Flatulence has long been the lowest common denominator of comedy, but in the late 1970s and early '90s, one satirical icon tried to turn gas into a badge of honor. Fartman, the infamous creation of radio shock jock Howard Stern, stands as one of pop culture's most bizarre pop-culture footprints. While many remember the character solely for a single chaotic awards show appearance, the true history of this flatulent crusader spans satirical magazines, unmade feature films, and an enduring legacy in media absurdity.
The Humble Beginnings in Print
Long before millions tuned in to hear the character debated on morning radio, the concept emerged on paper. Fartman made his official debut in June 1979 within the pages of National Lampoon magazine. Created by Howard Stern during his early days in radio and comedy writing, the character served as a direct parody of traditional comic book tropes. Instead of hailing from an exploded alien planet or receiving powers from a radioactive spider, Fartman possessed a singular, highly specialized physiological gift: super-powered flatulence.
The print incarnation established the core joke. Here was a hero who approached the grim, self-serious demeanor of characters like Batman, yet deployed gaseous propulsion to navigate the skies. Though the early magazine spread was brief, it planted the seed for a much larger cultural presence once Stern scaled the ranks of terrestrial radio in New York and syndicated nationwide.
The 1992 MTV Video Music Awards Phenomenon
The defining moment of the character's lifespan occurred on September 9, 1992, at the MTV Video Music Awards. Descending from the ceiling on a harness, Stern appeared live on stage wearing a custom-made costume featuring a yellow shirt, sunglasses, brown codpiece, and assless chaps. If you want more about the background here, Associated Press provides an excellent breakdown.
The stunt polarized viewers and television executives alike. To his loyal listeners, it was peak shock-radio performance art that thumbed its nose at mainstream corporate propriety. To casual viewers, it was an inexplicable, crude spectacle that dominated watercooler conversations for weeks. This exact live appearance later served as the opening sequence for Stern's 1997 autobiographical comedy film, Private Parts, cementing the character's place in 1990s cinematic history.
The Phantom Blockbuster: Why the Fartman Movie Never Happened
Following the cultural wave of the VMA appearance, Hollywood took notice. During the mid-to-late 1990s, development discussions began for a full-length feature film centered on the character.
Writers crafted a script, and major studios expressed genuine interest in financing a theatrical release. However, the project ultimately collapsed due to creative differences over tone and ratings. Studio executives pushed for a family-friendly, PG-13 approach that would appeal to broad teenage demographics. Stern and his creative team resisted, knowing that sanitizing the material would strip away the very edge that made the character unique. Rather than compromise on a watered-down version, the production was shelved indefinitely.
Cultural Legacy and Satirical Impact
While a big-budget cinematic franchise never materialized, the character permanently altered the landscape of shock-humor media. Fartman bridged the gap between underground humor magazines and multi-media corporate synergy long before viral internet culture made absurd performance art commonplace.
The character also birthed numerous parodies within animation, comic strips, and late-night television. By taking the most juvenile bodily function imaginable and treating it with the dramatic gravitas of a comic book epic, Stern exposed the inherent absurdity of the superhero industrial complex.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Fartman ever appear in actual comic books?
Yes. Beyond the original National Lampoon feature, a short multi-page comic book story detailing the character's exploits was published in 1995 within Stern's bestselling book Miss America.
Who designed the iconic VMA costume?
The infamous live-action outfit was custom-built under strict secrecy for the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, incorporating theatrical rigging to allow for a suspended stage entrance.
Was Howard Stern the only person to portray the character?
In nearly all media appearances, audio skits, and live events, Stern personally portrayed the character, maintaining strict creative control over how the persona was presented to the public.
Why hasn't a reboot or streaming series been produced?
Copyright ownership remains closely tied to Stern's historical broadcast archives, and because the character was so intrinsically linked to the specific shock-radio culture of the 1980s and 1990s, modern attempts to replicate it face significant shifts in audience sensibilities.
