Perit’s Paradise... a critique of the island’s rampant overdevelopment, this illustration by Seb Tanti Burlò forms part of a series of politically-charged cartoons featured on a new blog iheartmalta.com.

A spit of rock crammed with high-rise apartments or dwarfed under a mushroom cloud from a gas explosion are among a series of politically charged cartoons to have generated traffic on social media in recent weeks.

The drawings, sketched by local artists Seb Tanti Burlò and Nadine Noko, are inspired by current political developments as well as Maltese social peculiarities.

Uploaded on their blog iheartmalta.com, the cartoons were prompted by their love-hate relationship with the island’s social and political scene.

Since the website was launched in February, the two have been releasing weekly cartoons, many of which have gone viral once let loose on social media.

We have a similar sense of humour and we’re both interested in current events

Among the collection’s most recent pieces is a satirical version of the People’s Republic of China flag. The flag’s communist standard of a large yellow star was replaced by the Enemalta logo in a play on the China partnership plans for the gas-powered energy plant in Marsaxlokk.

Another, lighter piece, is of a bejewelled Freddie Portelli in a revealing dress. Entitled Freddie Losco, the cartoon went viral the day after vocalist Ira Losco turned heads in a figure-hugging chiffon one-piece during the Malta Song for Europe.

Nadine Noko’s work was inspired by Labour MP Marlene Pullicino’s encounter with jellyfish.

“Nadine and I see things in much the same way so it was a natural collaboration. We have a similar sense of humour and we’re both interested in current events,” Mr Tanti Burlò said.

He added that although they had their own distinctive artistic styles, both conveyed strong messages in their work.

Himself an architect and son of Times of Malta cartoonist Maurice Tanti Burlò, Seb’s pieces focus strongly on criticising the state of the island’s overdevelopment.

Ms Noko’s pieces are focused on capturing social developments as well as sights, which she feels are “quintessentially Maltese”.

Among her most recent pieces is a play on outgoing President George Abela’s stand against the Civil Unions Bill.

Surrounded by unicorns and rainbows, Dr Abela is seen wearing the title of his biography ‘Mill-Qalb’ (From the heart).