The article substantiates the relevance of modern understanding of the social and communicative functions of military and political cartoons. The implicit meaning of the caricature is revealed in the game of meanings through the visual means and language forms that accompany the caricature. The author analyzes the specifics of Kukryniks’ creativity and the process of their work on creating military and political cartoons. The novelty of the authors’ approach lies in the analysis of the means used by artists to achieve high motivational effectiveness of cartoons based on such techniques of wit as hint, literal metaphor, irony, word play. Cultural and historical symbols in the form of cartoons actualize the axiological sphere of the individual through the need for protection, positive social identity, experience of collective emotions, based on the socio-cultural determination of historical memory.