COMICS

Peter Guttridge grimaces at the magazine of the decade Vizual Jokes 'What's your best joke?' the woman from the tabloids asks editor Chris Donald at the press conference to celebrate 10 years of Viz comic. For a moment, 29- year old Donald looked like a teacher had just caught him doing something under his desk. Slumped in his seat, he reddened and wriggled, mumbling so much that his impatient interlocutor snap- ped, 'Could you please speak UP'. Donald started drawing cartoons as a schoolboy and continued when he went to work for the DHSS in New- giant cow pies with hooves Viz has been accused of bandwagon.' castle. His best joke is pro- sticking out) to crude ex- misogyny and sexism for Here too, Viz's position is bably that the cartoon cha- tremes. There are hints too cartoon characters like Mil- ambiguous. Many of the ads racters he developed then of Monty Python and Private lie Tant (the ugly, gay femin- in the magazine are the kind are now the core of the deca- Eye. The comic was sued ist), Nude Motorcycle Girl that occur in soft-porn mags. de's most successful ma- £100 once for using a picture and The Fat Slags (who now Sexual self-help phone lines gazine. With audited sales of of a guy's house as the illus- feature in a controversial down which you can get 650,000 in the middle of last tration for a spoof article lager ad). But there is a cer- everything from a guided year, Viz hoped to sell lm about a man who claimed to tain knowing ambiguity tour of the female genitals, copies of its Christmas issue, have had sex with himself. about the punchlines of these to advice on anal and oral making it the third most The jokes are mostly about cartoons which suggests an sex. On first seeing the range popular magazine in Britain. shit, vomit, funny smells and awareness of the issues they of lines you can call up - Copies of the first issue, coarse sex. Cartoon regulars tackle and a deliberate at- Bonkin' In The Sewers, Ever which had a print run of 150 include 'Felix And His Amaz- tempt to stir the waters. Felt A Right Tit or the Puke and cost £60 to produce, are ing Underpants', 'Buster Go- It is difficult to say how And Vomit Line - this reader now worth £1,000 each. nad And His Unfeasibly seriously the team who pro- wondered if they were a put- Primarily a magazine for Large Testicles' and 'Johnny duce the comic take their hu- on, another aspect of the young people, Viz now sells Fartpants'. Felix uses his y- mour. At the press confer- magazine's humour. They're in newsagents and record fronts to store chocolates ence they eschewed politics: real though. shops throughout the coun- (the chocolates melt) and for 'Other people are knocking Other ads follow the tenor try. Donald sold the first his dad to be sick in. Buster Thatcher, we don't need to.' of the comic. You can buy a issue in pubs in Newcastle. carts his balls about in a Donald also implied they cassette of farts and belches Although circulation in- wheelbarrow. Johnny farts. were not crude for crudity's (including 'Pan Splatters', creased over the next few Cartoons like this are for sake. He remarked, 'People 'Honking Frog' and 'Wet issues, it was only when Vir- readers who snigger rather seem to think if they send us Surprise') or a 'Dick Tie'. gin Books took over publish- than laugh, smirk rather something crude, it will auto- It's easy to sound po-faced ing it in 1985, that Viz really than smile. Viz ain't subtle: matically be put in. It won't.' about Viz, especially when took off. Now independent of the Viz annuals are called The only criterion he came only 1% of its readers fall Virgin, it will shortly be The Big Hard One, The Big up with for what would be into my age range. Viz is in printing in Australia and Hard One No.2, The Pink included was that the team the English tradition of there is talk of an animated Stiff One and The Dog's Bol- should find it funny. Donald schoolboy comics, dirty sea- feature. locks. was also dismissive of the side postcards and Monty It's hard to believe that It should come as no competitor magazines Viz's Python. Ben Elton tells jokes there are so many naughty surprise that, according to a success has spawned. 'Well, about 'stiffies'. Steve Bell's schoolboys around. For Viz market survey in 1988, 85% they're rubbish aren't they?' cartoons are hard and gro- is an adult development of of Viz readers are male. 49% says Donald. 'They've fallen tesque. But Elton and Bell those old schoolyard favou- are under 25, 33% under 20. short of the mark. And it's have something to say. Viz, rites, Dandy and The Beano. Among the teenagers, 61% interesting that they're publ- like Private Eye, hasn't got It takes their unreal notions are in education, 29% are ished by soft-porn mer- much to say - but it's saying (like Desperate Dan eating employed, 10% unemployed. chants trying to get on the it anyway. •

57 MARXISM TODAY JANUARY 1990