Tom Gauld's Blog

January 31, 2026

A recent cartoon for @newscientist

Panel 1: A tech bro strides across a stage. The word “PeoplBOTS” is in huge letters behind him. He says: “Our journey began with a simple question:” Panel 2 “Can we create a robot that is enormously powerful, but also completely safe?” Panel 3 “The answer to that question was 'No'.” A huge red armoured metal robot trundles across the stage belching smoke. It has a flamethrower for one arm and large shears for the other. Its eyes glow meanly red. Tech bro announces “So I give you: Dangerbot900!!”ALT

A recent cartoon for @newscientist

p.s. my new book of science cartoons, ‘Physics for Cats’ is out now. Links at www.tomgauld.com

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Published on January 31, 2026 02:46

January 26, 2026

A recent cartoon for Guardian Books.

title: The Writer in January Panel 1.“A short stroll...” says the writer aleaving the house. The sun has begun to peek over the horizon.Panel 2.“Then back to my desk for a good day's writing in the winter sun.” The sun has risen a little higher. Panel 3.“Surely it's not going down yet?” The sun is indeed on its way down. Panel 4.“Perhaps I'll catch the last rays.” Says the writer breaking into a sprint.Panel 5.The writer is back at home sitting at a desk saying “Damn!”. The sun is gone. The sky is gloomy.ALT

A recent cartoon for Guardian Books.

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Published on January 26, 2026 03:55

January 24, 2026

My cartoon for this week’s New Scientist magazine

Panel 1. A graveyard: the gravedigger sits on a pile of earth. Hamlet stands before him, holding a skull. Hamlet: “Alas, poor yorick! I knew him, professor Horatio.” He tis looking at a lab-coated figure. Prof. Horatio: “Actually, my analysis suggests this skull belonged to a young woman from the late Neolithic era.” Panel 2. Leaving the graveyard Hamlet: “Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing.” Prof. Horatio: “What’s that, my lord?” Hamlet (angrily): “Dost thou have to spoil everything.”ALT

My cartoon for this week’s New Scientist magazine

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Published on January 24, 2026 02:22

January 19, 2026

The Shop and Art for Sale at my website are open again. These original drawings, prints, and many…

Title: How to focus on writing your book There follow eleven tiny images telling a story. The captions read:Turn your devices off (a writer with a phone and laptop. The screens are dark).Put them in a drawer. Lock the drawer.Throw away the key. Leave the house. Do not look back.Keep to backroads and hedgerows. Feel your old life slip away. (the writer has shed his clothes)Sleep by day. Forage in the evening. Write by the light of the moon When you have a passable first draft, commit a minor crime and use your phone call to contact your agent. (the naked writer is in a prison holding a phone while an unamused police officer looks on).ALTPanel One.Two figures walk up a hill in a park. One walks in front and the other is walking a dog Front "My new year's resolution is to stop lending books"Dog-walker "Really?"Panel Two.Front, becoming agitated"It's just not worth the risk: cracked spines! Bent corners! Torn pages! Grubby fingers! Crumbs! Baths! Burglars! Rats! Children!! I can't allow such precious artefacts to fall into the careless hands of clumsy philistines!"Panel Three.Dog-walker "And how do the other librarians feel about this?"Front "Less supportive Than I'd hoped."ALTNight. The Department of Astrobiology building. One upper floor window is lit and a figure in it looks out and says "Dammit! Professor Monroe has all the luck!". In the car park outside, a second figure rises within a beam of light towards a flying saucer.ALT

The Shop and Art for Sale at my website are open again. These original drawings, prints, and many others are available now. www.tomgauld.com

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Published on January 19, 2026 10:09

January 18, 2026

My latest Guardian Books cartoon.

Panel One. Two figures walk up a hill in a park. One walks in front and the other is walking a dog Front "My new year's resolution is to stop lending books" Dog-walker "Really?" Panel Two. Front, becoming agitated "It's just not worth the risk: cracked spines! Bent corners! Torn pages! Grubby fingers! Crumbs! Baths! Burglars! Rats! Children!! I can't allow such precious artefacts to fall into the careless hands of clumsy philistines!" Panel Three. Dog-walker "And how do the other librarians feel about this?" Front "Less supportive Than I'd hoped."ALT

My latest Guardian Books cartoon.

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Published on January 18, 2026 08:50

January 14, 2026

A recent cartoon for New Scientist. To order my new book of science cartoons ‘Physics for Cats’, see…

Night. The Department of Astrobiology building. One upper floor window is lit and a figure in it looks out and says "Dammit! Professor Monroe has all the luck!". In the car park outside, a second figure rises within a beam of light towards a flying saucer.ALT

A recent cartoon for New Scientist. To order my new book of science cartoons ‘Physics for Cats’, see here: www.tomgauld.com

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Published on January 14, 2026 05:26

January 12, 2026

My latest Guardian Books cartoon

Title: #BOOKCOPS Panel One: A uniformed officer approaches a man sittiong at at a bar, he is reading and has a glass of red wine: "Sir, I have reason to believe that you are engaged in "Performative reading" in a public space." Panel Two: "There's been a mistake, officer! I'm perusing the menu. I'm very indecisive!" says the man anxiously The officer says: "Perhaps I can assist, sir. I'm something of a "Foodie" myself." Panel Three: "No need. I've decided!" says the man looking terrified "Let me see that!" says ther officer as he grabs the menu. "As I suspected: 'Infinite Jest' Concealed inside a fake menu!" Panel Four: "It's a first offence, so I'm only going to shame you on social media." says the officer "Next time I'll throw the book at you!" The man sobs.ALT

My latest Guardian Books cartoon

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Published on January 12, 2026 06:32

January 5, 2026

A back to work cartoon for New Scientist

Two scientist walk through a lab. One is saying:"I am a scientist, Martin. My observations must be meticulously documented, rigorously analysed and objectively verified. Haste is the enemy of wisdom!"The other asks:"But could you share a preliminary appraisal of your general thinking?"The first replies:"Well, if you insist on a crudely reductive answer, then, yes, I had a nice christmas."ALT

A back to work cartoon for New Scientist

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Published on January 05, 2026 03:39

January 4, 2026

A new year cartoon for the @guardian

Title: The five stages of coming to terms with an over ambitious reading resolution. A couple sit up in bed reading. The woman speaks and her partner is silent. 1. Denial. "No, Finishing a book every 2.75 days is not absurd!" She scowls. 2. Anger. "Why are these books all so long!!!" She looks fuirious. 3. Bargaining. "If you read a book and tell me about it, that counts right?" She looks at her partner pleadingly. 4. Depression. "All joy has fled yet my failure persists!" She is sunk in the covers. 5. Acceptance "Being at one with the art is all that matters" she says as she reads. Then adds "And next year I'm going to be at one with so much more art!" ALT

A new year cartoon for the @guardian

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Published on January 04, 2026 03:34

January 1, 2026

Happy New Year, everyone!

Title: New year's resolution A man sits at a table with a coffee writing in a notebook: “This year i will devote myself completely to reading serious, improving literature, forsaking easy pleasures and tirelessly seeking out truth and profundity in the work of the greatest writers.” He looks at it Says: Hmm... then “Scratch Scratch Scratch scratch” scribbles out words until the text reads: “This year I will read for Fun”ALT

Happy New Year, everyone!

This is a Guardian Books cartoon from a few years ago.

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Published on January 01, 2026 02:56