Classic cover artists: Ian Jackson

The Oink! covers of Ian Jackson stand out not only as pieces of artwork quite unlike anything else seen – before or since – in the IPC comics archive, but also as an encapsulation of Oink!’s in-your-snout, anarchic, offensive, wild and fun-lovin’ ethos. Ian didn’t draw every Oink! cover, but I think his style was the closest to being the comic’s cover brand. Accordingly, they usually featured Oink!’s porcine supposed editor, Uncle Pigg, terrorising the comic’s critic-in-chief, Mary Lighthouse. Quite who Mrs Lighthouse was based upon, I really can’t imagine.

Oink! really was a force of nature and these Ian Jackson covers are an absolute delight to revisit. There are many more to be found – along with a wealth of other hammy goodness – on Phil Boyce’s recently relaunched Phil’s Oink! Blog.