OiNK! in review

If you were a reader of OINK! comic back in the 1980s you may already be aware that Phil Boyce runs a superb OiNK! BLOG reviewing every issue in "real time". That is, he reviews each issue on the 35th anniversary of the day they were published. So far he's reached issue 15, which was a memorable issue that introduced several new stories. Pete and his Pimple began in that issue (script and art by me), as did Ham Dare, Pig of the Future (script by me, art by Malcolm Douglas). A very busy time back then as I also had my regular Tom Thug strip every issue as well as ocassional one-offs such as How Oink! Is Produced, which I've shown above. 

Oink! was a joy to work for, allowing creators to experiment and be a bit wilder with the humour than other comics of the time. For me, it felt like a natural successor to the old Odhams comics Wham! and Smash! Sadly, it wasn't the 1960s anymore and WH Smiths had a very conservative attitude to Oink!, considering it unsuitable for children. Subsequently it was placed anywhere in the shop except the children's section, which must have damaged sales. 

There wasn't even an adult comic section then as Smiths hadn't begun stocking Viz at that point so Oink! could be placed next to a caravan magazone one week and Nursing Times the next. Nevertheless, Oink! did manage to gain a following and it survived for two and a half years, which was far longer than some other comics of the time! 

Anyway, if you haven't seen Phil's blog, you can check out his review of Oink! No.15 here:

https://oink.blog/2021/11/15/oink-15-new-piglets/

As you'll see, Phil also reviews other comics of the 1980s, such as Wildcat and SuperNaturals! It's a good blog so I hope you'll follow it.