Derrick Webber's Avatar

Derrick Webber

@der-web.bsky.social

Derrick (he/him). Writer of queerish SSF & Rom-Coms. Cutting Edge/Past It. I live by the river.

19 Followers  |  28 Following  |  32 Posts  |  Joined: 04.06.2024  |  2.3253

Latest posts by der-web.bsky.social on Bluesky

Title: The leaves Image 1: Two leaves hang from branches. "Would you like to hear my new poem?" Says one "Is it another one about the inevitability of death?" replies a smaller leaf. Image 2: "It's autumn! What else am i going to write about?" says the poet leaf. "Well, we've all turned this lovely reddish colour." says the small leaf. Image 3: "Actually, that could make a very nice poem. Thanks!" says the poet. Image 4. The small leaf begins to reply but is blown away by a gust of wind. Image 5: Later. The solitary poet leaf recites a poem: "The year dies. I cling hopelessly. In the end all things fall."

Title: The leaves Image 1: Two leaves hang from branches. "Would you like to hear my new poem?" Says one "Is it another one about the inevitability of death?" replies a smaller leaf. Image 2: "It's autumn! What else am i going to write about?" says the poet leaf. "Well, we've all turned this lovely reddish colour." says the small leaf. Image 3: "Actually, that could make a very nice poem. Thanks!" says the poet. Image 4. The small leaf begins to reply but is blown away by a gust of wind. Image 5: Later. The solitary poet leaf recites a poem: "The year dies. I cling hopelessly. In the end all things fall."

A cartoon about autumn....

24.10.2025 15:40 — 👍 666    🔁 191    💬 5    📌 8
Panels 1 and 2 Interior. "I love autumn!" Says a book to its owner. "It's so romantic! Let's put on a big scarf, go to the park, and read on a bench as the orange leaves fall around us in the low sun." Panel 3 Caption: Soon. Image: they are now outside sheltering under an unbrella in torrential rain. "Shall we go home?" says the reader. "Yes please. I'm getting soggy." says the book.

Panels 1 and 2 Interior. "I love autumn!" Says a book to its owner. "It's so romantic! Let's put on a big scarf, go to the park, and read on a bench as the orange leaves fall around us in the low sun." Panel 3 Caption: Soon. Image: they are now outside sheltering under an unbrella in torrential rain. "Shall we go home?" says the reader. "Yes please. I'm getting soggy." says the book.

...and another.

24.10.2025 15:40 — 👍 582    🔁 156    💬 7    📌 5
Preview
Yay! an LGBTQ+ anthology Yay! all queer Free and Queer is an LGBTQ+ anthology, second in the series!

Okay, maybe one more story about spores:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ink...

21.10.2025 05:28 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Webber, Derrick - A Snowshoe Christmas With Christmas Eve approaching, marking a year since his former boyfriend cruelly dumped him, all woodworker Declan Munro wants to do is quietly ride out a blizzard in his Cascade Mountain cabin. That...

Taking a break from spores and zombies to write M/M Christmas Romance: bwlnk.com/9781641088855

21.10.2025 03:03 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Title: The exceptionally limited edition book Part 1. Bound in cloth taken from the author's wardrobe! (image of tweed-bound book) Indecipherably elegant font! Your mere presence sullies its beauty! Part 2. Luxurious presentation! (the book inside) Three slipcases (inside a) Lightproof Velvet bag (indide a) Archival Glass box (inside a) Lead-lined Biometric safe Part 3. Scroll of Authenticity! (image of long, text-covered scroll with am ornate seal) Includes author's signature, home phone number and invitation to stay for a few days over the summer. Part 4. Too heavy to hold: reading assistants On standby 24/7 (image of two figures holding huge book) Sign up promptly to ensure you are considered for the waiting list to enter the lottery to register your interest in preordering a copy!

Title: The exceptionally limited edition book Part 1. Bound in cloth taken from the author's wardrobe! (image of tweed-bound book) Indecipherably elegant font! Your mere presence sullies its beauty! Part 2. Luxurious presentation! (the book inside) Three slipcases (inside a) Lightproof Velvet bag (indide a) Archival Glass box (inside a) Lead-lined Biometric safe Part 3. Scroll of Authenticity! (image of long, text-covered scroll with am ornate seal) Includes author's signature, home phone number and invitation to stay for a few days over the summer. Part 4. Too heavy to hold: reading assistants On standby 24/7 (image of two figures holding huge book) Sign up promptly to ensure you are considered for the waiting list to enter the lottery to register your interest in preordering a copy!

‘The exceptionally limited edition book.’ (My cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books)

19.10.2025 16:03 — 👍 842    🔁 239    💬 20    📌 29
Post image

OK, come on. How can you resist a book called 'Things With Claws'? 1961 Ballantine paperback anthology with a cover by the incomparable Richard Powers.
#BookWormSat #vintagepaperback #vintagepaperback

11.10.2025 14:56 — 👍 50    🔁 7    💬 3    📌 2

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

15.10.2025 15:56 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Bona Books Presents A new queer literary magazine FANTABULOSA! Tales of the uncanny, the dangerous and the fantastical, from radical and unapologetic queer voices. Science fiction, fantasy and horror Short fiction & poetry Submissions open now

Bona Books Presents A new queer literary magazine FANTABULOSA! Tales of the uncanny, the dangerous and the fantastical, from radical and unapologetic queer voices. Science fiction, fantasy and horror Short fiction & poetry Submissions open now

ANNOUNCEMENT🎺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Introducing our bona new quarterly literary magazine:

FANTABULOSA!

Pushing the boundaries of bold, authentic, QUEER storytelling. Bringing you stories of the uncanny, the dangerous and the fantastical.

& thanks to our brilliant #WrathMonth backers, we're fully funded for 2026 🤘

14.10.2025 13:35 — 👍 266    🔁 159    💬 12    📌 13
A comic strip in six panels. The panels inerlock like a jigsaw with knobs and sockets. Two stick figures walk right to left through all the panels. Panel 1: Person 1 says "I hear you're working on a new theory." Panel 2 & 3: Person 2 says: "Yes, I'm calling it the jigsaw model. I think it could change our whole View of reality." Panel 4: Person 1 says "When Will you publish?: Panel 5: Person 2 says "But a couple of things are still bothering me." (this piece/panel is a bit squint) Panel 6: This piece is rotated ninety degees and fits to the others very badly. Person 2 is saying "Soon. I feel like I'm really close" A second look at the whole comic shows that the last two panels read in the wrong order because the jigsaw has been put together incorrectly.

A comic strip in six panels. The panels inerlock like a jigsaw with knobs and sockets. Two stick figures walk right to left through all the panels. Panel 1: Person 1 says "I hear you're working on a new theory." Panel 2 & 3: Person 2 says: "Yes, I'm calling it the jigsaw model. I think it could change our whole View of reality." Panel 4: Person 1 says "When Will you publish?: Panel 5: Person 2 says "But a couple of things are still bothering me." (this piece/panel is a bit squint) Panel 6: This piece is rotated ninety degees and fits to the others very badly. Person 2 is saying "Soon. I feel like I'm really close" A second look at the whole comic shows that the last two panels read in the wrong order because the jigsaw has been put together incorrectly.

My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com

12.10.2025 09:25 — 👍 1417    🔁 394    💬 16    📌 16

"I had that book," he said, revealing his decrepitude.

11.10.2025 16:30 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Title: Where writers really get their ideas. A writer, holding a note in his outstretched hand approaches a cart in the park. The front of the cart reads 'Fresh ideas' and a colourful umbrella shades the server who is reaching deep into the body of the cart (much as an ice-cream vendor might) and saying: "I'm all out of mind-blowing concepts and heart-rending narratives, but I've got an acerbic observation, an unexpected outcome and a couple of amusing notions."

Title: Where writers really get their ideas. A writer, holding a note in his outstretched hand approaches a cart in the park. The front of the cart reads 'Fresh ideas' and a colourful umbrella shades the server who is reaching deep into the body of the cart (much as an ice-cream vendor might) and saying: "I'm all out of mind-blowing concepts and heart-rending narratives, but I've got an acerbic observation, an unexpected outcome and a couple of amusing notions."

