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 with a circulation of over 1.2 million copies. It created household names of characters like Roger Mellie, 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 annuals such as ‘The Dogs Bollocks’ and ‘The Big Bell End’ are always Christmas best-sellers. In 2009, ‘The Council Gritter ’ sold in excess of 100,000 copies and a miniature version of Roger Mellie’s Profanisaurus, The Magna Farta, sold in excess of 50,000 copies.
Acquired by Dennis Publishing in 2003, Viz magazine sells over 80,000 copies an issue and has a readership of over 450,000. Dennis publishes 10 issues of Viz a year and is celebrating its 200th issue in November 2010.
Dennis and Metrostar launched Viz’s licensing programme at Brand Licensing Europe in October 2008 and have already brokered deals for Viz in apparel, greetings cards, dress-up, pub gaming and online gaming. Metrostar is interested in hearing from potential partners in these areas and others of particular interest to Viz’s core consumer; ABC1 men, aged 20-45.
For more information contact : Claire Potter
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