Comics

Who were the winners of 2000 AD’s Thought Bubble 2022 talent search?

15th November 2022

For the first time since the pandemic, 2000 AD returned to the Thought Bubble convention in Harrogate with the only talent search of its kind in the UK – with the prizes being paid work with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!

It’s Dragons’ Den meets the Nerve Centre as Tharg the Mighty’s droids sit in judgement on hopeful writers and artists looking to join their ranks.

The script competition, at which would-be writers have two minutes to pitch their idea for a four-page ‘Future Shock’, took place on the Saturday afternoon in front of a panel made up of 2000 AD editor and writer Matt Smith, writers Leah Moore, John Reppion and Al Ewing, hosted by 2000 AD publicity droid Molch-R.

Congratulations to Tom Watts, whose pitch ‘Love Bird’ impressed the judges and will now be published in a future issue of 2000 AD!

Winner Tom Watts (left) with Molch-R and *2000 AD* editor Matt Smith

And this year, entrants for the art competition had to draw pages from writer Kek-W’s Tharg’s Terror Tales: Music Of The Spheres, originally drawn by Dan Cornwell. After getting through a HUGE line of would-be contestants, Matt Smith chose seven entries to go forward to the judging panel on the Sunday.

In front of a live audience the panel – made up of artists Steve Yeowell, Liana Kangas and Anna Morozova – went through each entry and gave advice to the artists on how to improve their work.

But in the end there could be only one winner – and the panel unanimously chose the entry by Mike Walters! Here are his pages:

Thanks to all the contestants of both competitions – we’ll be back to Thought Bubble next year on the hunt for new talents for the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!

And here are the other entries who made it through to the judging panel – which is your favourite?

Andrew Strachan: