Metrostar is showcasing the iconic grown-up comic magazine, Viz, at Brand Licensing Europe. It will be Viz’s first foray into licensing for many years.

Created by Chris Donald from his bedroom in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1979, Viz rose to become one of biggest selling magazines in the UK. It created household names of characters like Roger Mellie, Nobby's Piles, Johnny Fartpants, Buster Gonad, Sid the Sexist, The Fat Slags and Finbarr Saunders. As well as the cartoon strips, Viz featured regular items such as Roger’s Profanisaurus, Letterbocks, Top Tips and spoof news stories.

Early Viz spin-offs included TV series for The Fat Slags, Roger Mellie and Sid the Sexist, a computer game, a novelty hit single and a TV ad for Lucozade. More recently Viz has sold branded products such as t-shirts, prints and mobile downloads direct to readers from its website and magazine.

Viz’s legendary books such as ‘The Dogs Bollocks’ and ‘The Big Bell End’ are always Christmas best-sellers. In 2007, ‘The Pearl Necklace’ annual sold in excess of 60,000 copies and Roger Mellie’s Swearing Dictionary – The Profanisaurus sold in excess of 70,000 copies.

Acquired by Dennis Publishing in 2003, Viz magazine sells over 88,000 copies a month and has a readership of over 500,000. Viz publishes 10 issues of the magazine a year and its 2009 annual, ‘The Last Turkey in the Shop’, will be released in November 2008.

Viz Publishing Director Richard Downey comments : “ Viz is a British comedy institution, as the comic enters into its 30th anniversary year in 2009 we’re very excited about coming to Brand Licensing. There is great licensing potential bringing together this hugely famous comic and its huge volume of readers past and present – all who have special place in their heart for the likes of Roger Mellie and Johnny Fartpants, as has been witnessed by the growth in book sales over recent years ”

Claire Potter comments: “Viz and its characters evoke great memories for a generation and yet it’s still as fresh and funny as it ever was. Book and magazine sales prove this brand has great commercial potential and we’re looking forward to unleashing it on the licensing community at Brand Licensing.”

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For further information and images, please contact Claire Potter at Metrostar on 020 7317 0963 or claire@metrostarmedia.co.uk

Metrostar’s stand at Brand Licensing Europe is 479.