Discussion
Back in the early 1980's, I was a field rep for a record company living in Glasgow.
Every Thursday I would drive down to Newcastle as part of my area and found that nearly all the music outlets there were selling this new comic called Viz.
It was an utter breath of fresh air and a total scream- to the extent that I took orders from my Scottish clients for (free) copies. Good PR on my part!
That was unnecessary after Virgin Books signed it up to a national distribution deal in 1985 and it was available for Scottish record shops to sell.
Back then it was published bi-monthly (perhaps the same today) and I still have well over a hundred copies from back then.
Aside from the cartoon characters I always loved how it parodied tacky Sunday magazine adverts for 'collectables' such as this: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/norbet/5708093422...
And this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3252321989_08e...
Every Thursday I would drive down to Newcastle as part of my area and found that nearly all the music outlets there were selling this new comic called Viz.
It was an utter breath of fresh air and a total scream- to the extent that I took orders from my Scottish clients for (free) copies. Good PR on my part!
That was unnecessary after Virgin Books signed it up to a national distribution deal in 1985 and it was available for Scottish record shops to sell.
Back then it was published bi-monthly (perhaps the same today) and I still have well over a hundred copies from back then.
Aside from the cartoon characters I always loved how it parodied tacky Sunday magazine adverts for 'collectables' such as this: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/norbet/5708093422...
And this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3252321989_08e...
I have the Viz Book of Crap Jokes somewhere. A collection of the best one frame cartoons from the mag. Recurring themes of 'things' looking up, looking bad etc. Tailor gags (pair of trousers with speech bubble 'I don't care if you buy me or not' Tailor says 'this is a very casual trouser, Sir')
My all time favourite of all time, though, is the bloke in the phone box. Over his shoulder some well-dressed black men are singing 'Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia'. He says "I'll have to hang up now, dear, the pips are going" ROFLMFAO and s
t.
My all time favourite of all time, though, is the bloke in the phone box. Over his shoulder some well-dressed black men are singing 'Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia'. He says "I'll have to hang up now, dear, the pips are going" ROFLMFAO and s
t.Pothole said:
I have the Viz Book of Crap Jokes somewhere. A collection of the best one frame cartoons from the mag. Recurring themes of 'things' looking up, looking bad etc. Tailor gags (pair of trousers with speech bubble 'I don't care if you buy me or not' Tailor says 'this is a very casual trouser, Sir')
My all time favourite of all time, though, is the bloke in the phone box. Over his shoulder some well-dressed black men are singing 'Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia'. He says "I'll have to hang up now, dear, the pips are going" ROFLMFAO and st.
this one?My all time favourite of all time, though, is the bloke in the phone box. Over his shoulder some well-dressed black men are singing 'Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia'. He says "I'll have to hang up now, dear, the pips are going" ROFLMFAO and s
t.
these 2 always made me smile.
iv still got the sid the sexist video somewhere and pretty sure iv still got the roger mellie video too.
dudleybloke said:
Pothole said:
I have the Viz Book of Crap Jokes somewhere. A collection of the best one frame cartoons from the mag. Recurring themes of 'things' looking up, looking bad etc. Tailor gags (pair of trousers with speech bubble 'I don't care if you buy me or not' Tailor says 'this is a very casual trouser, Sir')
My all time favourite of all time, though, is the bloke in the phone box. Over his shoulder some well-dressed black men are singing 'Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia'. He says "I'll have to hang up now, dear, the pips are going" ROFLMFAO and st.
this one?My all time favourite of all time, though, is the bloke in the phone box. Over his shoulder some well-dressed black men are singing 'Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia'. He says "I'll have to hang up now, dear, the pips are going" ROFLMFAO and s
t.That's it! I remembered them dressed smarter...
kenny Chim 4 said:
Back in the early 1980's, I was a field rep for a record company living in Glasgow.
Every Thursday I would drive down to Newcastle as part of my area and found that nearly all the music outlets there were selling this new comic called Viz.
It was an utter breath of fresh air and a total scream- to the extent that I took orders from my Scottish clients for (free) copies. Good PR on my part!
That was unnecessary after Virgin Books signed it up to a national distribution deal in 1985 and it was available for Scottish record shops to sell.
Back then it was published bi-monthly (perhaps the same today) and I still have well over a hundred copies from back then.
