Publisher's Synopsis
In 1979, in Newcastle upon Tyne, a 19-year-old DHSS clerk called Chris Donald, his old school friend Jim Brownlow and his 15-year-old brother Simon published a new comic called Viz. The Bumper Monster Christmas Special (actually just twelve pages) was priced 20p (or 30p to students) and the entire 150 copy print-run fitted in a single cardboard box. They took about half to the pub and sold out so fast they had to run home and get the rest - by the end of night they'd sold every single one. A decade later, Viz was selling a million copies per issue.
Since its creation, Viz has been pushing the boundaries of good (or bad) taste with its cartoon icons including the Fat Slags, Roger Mellie and Sid the Sexist and one-off features like the rather popular 'Find Kylie's Bottom'. Spread initially by word of mouth, it became a national bestseller which found a unique place in the affections of the British public. In this celebration of their incredible 25 years and all things Viz, William Cook (editor of Tragically I Was An Only Twin) tells the fascinating story of the comic and its creators. Following all the comic legends from rough conception to their glorious antics in the 21st century, this is the ultimate collection of Viz genius. This has it all, the lawsuits, the scandals, the readers letters ('The page you write and every week it's shite'), the Celebrity Photo Love Stories, Top Tips and much, much more.
