Months later he was brainstorming in his office with Corky Lehmkuhl, Treyarch's studio creative director, about using the Pentagon as the setting for the "co-op mode" in Black Ops, in which up to four players can cooperate on a mission.

WSJ: Dave Anthony Talks About Creating Call of Duty: Black Ops

When black-and-white stripes and even bold checks popped up again, on Michael Kors's spring runway, albeit at a subtler, more accessible scale, I was prepared to acknowledge that Op Art mostly in black-and-white, though occasionally in bright colors and pale neutrals was going to be one of the season's big statements.

WSJ: Can Mod Be Modern?