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Known for his minimalist style and razor-sharp wit, the Scottish cartoonist Tom Gauld has built a reputation for transforming complex ideas into simple, funny, and surprisingly deep comics.

Whether it’s a joke about librarians, a visual take on scientific theories, or a subtle jab at literary culture, Gauld somehow always manages to say a lot with very little. His comics often feel like inside jokes for readers, writers, and curious minds, while still being accessible to anyone who enjoys a smart punchline.

More info: Instagram | x.com | tomgauld.com | myjetpack.tumblr.com

If you’ve never read Gauld’s comic books, they’re quite different from what you might expect. Instead of fast-paced plots or detailed drawings, there are small, quiet moments, often told in just a few panels with very simple visuals. That simplicity here is intentional, leaving space for the reader to fill in the gaps and connect the dots. His comics often play with literary or scientific ideas, mixing them with dry, deadpan humor and slightly surreal situations, where the joke can come from what’s left unsaid as much as what’s shown. Even when they’re funny, there’s usually something thoughtful underneath. In a way, his books feel less like traditional comics and more like quiet observations captured in visual form.

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    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    sbj
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    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish right now I had his share of luck, the way our world is right now I'm open to any escape route

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    #3

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    Wyrdwoman
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    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Welllll, if the T-Rex died while eating him, maybe the effect was just a touch delayed.

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    #4

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    sbj
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    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I myself am an aspiring solitary anything

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    #10

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    sbj
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    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Seeing a spooky tree is definitely worth a trip to the Moors

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    #12

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    35 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Come and see the violence inherent in the system!

    #14

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    34 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The least thing you actually create is almost always better than the best thing you don't.

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    #18

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    32 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's this or another McKee workshop. I'll take the pokey.

    #22

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    31 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wish I'd seen this before Easter! Would have inflicted it on everyone.

    #23

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ... and cut staff levels too, thus boosting profit margins. Brilliant, have a bonus as a reward!

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    #24

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
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    1 minute ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since the carpenter is holding a mallet and wooden stake, this might have an unexpected outcome for the Count.

    #26

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    25 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true." - Mr. Spock, "Amok Time".

    #27

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    24 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Upgrades just separate your feet from the ground.

    #28

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    23 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "My advice to you is to start drinking heavily." - Senator John Blutarsky

    #29

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    20 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fun fact: somehow people managed to be toxic before and without YouTube. It's almost as if rationalization of deficit is a fundamental aspect of the human psyche and tools change while the urge remains.

    #30

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    30 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is modernity in three panels.

    #31

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    29 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No discussion was ever calmed by any utterance starting with "actually..."

    #32

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    28 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. --Groucho Marx, debatably

    #34

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    18 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And in the case of "Infinite Jest" that will definitely be an incident of excessive force. Excessive size. Excessive complexity. If that doesn't make sense just search for the Onion headlne "Girlfriend stops reading David Foster Wallace breakup letter at page 37".

    #38

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    16 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why I have a very hard time throwing things away.

    #39

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    20 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hawthorne effect FTW - the camera doesn't really need to be on (until they find out it isn't)

    #41

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    15 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not shown - the school he attended and the road to it going uphill both ways.

    #42

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    11 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Heisenberg's Wenceslas - you can know either what's in the gift or who is receiving it but never both at the same time. Or, Wenceslas leads a double life while becoming the m**h king of the Czech Republic. Schrodinger's Wenceslas - the gift is a cat and opening the box kills it.

    #43

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    10 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Plans are themselves an easy pleasure, aren't they?

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    #45

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    5 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Have fun seeking prey in the woods!

    #48

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    9 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you want to do this in 30 days, sign up for NaNoWriMo.

    #50

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
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    7 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If only they'd adopted helium instead of hydrogen before the Hindenburg exploded...imagine the Bespin-like dirigibles circling the globe after 100+ years of technical advancement.

    #51

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
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    3 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mom! I'm tyrannizing here! Leave me alone!

    #52

    52 Brilliant Comics By Tom Gauld That Turn Books, Art, And Science Into Pure Genius

    tomgauld Report

    MondoLogo
    Community Member
    4 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good comic, downvote is only for being a repeat of #22.