Chris Madden Cartoons

A searchable archive for licensing

Chess cartoon. Each side playing with a mixture of black and white chess pieces

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chess cartoon

A cartoon about chess in which the black and white chess pieces are mixed.

In the layout of the chess board depicted the black and white chess pieces don’t occupy opposite ends of the board, but are mixed equally at each end.

The mixing of the black and white chess pieces symbolises the mixing of different types of people (not necessarily linked to race) rather than the polarising effect of each colour of piece congregating at one end.
As a result of the mixing of the pieces, with each ‘side’ in the chess game being made up of the two colours, it’s impossible for the two sides to engage in ‘battle’.

Drawn: December 2020
Cartoon reference number: a881

Cartoon – skiing uphill

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skiing uphill - cartoon

Skiing cartoon
Skiing uphill cartoon

A cartoon showing skiers skiing in opposite directions – one is skiing downhill while the other is skiing uphill.
The image is on its side, so when viewed initially the viewer is confused by conflicting visual cues, mistaking the direction of the slope (look at the trees).

Cartoon reference number: a497
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Sports cartoon – running shoes with running blades as soles, paralympics style.

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sports shoes paralympics style cartoon

Sports shoes cartoon – paralympics blades

Cartoon showing customers leaving a sports footwear shop wearing new running shoes.

The running shoes have ‘blades’ instead of soles.
Running blades were made famous by Oscar Pistorius at the London 2012 paralympic games and olympic games
Curved springs similar to running blades were worn by dancers in the olympic opening ceremony if I’m not mistaken.

Drawn: 2012

Cartoon reference number: a383

Dalek cartoon. A dalek competing in the paralympics

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dalek at paralympics - cartoon

Dalek cartoon – a Dalek competing in the paralympics.

This week (in 2012) the daleks were in Dr Who and the paralympics were taking place.
The daleks famously have restricted mobility, as they are basically motorised wheelchairs. So it’s a short step to imaging them taking part in the paralympics.

Here a dalek is taking part in the restricted mobility archery

Cartoon drawn: 2012

Cartoon reference number: a369

How to communicate with men – talk balls

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communicate with men - cartoon

Cartoon: how to communicate with men – talk balls

A joke about male obsession with sport, especially sports that involve balls

A humorous comment aon the communication gap between men and women.
The cartoon is also a criticism of some women’s dismissive attitudes to male interests.

Thie cartoon deals with issues concerning gender differences, gender specific interests, hobbies, women’s view of men, feminist’s attitude to men, feminism, male stereotypes, stereotyping, sports fans

Cartoon reference number: a343

Nike appears on all Olympic medals. That’s Nike the Greek goddess, not Nike the sports shoe manufacturer

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nike olympic medal product placement cartoon

Olympic Games medals cartoon
Nike, Greek goddess of victory, appears on all Olympic medals

Nike is not only the name of the Greek goddess of victory, which appears on all Olympic medals – it’s also the name of a running shoe brand.

Nike, the sports shoe company, could be said to benefit by association with the fact that Nike the greek goddess is depicted on all medals in the Olympics.
A sort of subliminal product placement.
The cartoon implies that other running shoe manufacturers are unhappy about this, and have managed to impose a ‘gagging order’ on the press so that they can’t mention the fact that Nike is on the medals (which is perhaps the reason why so few people realise that she is).
A cartoon about product placement and sponsorship in the Olympic games.

Cartoon drawn: 2012

Cartoon reference number: oly010

Olympic Games empty seats cartoon – G4S security

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olympics empty seats cartoon

Cartoon about Olympic Games empty seats and G4S

Showing empty seating in the Olympic stadium allocated to organisations linked to the Olympic Games.
The people whom the seats were given to haven’t bothered to turn up.

Security firm G4S recruited far too few security personnel for the 2012 Olympics in London.
The cartoon links the fact that security firm G4S fell short on staffing levels with the fact that the allocated hospitality seating at the Olympics had a shortfall in users.
A cartoon about corporate hospitality seating, Olympic ticketing.
Drawn: 2012
Cartoon reference number: oly009

Cartoon – Olympic rings logo copyright

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Olympic rings composed of copyright signs - cartoon

Cartoon about copyright of the olympic rings logo.

