{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProjectComics--> |image= |caption= |character_name= Buster Gonad |publisher= [[Viz (comic)|Viz]] |debut= 1986 |creators= [[Graham Dury]] |real_name= |affiliations= |aliases= |powers= }}
'''Buster Gonad''' is a cartoon character in the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[comic]] ''[[Viz (comics)|Viz]]''. The strip involves the [[surrealism|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, so that he needs a [[wheelbarrow]] to carry them around.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nuosh.com/images/buster_gonad.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920064142/http://nuosh.com/images/buster_gonad.jpg |archive-date=2008-09-20 |title=Niosh image of Buster|publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2012-11-15}}</ref> As a result, they are impossible to conceal and are therefore out on open display for everyone to see and marvel at.
==Background== 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 (music)|single]] entitled "Bags of Fun With Buster" ([[A-side and B-side|B-side]] "Scrotal Scratch Mix") by Johnny Japes and His Jesticles (in reality [[Andy Partridge]] and [[Dave Gregory (musician)|Dave Gregory]] of [[XTC]]; journalist, record producer and sometime vocalist [[Neville Farmer]]; and [[John Otway]] on vocals released on Fulchester Records). Buster also featured in the 1991 ''[[Viz (game)|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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sepecat.info/images/03-desertstorm1/index.php?img=./ds-09.jpg&dalsi=24&folder=./ |title=SEPECAT Jaguar in detail - Photo 09 |publisher=Sepecat.info |accessdate=2013-06-25}}</ref> Vintage framed copies of Buster Gonad cartoons from the 1980s are now collectable items.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tonyvalderama.com/acatalog/Vintage_Framed_Viz_Comic_Strips.html |title=Vintage Framed Viz Comic Strips |publisher=Tonyvalderama.com |accessdate=2012-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226064220/http://www.tonyvalderama.com/acatalog/Vintage_Framed_Viz_Comic_Strips.html |archive-date=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References in other media== ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' called him one of Viz's "classic inventions".<ref>{{cite news|author=TV and Radio |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3605873/Appalling-hilarity.html# |title=Appalling hilarity |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=2012-11-15 |location=London}}</ref> The [[BBC]] says he's a "star" and a "household name".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/478097.stm |title=UK | Viz puts on a show |publisher=BBC News |date=1999-10-18 |access-date=2012-11-15}}</ref> Buster is mentioned in the [[British Medical Journal]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1136/tc.8.3.348 |title=Advertising as information |journal=Tobacco Control |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=348 |year=1999 |last1=Chapman |first1=S |pmc=1763961 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080222003939/http://www.viz.co.uk/ Buster Gonad at viz.co.uk (see 'Archive')] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20040507032617/http://members.lycos.co.uk/scaryduck/blog2/bustergonad.gif Image #1 of Buster Gonad] * [http://chalkhills.org/cgi-bin/img?images/non/BagsOfFun.jpg Image #2 of Buster Gonad] * [http://sepecat.info/images/03-desertstorm1/index.php?img=./ds-09.jpg&dalsi=24&folder=./ Detail of Jaguar GR1] [[nose art]] from the 1991 [[Gulf War]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110519043207/http://chalkhills.org/reelbyreal/s_Bags.html 'Bags Of Fun With Buster' Record (complete with image and lyrics)]
{{Viz (comics)}}
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1986]] [[Category:Viz characters]]