My cartoon for the books page in this week’s @theguardian.com

11.10.2025 16:14 — 👍 629    🔁 167    💬 13    📌 13

Agreed. This one rocks though.

08.10.2025 11:41 — 👍 18    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Post image 01.10.2025 18:15 — 👍 253    🔁 37    💬 0    📌 2
A group of scientists huddle excitedly around a monitor. One says: "The program has detected a signal sent from another galaxy, but we need to upgrade to a paid version before we can reply." The screen reads "Choose a plan To unlock replies: 1. Student 2. Basic 3. Pro 4. Expert "

A group of scientists huddle excitedly around a monitor. One says: "The program has detected a signal sent from another galaxy, but we need to upgrade to a paid version before we can reply." The screen reads "Choose a plan To unlock replies: 1. Student 2. Basic 3. Pro 4. Expert "

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com

p.s. my new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out now. Visit www.tomgauld.com for details

30.09.2025 12:36 — 👍 662    🔁 204    💬 8    📌 6

Sonker? I hardly know her!

29.09.2025 00:51 — 👍 22    🔁 5    💬 0    📌 1
Title: Why do you want the book to be banned? A cartoon with ten panels showing people answering: 1. I read the book and hated it. 2. I didn't read the book, but I still hate it. 3. I hate books! 4. I love banning things! 5. I could not relate to the characters. 6. I'm not sure, but better safe than sorry? 7. My copy arrived damaged. 8. It could fall into the hands of a child. 9. It could fall on to the head of a child. 10. I didn't understand the ending.

Title: Why do you want the book to be banned? A cartoon with ten panels showing people answering: 1. I read the book and hated it. 2. I didn't read the book, but I still hate it. 3. I hate books! 4. I love banning things! 5. I could not relate to the characters. 6. I'm not sure, but better safe than sorry? 7. My copy arrived damaged. 8. It could fall into the hands of a child. 9. It could fall on to the head of a child. 10. I didn't understand the ending.

My cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books

28.09.2025 15:19 — 👍 804    🔁 278    💬 18    📌 13
Panel 1 The shallow end of a swimming pool. A swimmer says "I got tired of hearing About so-called 'Infinity pools', so I created a genuine one. This is my first length". "Good luck!" replies an onlooker standing by the steps. Panels 2-4 The onlooker waits for the swimmer to come back. Time passes. The sun sets and rises. the onlooker ages. Panel 5 "Impressive." says the onlooker, now old and walking with a stick.

Panel 1 The shallow end of a swimming pool. A swimmer says "I got tired of hearing About so-called 'Infinity pools', so I created a genuine one. This is my first length". "Good luck!" replies an onlooker standing by the steps. Panels 2-4 The onlooker waits for the swimmer to come back. Time passes. The sun sets and rises. the onlooker ages. Panel 5 "Impressive." says the onlooker, now old and walking with a stick.

A recent cartoon for @newscientist.com

p.s. my new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out now. Visit www.tomgauld.com for details

26.09.2025 12:49 — 👍 576    🔁 126    💬 2    📌 5

Only a couple more weeks until we find out for sure whether we can crack on with SATURDAY MOURNING TV this year or not. Watch this space!

24.09.2025 17:50 — 👍 12    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 1
Post image 25.09.2025 03:34 — 👍 952    🔁 97    💬 9    📌 10
Two books sit on comfortable chairs on a stage in front of an audience of books. The interviewer book says to the other "Decades unfinished in your author's drawer. Years untouched in a publisher's slush pile. Months on an indecisive editor's desk. And now, top of the bestseller charts! It's what we all dream of: tell us all about your incredible journey!"

Two books sit on comfortable chairs on a stage in front of an audience of books. The interviewer book says to the other "Decades unfinished in your author's drawer. Years untouched in a publisher's slush pile. Months on an indecisive editor's desk. And now, top of the bestseller charts! It's what we all dream of: tell us all about your incredible journey!"

My latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books
p.s. My new book of science cartoons is here: www.tomgauld.com/comic-books-v2

25.09.2025 09:46 — 👍 620    🔁 132    💬 7    📌 10
Post image 21.09.2025 05:57 — 👍 1211    🔁 153    💬 11    📌 11
Night time. Three figures walk up a set of stairs. They are in fact Penrose stairs, an impossible object which one can walk up endlessly. Low on the side of the stairs is a window. Another figure leans out and shouts up at the walkers: “Guys! I'm sure it's not easy being trapped in an endless paradox representing the limited nature of human perception, but some of us are trying to sleep down here!”

Night time. Three figures walk up a set of stairs. They are in fact Penrose stairs, an impossible object which one can walk up endlessly. Low on the side of the stairs is a window. Another figure leans out and shouts up at the walkers: “Guys! I'm sure it's not easy being trapped in an endless paradox representing the limited nature of human perception, but some of us are trying to sleep down here!”

My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com

21.09.2025 13:30 — 👍 1210    🔁 403    💬 13    📌 12
Panel 1. image of a huge nuclear plant. “Reactor Overheating” 2. A worker in a hazmat suit works at a computer. The screen reads: “Press cancel to avoid critical overload” 3 - 9. The worker continues to type at the computer. The screen changes in each panel and reads: “Enter password to confirm” “Incorrect password” “Incorrect password” “Do you want to reset your password?” “Reset link has been sent to your email” “Please choose a new password” “New password can't be the same as old password” The colour gets hotter in each panel. Starting blue in 1 and ending in red in 9. Panel 10. Wide view. The entire earth is blown up.

Panel 1. image of a huge nuclear plant. “Reactor Overheating” 2. A worker in a hazmat suit works at a computer. The screen reads: “Press cancel to avoid critical overload” 3 - 9. The worker continues to type at the computer. The screen changes in each panel and reads: “Enter password to confirm” “Incorrect password” “Incorrect password” “Do you want to reset your password?” “Reset link has been sent to your email” “Please choose a new password” “New password can't be the same as old password” The colour gets hotter in each panel. Starting blue in 1 and ending in red in 9. Panel 10. Wide view. The entire earth is blown up.

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com

p.s. this week I am on a USA/Canada tour with my new book. Details and preorder links at tomgauld.com

15.09.2025 17:46 — 👍 2422    🔁 885    💬 23    📌 47
Macho editions: classics reworked for men! War and peace by Leo Tolstoy with a large bright yellow label which reads: 33% more war! In search of Lost time by Marcel Proust with a large bright yellow label which reads: Less remembering, more action! The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald with a large bright yellow label which reads: More information about the cars! Sense and sensibility by Jane Austen with a large bright yellow label which reads: Jack Reacher Cameo!

Macho editions: classics reworked for men! War and peace by Leo Tolstoy with a large bright yellow label which reads: 33% more war! In search of Lost time by Marcel Proust with a large bright yellow label which reads: Less remembering, more action! The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald with a large bright yellow label which reads: More information about the cars! Sense and sensibility by Jane Austen with a large bright yellow label which reads: Jack Reacher Cameo!

My cartoon for this week’s @guardian books.

p.s. this week I am on a USA/Canada tour with my new book. Details and preorder links at www.tomgauld.com

14.09.2025 15:32 — 👍 559    🔁 148    💬 11    📌 13
Image: A scientist stands at the crossroads at mifnight, he holds out a bowl to the devil who looks rather cross. Caption "Thanks to a typo in the contract, the professor gained complete mastery of all the knowledge in the heavens and the earth, in exchange for his soup." Text below: From 'Physics for Cats' by Tom Gauld - Preorder it at www.tomgauld.com

Image: A scientist stands at the crossroads at mifnight, he holds out a bowl to the devil who looks rather cross. Caption "Thanks to a typo in the contract, the professor gained complete mastery of all the knowledge in the heavens and the earth, in exchange for his soup." Text below: From 'Physics for Cats' by Tom Gauld - Preorder it at www.tomgauld.com

My new book of cartoons is out soon. I am bringing it to SPX/BETHESDA TORONTO, NEW YORK, CHICAGO, MONTREAL and QUEBEC CITY in the next two weeks. Visit www.tomgauld.com for more details and preorder links!

