My Scrapbook
“The Game is Afoot” by Tom Richmond
This rogues gallery round-up of various cinematic Sherlocks displays definite MAD-like tendencies–but that’s understandable, given that it was done by Tom Richmond, a proud member of the Usual Gang of Idiots.
According to Tom, “Sherlock Holmes is one of literature’s greatest characters, and holds the Guinness World Book of Records title of ‘most portrayed literary human character in film & TV’, having been depicted onscreen 254 plus times by over different 75 actors.”
He chose, as he calls it, “eight of the most recognizable of these portrayals, spanning over 90 years of Holmes on the big and small screens.” As in, “How many can you name?”
An obvious movie buff and no stranger to Mr. Holmes, not only did he offer these spot-on caricatures (tongue-in-cheek but game afoot?), but he defended his choices with wit and a definite touch of humor on his web site (where he also offers limited edition prints). As in, Robert Downey Jr isn’t standing on a pile of books by accident.
From left to right, they (and the decades they represent) are John Barrymore (1920s), Basil Rathbone (1930s-40s), Peter Cushing (1950s-60s), Christopher Plummer (1970s), Michael Caine (1980s), Jeremy Brett (1990s), Robert Downey Jr (2000s) and Benedict Cumberbatch (2010s).
An American freelance humorous illustrator, cartoonist and caricaturist, Tom’s work started to pop up in the early 1990s in various international publications. He worked for a brief while at Cracked Magazine in the late nineties, before cracking (sorry) the Big Leagues, moving to MAD in 2000, specializing in the movie and TV parodies, and displaying more than a bit of the influence of MAD legend Mort Drucker (who had served as a sort of mentor to Tom early in his career). Tom continues to do freelance illustration for a variety of publications and advertising clients as well, and won the 2011 Reuben Award, bestowed by the National Cartoonists Society for the Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
- tomrichmond.com
- The artist’s official (and very impressive) site. Workshops, prints, appearances and fish wrapping tips.
- My Scrapbook
A Cornucopia of Tear Sheets, Illustrations, Photos, Scribbles & Other Crap That I Just Think is Cool
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
