Crocodile", incredibly popular Soviet magazine, turns 100

It was known as the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and was the satirical voice of the people. Through colorful pictures and catchy texts it spoke frankly and openly about burning issues of the day - from bureaucracy and drunkenness to the aggressive foreign policy of the United States and NATO. These days the most popular magazine in the USSR, "Crocodile", celebrates its 100th jubilee. 

The editors of "Crocodile" received hundreds of thousands of letters from all over the Union, and often the authors of the magazine drew their ideas from the people. That is why each issue aroused great interest among the readers. 

The publication of the magazine did not stop during the Great Patriotic War. Then the war caricature became the strongest weapon against fascism and the German invaders. By the way, many journalists of "Crocodile" went to the front and from there continued to send their works to print. 

Caricaturist, graphic artist and painter Vladimir Mochalov worked at the Crocodile for more than 30 years. And he thinks that such a magazine is a must-have today. The sharp satire on US hegemony, aggressive NATO policies, Western democracy and freedom of speech, which were ridiculed by the Soviet artists during the Cold War, is still relevant. 

Vladimir Mochalov, exhibition curator and academician of the Russian Academy of Arts

"Crocodile" would be able to respond decently to the things that are happening now. "Crocodile" has always been like that, since the first issue. "Crocodile" was politicized, all the caricatures were directed against the foreign ministers of England, France, America, and so on. "Crocodile took a completely combative stance, absolutely. And it did so with humor, with sarcasm, It  did it in a funny way. And it just helped people stop being afraid of their enemy. They started laughing at it. The language of humor of "Crocodile" helps to overcome fear. And this is the most important thing." 

"Crocodile" enjoyed incredible popularity in the Soviet Union. Sometimes its circulation reached 6.5 million copies a year. Unfortunately, after perestroika, at the beginning of the 90s, the magazine was closed due to financial problems. But today, looking at the sharp and truthful cartoons of that time, you understand that the subtle political satire has a great future.