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 1.8 million copies. 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 90,000 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’, was released in November 2008.
Dennis/ Metrostar launched Viz’s licensing programme at Brand Licensing Europe in October 2008 and have already brokered deals for Viz in apparel, greetings cards and online gaming. We have inquiries in giftware, games, calendars, posters and many apparel categories and Metrostar is interested in hearing from potential partners in these areas and others of particular interest to Viz’s core consumer; ABC1, male, aged 20-45.
November 2009 is Viz’s 30th Birthday.
For more information contact : Claire Potter
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