Buster Gonad
Encyclopedia
Buster Gonad is the name of a cartoon character in the British
comic Viz. It involves the surreal
adventures of "the boy with unfeasibly large testicles". During a storm, Buster's gonad
s were zapped by cosmic ray
s which enlarged them to an enormous size. Buster's gonads are so large, in fact, that he needs a wheelbarrow
to carry them around. As a result, they are impossible to conceal and are therefore out on open display for everyone to see and marvel at.
The plot-lines vary, but are always bizarre, revolving around Buster's outstanding physical attributes being a blessing or a curse. For example, in one episode Buster climbs a tree whereupon some children standing below mistake his hairy scrotum
for giant horse chestnuts, deciding to pelt it with sticks and stones in order to knock it down so they can play conkers. Moments later, a passing farmer attempts to help the children by blasting the "horse chestnuts" with his double-barrelled shotgun
. Finally, an endangered species
of bird decides to build a nest on Buster's scrotum and lays eggs in it. It is illegal to disturb the rare bird's nest, so poor Buster is forced to stay up the tree for the next few weeks until the eggs hatch and the fledglings have left the nest.
In December 1987 Viz released a 7-inch single entitled "Bags of Fun With Buster" (b side "Scrotal Scratch Mix") by Johnny Japes and His Jesticles (in reality Andy Partridge
and Dave Gregory of XTC
, journalist, record producer and sometime vocalist Neville Farmer, with John Otway
on vocals released on Fulchester Records). Buster also featured in the 1991 Viz computer game
.
During the Gulf War
of 1991, a Sepecat Jaguar
GR1A (number XZ118 Y) bomber of the Royal Air Force
featured Buster Gonad nose art
.
Vintage framed copies of Buster Gonad cartoon from the 1980s are now collectable items.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comic Viz. It involves the surreal
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
adventures of "the boy with unfeasibly large testicles". During a storm, Buster's gonad
Gonad
The gonad is the organ that makes gametes. The gonads in males are the testes and the gonads in females are the ovaries. The product, gametes, are haploid germ cells. For example, spermatozoon and egg cells are gametes...
s were zapped by cosmic ray
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
s which enlarged them to an enormous size. Buster's gonads are so large, in fact, that he needs a wheelbarrow
Wheelbarrow
A wheelbarrow is a small hand-propelled vehicle, usually with just one wheel, designed to be pushed and guided by a single person using two handles to the rear, or by a sail to push the ancient wheelbarrow by wind. The term "wheelbarrow" is made of two words: "wheel" and "barrow." "Barrow" is a...
to carry them around. As a result, they are impossible to conceal and are therefore out on open display for everyone to see and marvel at.
The plot-lines vary, but are always bizarre, revolving around Buster's outstanding physical attributes being a blessing or a curse. For example, in one episode Buster climbs a tree whereupon some children standing below mistake his hairy scrotum
Scrotum
In some male mammals the scrotum is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles and divided by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with curly...
for giant horse chestnuts, deciding to pelt it with sticks and stones in order to knock it down so they can play conkers. Moments later, a passing farmer attempts to help the children by blasting the "horse chestnuts" with his double-barrelled shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
. Finally, an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of bird decides to build a nest on Buster's scrotum and lays eggs in it. It is illegal to disturb the rare bird's nest, so poor Buster is forced to stay up the tree for the next few weeks until the eggs hatch and the fledglings have left the nest.
In December 1987 Viz released a 7-inch single entitled "Bags of Fun With Buster" (b side "Scrotal Scratch Mix") by Johnny Japes and His Jesticles (in reality Andy Partridge
Andy Partridge
Andrew John "Andy" Partridge is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has been known as Sir John Johns and Melchior and rose to fame as a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the pop/new wave band, XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised.Partridge also...
and Dave Gregory of XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
, journalist, record producer and sometime vocalist Neville Farmer, with John Otway
John Otway
John Otway, is an English singer-songwriter, who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona.-Biography:...
on vocals released on Fulchester Records). Buster also featured in the 1991 Viz computer game
Viz (game)
Viz: The Computer Game is a single player racing game based on the Viz adult comic which was released in 1991 by Virgin Interactive...
.
During the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
of 1991, a Sepecat Jaguar
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
GR1A (number XZ118 Y) bomber of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
featured Buster Gonad nose art
Nose art
Nose art is a decorative painting or design on the fuselage of a military aircraft, usually located near the nose, and is a form of aircraft graffiti....
.
Vintage framed copies of Buster Gonad cartoon from the 1980s are now collectable items.
External links
- Buster Gonad at viz.co.uk (see 'Archive')
- Image #1 of Buster Gonad
- Image #2 of Buster Gonad
- Detail of Jaguar GR1 nose artNose artNose art is a decorative painting or design on the fuselage of a military aircraft, usually located near the nose, and is a form of aircraft graffiti....
from the 1991 Gulf WarGulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf... - 'Bags Of Fun With Buster' Record (complete with image and lyrics)
