Mad Magazine cartoonist Tom Richmond interviewed for TV

In this short but engaging film Tom Richmond demonstrates his skills as a master craftsman whilst reflecting upon the early influences and events that shaped his career, including a scrape with a teacher which was turned to his advantage. Caricaturing is the main focus here (Tom has written a book about it) as he discusses […]

Farghadani and Zunar updates

Atena Farghadani’s lawyer says that the charges of “indecent conduct” and “illegitimate sexual relationship short of adultery” — which were brought against her after she shook hands with her lawyer during a prison consultation — have been dropped. There is now a 20 day window during which the Iranian prosecutors could petition another appeal court […]

Like bees to Honeysett

Words and pictures by Kasia Kowalska The first anniversary of Martin Honeysett’s untimely death on 21 January 2015 was marked at The Cartoon Museum in Little Russell Street with the opening of a retrospective exhibition of his cartoons and illustrations. It opened to a full house, attended by the family, friends and admirers of the […]

‘Ronald Searle’s America’ – new book out now

Lovers of the great man’s work (and there are many) will be delighted to learn that a new book containing Searle’s observations on all things Stateside has just been published by Fantagraphics. Lavishly produced, this tome does not come cheap. However it does contain illustrations in Searle’s “trademark satirical and matchlessly virtuosic style” – and […]

Andrew Birch – as seen on TV

Not content with seeing his brilliant cartoons appear in magazines and newspapers, Andrew has his sights set on producing comedy gold for a different medium: TV channel Gold, to be precise. The PCO member’s wonderful Oldie cartoon strip, The Rebel, is now being turned into a TV series. The sitcom follows the adventures of an […]

Satire returns to Myanmar

Last November’s elections in Myanmar saw authoritarian military rule brought to an end by a landmark victory for Aung San Suu Kyi and her pro-democracy party. What was recently unthinkable is now evidently doable as freedom of speech returns in the the land also known as Burma. Satire is enjoying a renaissance, with cartoonists like […]

Any Questions? Jeremy Banx has the answers…

Financial Times cartoonist and PCO member Jeremy Banx joined host Jonathan Dimbleby on BBC Radio 4 political programme ‘Any Questions?’ last Friday night. Recorded in St. Mary’s Church in Caterham, Surrey, but focussing on secular topics such as flooding and the new alcohol consumption guidelines, Jeremy more than holds his own in the company of […]

Charlie Hebdo anniversary debate in Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament has marked the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks at Charlie Hebdo magazine’s office in Paris. French-born MSP Christian Allard proposed the motion that the parliament “reflect on the events that took place in Paris on 7 January 2015 at the Charlie Hebdo offices; remember the journalists, the police officer and others […]

Men Only?

When the Angoulême International Comics Festival announced 30 nominees for The Grand Prix, its lifetime achievement award, not one woman appeared on the list. After the announcement of the nominees, European advocacy group BD Égalité called for a boycott of the 2016 event and twelve of the men nominated for the award have subsequently withdrawn their names […]