Copyright violation and the olympic logo

The IOC (International Olympic Committee) keeps a very tight rein on the unauthorised use of the olympic rings symbol.
A cartoon about olympic commercialization and the copyright restrictions imposed on the use of olympic logos using copyright law and trademark law, and about merchandising, marketing and monetizing the olympic games.
The increasing commercialisation of the Olympic Games is shown by the way that small community projects and individuals are not allowed to use any trademarked olympic terms or objects – sometimes right down to local groups not being allowed to put the olympic rings in the icing on cakes.
Cartoon drawn: 2012
Cartoon reference number: oly008

Olympics cartoon – designated traffic lanes

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Olympic traffic lane fine cartoon

Olympic games cartoon

A cartoon about the designated Olympic traffic lanes in London for the 2012 Olympics

If an unauthorised vehicle uses a designated Olympics traffic lane there is a fine of £130
This gag shows a pedestrian trying to cross the road by walking across an Olympic traffic lane and being fined £130 for the ‘offence’ by an officious traffic warden.

Cartoon reference number: a321

G4S cartoon – G4S security staff recruitment shortfall for olympics

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G4S security staff recruitment shortfall for olympics cartoon

G4S security staff recruitment shortfall for the 2012 Olympics

Security firm G4S has admitted that it has recruited far too few security personnel for the 2012 Olympics in London

Cartoon showing the reception hall in the headquarters of the security firm G4S, with no security staff at the desk.
Cartoon reference number: a316

Olympic torch cartoon, Olympic sponsorship

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cartoon olympic torch ice cream

Cartoon – Olympic merchandising

Cartoon showing a stall selling ice creams in the shape of the 2012 Olympic torch

An official representing Olympic marketing is telling the stall holder that it is illegal to sell olympics-related merchandise unless you have permission from an official sponsor
The cartoon is a criticism of the profit motive as applied so ruthlessly and thoughtlessly to the olympic games.
Drawn: 2012
Cartoon reference number: a306

Anish Kapoor Orbit cartoon – as a fairground attraction

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anish kapoor orbit olympics dodgems - cartoon

Cartoon about Anish Kapoor’s ArcelorMittal Orbit as a fairground attraction

The ArcelorMittal Orbit was designed by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond as a legacy sculpture in the 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford, London.
This cartoon was drawn in 2012 when the sculpture was first built. An actual ‘fairground’ slide was added in 2016 (by Carsten Höller, previously best known in Britain for installing slides in the Tate Modern turbine hall).
In the cartoon the Olympic stadium is hosting the Final of the 100 metres dodgem race.

The main reason that the Orbit resembles a fairground attraction is the appearance of the mesh that encases the stairs, which spiral round the structure just like the slide on a helter skelter. This mesh is, I think, a compromise in the design, due to the restrictions imposed by health and safety regulations. Early versions of the design lacked this feature.

I’ve often thought that Anish Kapoor’s work had something of the fairground or amusement arcade about it – especially his distorting mirrors which resemble the mirrors found in a hall of mirrors.
Even his subtly curved and pigmented sculptures, which I like very much, seem to be the work of a master illusionist, and often prompts the question “Is this work a tour de force of special effects, or is it art?” followed by “Does it matter?”

Cartoon drawn: 2012
Cartoon reference number: a289
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Cartoon of Olympic rings copyright violation

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olympic rings copyright violation cartoon

Cartoon about copyright infringement and the olympic rings logo.

The IOC (International Olympic Committee) keeps a very tight rein on the unauthorised use of the olympic rings symbol.

In this cartoon a policeman or security guard is apprehending someone in a café because the rings of his coffee cup have inadvertently created the olympic rings logo.
A cartoon about olympic commercialization and the copyright restrictions imposed on the use of olympic logos using copyright law and trademark law
The theme is about merchandising, marketing and monetizing the olympic games.
The increasing commercialisation of the Olympic Games is shown by the way that small community projects and individuals are not allowed to use any trademarked olympic terms or objects – seemingly right down to local groups not being allowed to put the olympic rings in the icing on cakes.

Drawn: 2012

Cartoon reference number: oly007

A message from our sponsors – merchandising and marketing the olympic games

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olympic sponsorship cartoon - advertising podium

Merchandising, marketing and monetizing the olympic games.
An oplympic winners’ podium with adverts on it.

