First Issue: December 1979
Last Issue: Not Applicable
Copyright: Chris Donald / Dennis Publishing Ltd / Diamond Publishing
In 2016, the first issue of Viz sold at auction ( Anderson & Garland Auctioneers) for £950.00. eBay sales in recent years have hovered around the £1000 mark for mint copies signed by the creator.
A small caveat should be mentioned in relationship to the first issue. There were three separate print runs with second printing and thrid printing stamped on the back page. Obviously the most sought after first issue would be from the first printing.
Billy the Fish
Like many famous endeavours of recent years, such as large multinationals starting in kitchens and garages, the humble beginnings of Viz were in a suburban bedroom of Chris Donald’s parent’s house.
Many of the characters that appeared and continue to appear in Viz comic are irreverant takes on British comic characters. With the likes of Biffa’ Bacon paying dark homage to The Dandy’s Bully Beef. ‘Billy the Fish’, half man, half fish also seemed to take a charming swipe at the football comics such as Roy of the Rovers and Tiger.
Some of the characters also addressed the political landscape and became pop culture icons.
Sid the Sexist
1982 saw the arrival of Sidney Aloysius Smutt who is better known as ‘Sid the Sexist’. Created by Simon Donald in 1982, Sid is a socially inept Geordie who lacks the insight to see that the women he interacts with don’t like him. Nevertheless, he frequently boasts of his sexual prowess with women despite constantly failing.
‘Viz’ Comic First Issue
No. 1
December 1979
Bumper Monster Christmas Special
A Free Ice Cream
Buy This Or I Shoot The Croc
I Strip Off Inside Boys
20p
