. The title of the panel reads Periscoping Mindsets, and under each drawing is a caption describing different emotional states depicted, such as bored, surprised, frustrated, disctracted unfocused, sad, horrified, distressed, and lost.

Why I’m Obsessed with Periscopes

My fascination with periscopes stretches back to my childhood when I remember lusting after a 1980s Fisher Price toy version that a friend owned. Or maybe I found it at daycare. Who remembers? The versatlity of the contraption, and how it helped “short, little me” see over big obstacles, changed my perspective of the world and sparked my imagination every time I picked it up.

Photos of the side view and rear view of a 1982 Fisher Price periscope toy.

I no longer have access to a physical periscope these days. I guess I’m just never in the right place at the right time, nor am I living on a submarine. But I’ve never let go of my obsession, and the periscope has now found a home in my illustrations.

Scan of a hand drawn illustration in my sketch book showing a periscope-shaped snake or monster flying in the sky above the clouds. In the corner is a cartoon character with binoculars trained on the creature. — “Periscope Sighting,” from my sketchbook c. 2016

Below are just a few examples from my portfolio site of “periscopes” that I’ve worked into my compositions over the years. They’re now part of my signature, I suppose, and a subtle wink to childhood innocence and curiousity.

Even More Periscopes

The Push Button Heads are looking through too many periscopes lately, and it's starting to cause mood swings. Here's a primer on how to spot the various mindsets.

Why I’m Obsessed with Periscopes

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