Never Again! World War One in Cartoon and Comic Art

The works in the Cartoon Museum's summer exhibition cover a large range of subjects including conflict, conscription, conscientious objectors, life in the trenches, women's war work, popular songs, food shortages and air raids. There are 'hate cartoons' by Edmund J Sullivan, which demonise the Germans, and others by Heath Robinson that reflect the humanity shared by both sides. The exhibition acknowledges the role played by cartoonists in creating propaganda, bolstering the war effort, encouraging alliances (Dutch artist Louis Raemaekers is credited with helping persuade the Americans to enter the war) and sustaining the nation through four years of conflict. On display are famous works including Alfred Leete's much replicated finger-pointing recruitment cover for London Opinion (Britons Lord Kitchener wants YOU) and work by trenches favourite Bruce Bairnsfather ('Well, if you knows of a better 'ole, go to it'). There is also more recent material including drawings from the 'Horrible Histories' series by Terry Deary, and Martin Brown and Ralph Steadman's reworking of the 1980s comic strip 'Charley's War'.