the world once again!
Notice how Marc says
'It was a real job for the boys, the best days of my life really,
a team of friends having a great laugh'
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ADVERTISER cartoonist Tony Husband shocked the world as a creater and editor of
cult crossover comic Oink! in the 80's.
And now the barrier-breaking publication, headed by a character called Uncle Pig, is to take pride of place in an exhibition celebrating the work of conrversial artist Aubrey Beardsley. Tony has been asked by the exhibition organisers to collate the history and content of Oink! which, although aimed at children, became a weekly by for all ages. Featuring characters like Horace Ugly Face Watkins, Terry Wogham, Snatcher Sam and Harry the Head, the publication stuck in the throats of parents and polititians such as Rev Ian Paisley who declare it should be banned. The sidekick if Radio's Mark Radcliffe, Marc 'Lard' Riley, (pictured left with Tony) was one of the famous contributors. Marc says that his days at Oink were memorable. "It was a real job for the boys, the best days of my life really, a team of friends having a great laugh," he said. But Oink also attracted a famous following, including the likes of Ben Elton and Johnathon Ross. "It was great fun to do. It was something fresh and you never know what's on the next page," Tony of Gee Cross, told us. "People either liked or hated Oink! It did run close to the wind, but that's how we wanted it. The kids loved it, we had a very loyal following." Tony and the team were publically hauled over the coals on the BBC1's breakfast show after a cartoon told kids: "Don't be the only kid on your street not to have a mountain bike, buy our handy hammer and smash everyone else's!" At it's height, the comic was selling 42,000 copies, says Tony, but once Robert Maxwell took over IPC magazines it started to go down hill and they decided to fold. "I'm proud of Oink!," he added. "I'm very amused at the controversy that Oink! created because at least we made an impression good or bad." The Shock! exhibition is on throughout June at the University of Sussex, in Brighton. |
Taken from the Tameside Advertiser June 4th 1998Click on Lardy Boy to return to the previous page. |
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