05.09.2025 13:07 — 👍 818    🔁 225    💬 7    📌 13
Panel One: A woman sits in a chair reading happily in a book-filled room. A voice offstage says "You can't survive on books alone" The woman replies "Maybe I can!" Panel Two: "How?" asks the voice "I don't know yet, but I'm sure the answer will be in one of my books." Says the woman Panel Three: Caption: However The book is filled with yet more books. A skull sits on the chair. It says "I regret nothing!"

Panel One: A woman sits in a chair reading happily in a book-filled room. A voice offstage says "You can't survive on books alone" The woman replies "Maybe I can!" Panel Two: "How?" asks the voice "I don't know yet, but I'm sure the answer will be in one of my books." Says the woman Panel Three: Caption: However The book is filled with yet more books. A skull sits on the chair. It says "I regret nothing!"

My latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books.
p.s. I have a new book of cartoons out soon: www.tomgauld.com/comic-books-v2

31.08.2025 15:31 — 👍 1236    🔁 422    💬 8    📌 26

oh my god

27.08.2025 13:39 — 👍 33    🔁 9    💬 3    📌 0
Preview
a woman in a purple sweater is saying fingers crossed Alt: GIF from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt with Kimmy saying "fingers crossed!" with her fingers, y'know - crossed

Hoping to have some news re. the future of our SATURDAY MOURNING TELEVISION anthology over the next 3-4 weeks.

26.08.2025 17:55 — 👍 21    🔁 2    💬 4    📌 0
Panel 1: A figure wheels a large suitcase. It is labelled with a huge X. X: number of books taken on my summer holiday this year. Panel 2: The figures sits in a deckchair reading. A pile of books is labelled with a Y. Y: number of books I did not get round to reading. Panel 3: The figures works out an equation on a whiteboard. It reads X-Y =Z Z: number of books I should take with me next year. Panel 4 Caption: And yet, one year later… The figures wheels the suitcase once again. It is once again marked with a huge X

Panel 1: A figure wheels a large suitcase. It is labelled with a huge X. X: number of books taken on my summer holiday this year. Panel 2: The figures sits in a deckchair reading. A pile of books is labelled with a Y. Y: number of books I did not get round to reading. Panel 3: The figures works out an equation on a whiteboard. It reads X-Y =Z Z: number of books I should take with me next year. Panel 4 Caption: And yet, one year later… The figures wheels the suitcase once again. It is once again marked with a huge X

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com

26.08.2025 12:14 — 👍 885    🔁 254    💬 18    📌 22
A character walks into a shop. The sign reads: “Books” Across the floor of the bookshop, past the bookshelves, is a stair down with a sign reading: “Used Books” Across the used books floor is a stair down marked: “Antiquarian Books” Across the antiquarian books floor is a stair down marked: “Forbidden Books of the Elden Ones” Stalactites hang. Strange tomes sit on plinths. Unearthly creatures scuttle in the gloom. A figure stands before a cash desk where a cyclopean, tentacled staff member says: “Yes, we do have the new Stephen King but it's back up on the ground floor.”

A character walks into a shop. The sign reads: “Books” Across the floor of the bookshop, past the bookshelves, is a stair down with a sign reading: “Used Books” Across the used books floor is a stair down marked: “Antiquarian Books” Across the antiquarian books floor is a stair down marked: “Forbidden Books of the Elden Ones” Stalactites hang. Strange tomes sit on plinths. Unearthly creatures scuttle in the gloom. A figure stands before a cash desk where a cyclopean, tentacled staff member says: “Yes, we do have the new Stephen King but it's back up on the ground floor.”

My latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books

24.08.2025 16:46 — 👍 1106    🔁 335    💬 13    📌 13

@der-web is following 19 prominent accounts