Aside from the cartoon characters I always loved how it parodied tacky Sunday magazine adverts for 'collectables' such as this: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/norbet/5708093422...
And this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3252321989_08e...
Do you remember 'Electric Soup', short lived Glasgow(?) based comic. Strips included 'The Greens', a parody of 'The Broons'; 'The Wildebeests', who always ended up getting eaten by wolves, sheep, fish and even penguins; and the MacBam Brothers, a sort of Scottish "Fabulous Furry Freak" brothers.Every Thursday I would drive down to Newcastle as part of my area and found that nearly all the music outlets there were selling this new comic called Viz.
It was an utter breath of fresh air and a total scream- to the extent that I took orders from my Scottish clients for (free) copies. Good PR on my part!
That was unnecessary after Virgin Books signed it up to a national distribution deal in 1985 and it was available for Scottish record shops to sell.
Back then it was published bi-monthly (perhaps the same today) and I still have well over a hundred copies from back then.
Aside from the cartoon characters I always loved how it parodied tacky Sunday magazine adverts for 'collectables' such as this: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/norbet/5708093422...
And this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3252321989_08e...
I do remember Electric Soup but as DB mentions, it, Smut and another called Zit were just seen as copyests- Zit blatently a Viz rip-off in their style and ideas.
A quick Google search on Viz brought up an interesting on-line store selling (used) back copies: http://tonyvalderama.com/acatalog/Viz_Issues_1___2...
Those prices are shocking!
Do I sell mine to that vendor or directly on ebay?
A quick Google search on Viz brought up an interesting on-line store selling (used) back copies: http://tonyvalderama.com/acatalog/Viz_Issues_1___2...
Those prices are shocking!
Do I sell mine to that vendor or directly on ebay?
At he time, my two favourite things from Viz were a three frame one off which went:
whatcha got there?
Fox in a box
What ya gonna do with that?
Gonna take it home, fk it and eat it
And the top tip, Homeowners, make your neighbours think you have more stairs than you have by stepping on each step twice.
Where did my youth go?
whatcha got there?
Fox in a box
What ya gonna do with that?
Gonna take it home, f
k it and eat itAnd the top tip, Homeowners, make your neighbours think you have more stairs than you have by stepping on each step twice.
Where did my youth go?
My brother went to university in Durham and I remember seeing Viz there, in the early 80s. The thing I loved was the adverts. Things like the porcelain figurines of Lady Di and Jade from Big Brother playing ping pong in heaven and the one for Rent a Tugboat. Anyone remember that.
"Fed up with hubby ogling the au pair and nobbing the nanny? Then come to Rent a Tugboat, guaranteed boilers from around the world, your money back if he gets any wood."
Cheers
MTM
"Fed up with hubby ogling the au pair and nobbing the nanny? Then come to Rent a Tugboat, guaranteed boilers from around the world, your money back if he gets any wood."
Cheers
MTM
scary said:
My brother went to university in Durham and I remember seeing Viz there, in the early 80s. The thing I loved was the adverts. Things like the porcelain figurines of Lady Di and Jade from Big Brother playing ping pong in heaven and the one for Rent a Tugboat. Anyone remember that.
MTM
Big Brother Jade in the 80's? She wasn't big until the Noughties was she?MTM
Been reading it for years, it's ace.
Although I've kind of stopped reading it, I still find myself buying the latest.
Anyone from the North East, if you spot a copy of Newcastle Stuff kicking about the local bars, pick up a copy. Not the same as Viz, but sometimes equally funny and, I imagine, similar to how it's older brother started all those years ago.
Although I've kind of stopped reading it, I still find myself buying the latest.
Anyone from the North East, if you spot a copy of Newcastle Stuff kicking about the local bars, pick up a copy. Not the same as Viz, but sometimes equally funny and, I imagine, similar to how it's older brother started all those years ago.
One of the hallmarks in Viz for me, and I have avidly read the copy from the start years ago, is the Roger's Profanisaurus, initially started in Viz, I believe it now has a life of its own. The inventiveness and use of the English language and outstanding readability is quite exceptional, I would buy Viz just for that. But Buster Gonads antics, Roger Mellie the man on the tele and all the other Viz characters are quite brilliant.
It is said that Viz is not as good as it was. I still buy it and read it and enjoy it immensely. Works for me.
It is said that Viz is not as good as it was. I still buy it and read it and enjoy it immensely. Works for me.
Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff