Here’s a quick video tour and some pictures of the superb Cartoon Museum-curated Comics: The Famous & Forgotten Exhibition, currently at The Beacon in Whitehaven, which is open at this fantastic venue until mid March. Thank you to everyone involved in creating it.
Well worth a visit, my visit all the enhanced by local artist Mal Earl, who was there, too, and offered some interesting insights and observations while we were there, and regaled us with stories of Whitehaven itself, including telling us about the infamous American invasion of 1778, led by John Paul Jones. My thanks to downthetubes contributor Graham Baines for the trip, too.
One codicil to my video commentary; Mal suggested the “Karl the Viking” art on display is by Edward Drury, not Don Lawrence as captioned. (This has since been corrected after we pointed this out to the Cartoon Museum, as have the credits on another artwork originally assigned to Mike McMahon, the art actually by Simon Davis). These small errors didn’t diminish my enjoyment of this wonderful presentation in an amazing Museum.
“Comics: The Famous & Forgotten”, a celebration of Britain’s comic art heritage has arrived at The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven, one of the first venues to host The Cartoon Museum’s first touring exhibition. There’s a special competition for young creators that’s part of the programming, too.
“Comics: The Famous & Forgotten” runs until 15th March 2026 and features a great selection of iconic, nostalgic and surprising artworks from the London based Cartoon Museum’s renowned collection.
Included are artworks by Leo Baxendale, Frank Bellamy, Doug Braithwaite, Purita Campos, Reg Bunn, Hunt Emerson, Dave Gibbons, Frank Hampson, Gerry Haylock, Dave King, David Lloyd, John McCrea, Eric Parker, Woodrow Phoenix, Ken Reid, Rachel Stott, Bryan Talbot and Dudley D. Watkins, among many others.
The exhibition shines a spotlight on Britain’s rich comic tradition, its icons, innovators and the overlooked creators who shaped generations of readers.
Alongside the classics, “The Famous & Forgotten” uncovers the lesser‑known stories such as the world of girls’ comics, the rebellious underground zine movements, and the fresh perspectives of today’s emerging artists. Each display invites visitors of all ages to rediscover old favourites and perhaps even feel inspired to create their own.
As the only museum in Britain dedicated to preserving and celebrating comic and cartoon history, the Cartoon Museum is dedicated to preserving the best of British cartoons, caricatures, comics and animation.
The Cartoon Museum received funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2024 to launch a three‑year programme of touring exhibitions. The Beacon Museum will be one of the first venues in the UK, to host this exciting new touring collection.
• Comics: The Famous & Forgotten 17th January – 15th March 2026, The Beacon Museum, West Strand, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 7LY | Opening Times: Tuesday – Saturday | 10.00am – 4.30pm | Sunday | 11.00am – 4.00pm | Web: thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk | Museum admission fee is required for entry to the museum, but it includes access to all exhibition and is valid all day
An Added Bonus: Michael Moon’s Bookshop
If you do see it in Whitehaven, be sure to pop along to Michael Moon’s Bookshop, on Lowther Street, where you will find a selection of annuals to buy, art books and more. Well worth a visit, too! My thanks to local artist Mal Earl for taking us.
This item was last updated on Tuesday 10th February 2026 to note captions on two artworks have quickly been corrected. Thanks to Mal Earl for the update
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions, Features, Reviews
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Great exhibition but it will come as no surprise , of course, but there are so many artists missing. One from the past ought to be there: John “Jock” McCail. He was the artist who re-drew the very first British Superman strip in 1939 based upon some of the earliest Superman stories from America. Given the prominence, to this day, in collecting circles of Superman, to say nothing of the hugely enormous values of Action and Superman number Ones, then he really should be featured, unless, of course, there are none of his original artworks in the collection? Gerald Edwards.
I suspect you’ve answered your own question, Gerald, but someone at the Cartoon Museum may well respond below. The Museum has an amazing archive of art – some of it a surprise to folk that work there! – but, sadly, because much art was, literally, dumped, burned or otherwise mutilated down the years, largely at the direction of management of the very companies that commissioned it, there will always be gaps in our comics record.
Lol its alright for them mega-media celebrities on expenses from DTTs petty cash tin!!. Great report mate, lovely to see original art at any time.