Thought Bubble 2023: The 2000 AD Talent Search 2023 Winners Revealed

by Richard Bruton

Now a regular feature at Thought Bubble festival, the 2000 AD Script and Art Contest revealed its 2023 winners over the weekend – congratulations to Ed Whiting and Sinu Senon!

Now, a quick look at the previous winners shows you just how good a hit rate the 2000 AD/TB contests have in picking future talent – Tom Watts, Laura Bailey, Mike Walters, Lee Milmore, Honor Vincent, James Newell, Robin Henley, Paul Williams, Tom Foster, Daniel Dwyer, Will Morris, and Tilen Javornik – all of whom have not only gone on to have their first Future Shock in the Prog but have gone on to have great careers in comics.

So, this year the writer talent search was judged by writers Leah Moore, Andy Diggle, and previous winner Laura Bailey, with the poor writers doing their live 2-minute pitch to the Judges and a room full of TB attendees.

And the winner, with his pitch Essence of the Piece, was Ed Whiting. You’ll be able to see the Future Shock in a Prog in 2024.

From left to right – Judges Laura Bailey and Leah Moore, 2023 winner Ed Whiting, and 2000 AD’s Mike Molcher

As for the artists, they have a five page past Future Shock to draw in their own style – this year from Al Ewing’s script to ‘Gifts of the Magi’ (originally drawn by Lee Townsend for Prog #1499) – and then they get the chance to present their art at portfolio sessions at TB. After that, the finalists go to their own live talent search panel, this year with judges Jock, Anna Morozova, and previous winner Tom Foster.

And this year’s winner – Sinu Senon! You can see Sinu’s pages below and you’ll be able to see his art in the Prog – usually drawing the script winner’s Future Shock – in 2024.

And of course, there were runners-up for the art contest, a sampling of their art comes below and there’s more here at 2000AD.com.

The Winner – Sinu Senon