Buster’s Tom Thug heads into the future! Original art up for sale

By John Freeman on 18 June 2026 • ( 0 )

It’s been a while since cartoonist and writer Lew Stringer offered some of his marvellous original artwork for sale so good news for his many fans: he has three items on offer right now on eBay, including a brilliant “Tom Thug” page created for the much-missed weekly comic, Buster.

All three auctions end this coming Sunday, 21st June (unless you choose to grab two of them that have a Buy It Now option).

First up: original art for a “Rasher” strip Lew created for the BEANO back in 2013, co-starring Pug (of the Bash Street Dogs) and Gnasher. Check it out here

“Gnasher” strip for BEANO by Lew Stringer (2013)

There's no dialogue on the page as that was added to the digital version later by the Beano staff, but here's the script:

1: Rasher, standing on his hind legs, trotters on hips, looking like he’s been working out, with very slim waist and developed upper body. He grins at the reader.

RASHER:
Look at me now, readers! I’m slim and trim!

2: Wider picture reveals that it’s Rasher’s distorted reflection in the Hall of Mirrors. Rasher himself is still as we know him. Gnasher looks on, and his reflection is also distorted, differently, in another mirror. Perhaps one of the Bash Street Dogs is there as well if there’s room. Background shows some other amusements or a fair, just to clarify where they are.

GNASHER:
You’re fooling no one, Rasher! — *A “Gnasher” strip for BEANO*

There’s no dialogue on the page as that was added to the digital version later by the Beano staff, but in the script, the text added digitally in the final comic, Rasher seems to have undergone an amazing transformation into a muscle bound pig – but it turns out he and his chums are simply in a Hall of Mirrors at a fair!

Next, a “Postman Prat” strip drawn for The Dandy Annual 2023, which, three years on, features a funny gag, but one that surely sounds unlikely, given the price of a stamp these days…

A Postman Prat” strip drawn for The Dandy Annual 2023 by Lew Stringer — *Postman Prat” strip drawn for The Dandy Annual 2023*

Finally, there’s a brilliant “Tom Thug” strip created for Buster, which ran in the issue cover dated 16th January 1993. This is the actual original artwork, spoofing Marvel’s futuristic 2099 comics, popular at the American publisher at the time. I remember it from the time, and it’s pitch perfect!

“Tom Thug” strip by Lew Stringer created for Buster, which ran in the issue cover dated 16th January 1993 — *“Tom Thug” strip created for Buster, published in 1993*

Lew Stringer, appearing at Macc-Pow! in Macclesfield alongside many other great comic creators next weekend (on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June) should need no introduction for most downthetubes readers. He’s a writer and artist of humour comics and has freelanced in the UK comics industry for over 40 years.

Lew Stringer At Sale Comic Con, 8th June 2024. — Lew Stringer At Sale Comic Con, 8th June 2024

Lew Stringer’s Comics — Lew Stringer At Sale Comic Con, 8th June 2024

His credits involve work for a range of age groups including Combat Colin for Marvel UK, a character he now owns, Tom Thug for Fleetway, “The Pathetic Sharks” for Viz, “Team Toxic” for Toxic Magazine (still being reprinted in the title!) and many more. His work also featured in The Dandy, Oink!, Buster, Sonic the Comic, and numerous other titles. He’s also had a lifelong interest in the history of British comics and has written articles for the BBC website, Comics Scene magazine and others. He’s also helped us out here on downthetubes many times with background information, advice and imagery.

Although now semi-retired, Lew still “The Daft Dimension” for Doctor Who Magazine, and “Sgt Shouty” for The77 (new issues of both out now).

Lew sells his original artwork on eBay here, and you can catch up on his latest projects over at lewstringercomics.blogspot.com. He also sells his original creator owned comics here – copies of his re-released Brickman and Combat Colin still available!

About the Author
Latest Posts

John Freeman

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.