Olympic marketing cartoon, showing an olympic podium with an advertising message on it

A cartoon about sponsorship in sport and sports merchandising.
Advertising slogans at the olympic games
Illustration showing an olympic advertising podium.
A cartoon about the commercialisation of sport, commercialization of the olympics, product endorsement, sports’ equipment endorsing, sporting celebrity marketing, product placement.
Drawn: 2012
Cartoon reference number: oly005
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Sponsorship of the olympic games, and restrictions imposed by the sponsors

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olympic torch ice cream cone cartoon

Merchandising, marketing and monetizing the olympic games

Olympic marketing cartoon, showing the 2012 olympic torch used as an ice cream cone

A cartoon about olympic sponsorship, commercialization and the restrictions imposed using copyright and trademark law
The increasing commercialisation of the Olympic Games is shown by the way that small community projects and individuals are not allowed to use any trademarked olympic terms or objects – right down to local groups not being allowed to put the olympic rings in the icing on cakes.
A cartoon about the commercialisation of the olympics, olympic sponsorship
Cartoon drawn: 2012
Cartoon reference number: oly004

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Gene doping cartoon – gene doping and the Olympic Games

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gene-doping-olympics-cartoon

Gene doping cartoon – gene doping and the Olympic Games

The illustration shows a dna spiral with the Olympic rings integrated with it.

The illustration is to illustrate any links between gene doping in sport and the Olympic Games

A cartoon about the Olympics, genetic manipulation, genetic modification, gene therapy, cheating in sport.

Cartoon reference number: a234
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Gene doping cartoon or illustration. Will gene doping occur in the 2012 Olympics?

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dna gene doping syringe illustration

Gene doping cartoon or illustration

A cartoon about gene doping in sport, Olympics gene doping. Genetic manipulation in competitive sport.

The illustration shows a hypodermic syringe with a double helix strand of dna inside it

Gene doping is defined by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the non-therapeutic use of cells, genes, or genetic elements to improve athletic performance.
Gene manipulation for muscle enhancement in athletics and other sport has bioethical implications similar to those involved in chemical doping and other methods of gaining an unfair advantage over sporting competitors.
Genetic manipulation in athletics and other sport may include ways of increasing muscle growth, altering blood characteristics, increasing endurance, enhancing oxygen dispersal and reducing pain perception.
A cartoon or illustration about gene therapy, genetic manipulation, ethics of gene doping.

Cartoon reference number: a232
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Gene doping in sport. Genetic testing of athletes

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genetic testing of athletes - cartoon

Sports and Olympics cartoon. Genetic manipulation in competitive sport.

Sports cartoon or illustration. Gene doping in sport. Is genetic testing of athletes needed?

An illustration of the bulging biceps of a GMA (genetically modified athlete).
This illustration is particularly pertinent due to the approaching London Olympic Games.
The illustration shows a muscular arm (possibly of a weightlifter or shot putter) holding a gold medal signifying that the athlete has come first in an event at the Olympic Games or a similar competitive sporting event.
The bulging biceps on the arm display an armband type tattoo in the form of a dna double helix.
The implication is that the athlete’s genes (modified or not) have influenced the fact that he has won the gold medal in the competition.

Gene doping is defined by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the non-therapeutic use of cells, genes, or genetic elements to improve athletic performance.
Gene manipulation for muscle enhancement in athletics and other sport has bioethical implications similar to those involved in chemical doping and other methods of gaining an unfair advantage over sporting competitors.
Genetic manipulation in athletics and other sport may include ways of increasing muscle growth, altering blood characteristics, increasing endurance, enhancing oxygen dispersal and reducing pain perception.
A cartoon or illustration about gene therapy, genetic manipulation, ethics of gene doping.

Drawn: 2012
Cartoon reference number: a231
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Golf cartoon and garden cartoon. Using a golf bag to carry gardening tools

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golf bag full of garden tools - joke

A joke about gardening and golf. Using a golf bag to carry gardening tools.

Showing a man using a golf bag to carry his garden tools rather than to carry his golf clubs.

A cartoon about men’s hobbies and pass-times, golfing, golf caddies, golf carts, combining hobbies
Cartoon reference number: a205

See my book of gardening cartoons here.

Cartoon about contentment and expectation. “There must be more to life than this”

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hang glider- must be more to life than this - cartoon

Happiness cartoon or contentment cartoon.

Happiness cartoon – some people are never happy.
Cartoon showing a person flying in a hang glider, which is a form of high octane, high stimulation extreme sport, thinking “There must be more to life than this”.

