PIGS IN SPAAAACE! : Ham Dare, Pig of The Future

I've been drawing Oink! characters again. You can see my previous 'fan art' here and here.

Ham Dare was created by Lew Stringer, (who wrote it), and the late Malcolm Douglas, (aka J.T. Dogg), who drew it.

 

Ham was obviously a parody of classic British science fiction comics character, Dan Dare, (created by Frank Hampson), who originally appeared in the 1950s Eagle comic, and has had numerous reboots and reworkings over the years, including a computer animated television series a few years ago. In my view, Ham Dare was truer in spirit, (and appearance), to the original than most of those re-imaginings.

 

The 'Bread Moon Mystery' is not a genuine Ham Dare story but a play on the title of the Dan Dare serial 'The Red Moon Mystery'.  It's not a very good pun, but it did lead to a plot forming in my mind while working on the picture. A story involving a butcher, a baker and a full English breakfast. One day I might just draw the thing for real.

More Oink! Characters

Following on from my previous blog entry featuring drawings of Oink! characters, I've gone and done some more.

First of all, Tom Thug...


Originally created by Lew Stringer, Tom featured in one of two stories from Oink! to make the transition over to Buster comic once the former was cancelled, becoming one of the most popular stories in the latter.

The other story was Pete and His Pimple...


...also created by Lew Stringer. This fared less well in Buster, due to being toned down for a slightly younger readership, (the zits ceased bursting, no longer covering everyone and everything in the vicinity in pus). The strip was also reprinted in a few issues of Sweden's Herman Hedning comic

Lew Stringer's Website

Lew Stringer's Blog

Next we have Regurgitating Robbie...


Robbie was originally drawn by Charlie Brooker, (who was only a teenager when he worked for Oink!). He now presents stuff on telly and has a column in The Guardian and he turned Davina McCall into a zombie once.

Lastly, Billy's Brain and Harry The Head.


Billy's Brain was drawn by cartoonist David Haldane, also responsible for Rubbishman. He doesn't have much of a web presence but there's a short biography here...

http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/artists/davidhaldane/biography

Harry The Head was drawn by musician Marc Riley, who also appeared as Snatcher Sam in photo-stories in the comic and helped put together the free flexidisc with issue one. Marc is now a DJ on BBC 6 Music.

That's it for now, but Oink! has so many other memorable characters that I'll probably do a few more pics at some point in the future, so watch this space.

Now can someone please bring the comic back so I can submit all this stuff to it?

Anyone?

No?

Pah!