Happiness cartoon.
The cartoon illustrated people’s innate sense of discontentment (which is one of the reasons why people are so achievement orientated, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing – or is it?).
A cartoon about people’s expectations of happiness, the elusiveness of happiness, the search for happiness, the pursuit of happiness, thwarted expectations, motivation.
Cartoon reference number: a089

See my book about life, the universe and everything.

Football cartoon – football themed bedroom cartoon

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Football themed bedroom cartoon

Cartoon showing a person who has a football themed bedroom.

A cartoon based on the saying ‘Eat football, breathe football’ and its variations (such as ‘Eat football, breathe football, life football’)
The joke is that because the person in the cartoon has had a football themed make over in his bedroom, with all of the decor and decorations being football related, be can now ‘Eat football, breathe football and sleep football!’ .

A cartoon about sports fans, football fans, obsession with football, following football.
Cartoon reference number: a054

Darts cartoon. Overweight darts players

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Darts cartoon. Darts championship

Darts players cartoon
Cheating at sport cartoon

A darts championship match, showing a dart bouncing out of the board and puncturing the player’s false beer belly
A cartoon about the physique or body type of the stereotypical darts player. The darts player in the cartoon is using a false ‘beer belly’ in order to conform to the stereotype

A cartoon about conformity, cheating, obese, obesity, sport, pub sport, stereotypes

Cartoon drawn: 2011
Cartoon reference number: dart11
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Adventure holiday cartoon: a cable car to the summit of Mount Everest

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Cartoon showing a cable car to the summit of Mount Everest

Mount Everest cartoon
Adventure holiday cartoon

A cable car to the summit of Mount Everest
A cartoon about the ease of travel and the general lack of danger in the modern era, where previously perilous journeys or expeditions are now within the capability of even the most unadventurous of people.
Compare this to the Everest expeditions of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine or Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

A cartoon about mountaineering, scaling heights, conquering obstacles, tourism, travel, holidays, trekking, climbing.
Drawn: Aug 2010
Cartoon reference number: cab910
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Corporate sponsorship cartoon. The importance of targeted sponsorship

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Corporate sponsorship cartoon. Climbing Mount Everest sponsored by a ladder company

Corporate sponsorship cartoon
Expedition to climb Mount Everest sponsorship by a ladder company. The climber has taken a step ladder with him in order to climb higher than the summit of Mount Everest

A cartoon about corporate sponsorship and the sponsors finding appropriate subjects for their sponsorship

A cartoon about mountaineering, scaling heights, conquering obstacles, ambition, expedition sponsorship, publicity.
Original drawn: 2001
Cartoon reference number: sp001

Surreal pool table cartoon – a man bathing in a ‘swimming pool table’

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Pool Table Cartoon. Diving into a pool table

Surreal swimming pool table cartoon
A pool table that is also a swimming pool

A cartoon showing a man playing pool at a pool table. However, the surface of the pool table is also the surface of the water in a swimming pool, with a man swimming in the water.
The illustration is a visual pun on the word pool

A cartoon about leisure activities, surreal puns, surrealism, word play, visual jokes

Ref: pun810

Olympic stadium legacy cartoon. Stonehenge cartoon

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Cartoon. Stonehenge as an Olympic stadium

Olympic legacy cartoon
Stonehenge cartoon

A cartoon about the reason why Stonehenge was built

There is much concern about the London 2012 Olympic games legacy. This cartoon depicts the designers of an earlier Olympics stadium worrying about the same thing.

Drawn: 2011

Cartoon reference number: oly002
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The nature of competition

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People creating the lines on a race track - racing against each other themselves

A cartoon about competitiveness in sport or about human nature. Or both.

It’s essentially a cartoon about the nature of competitiveness and how it’s an innate component of the human psyche or personality.

The cartoon depicts people drawing the white lines of an athletics track, and spontaneously racing against each other in the process.
Cartoon drawn: 2009
Cartoon reference number:spt002
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Cartoon about competition and competitiveness. If you don’t come in the top three you’re nowhere

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Sport winners cartoon. Winners podium at a sports event. Competitors in the fourth and fifth positions are sinking into the ground

Winners and losers cartoon
Sports cartoon
A cartoon about the nature of competition and competitiveness

An athletics cartoon or Olympics cartoon showing competitors on the podium.
Illustration showing the concept that if you’re not in the top three you’re nowhere.
Athletes on the winner’s podium, with losers sinking into the ground

The cartoon is not only relevant to sport. It applies to any area of competition, such as business, social dynamics, life in general
Cartoon reference number: spt001
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