The Inside Story of Viz: Rude Kids - Softcover

Donald, Chris

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007330340 ISBN 13: 9780007330348

Publisher: HarperCollins Entertainment, 2005

This is the straight-talking, fascinating story of Viz magazine, founded in 1979 by Chris Donald - editor until 1999. Chris tells the remarkable story of the magazine, from the tatty rag produced in his Newcastle bedroom to becoming one of the bestselling magazines in the UK. Chris was the creator of many of the characters and was responsible for all the magazine's written content. Characters from the magazine, such as Sid the Sexist and the Fat Slags, are now household names. This is an engaging tale told in Chris's unique, wry way. Chris takes us from his train-spotting childhood in the '70s through to setting up the magazine with family and friends, and struggling to sell even a few copies of Viz in the local pub. The comic's success swiftly grew, however, and remarkable events ensued, such as how Chris was invited to tea by Prince Charles, taken in for questioning by New Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch and caught his wife up to no good with Keith Richards in Peter Cook's attic. Chris includes many original drawings in this integrated book as well as some fascinating images of early Viz creations.

Review:

Chris Donald is the founder and former editor of Viz, the tatty rag that began life in his bedroom and ultimately became Britain’s third best-selling magazine with a circulation of 1.2 million. Rude Kids is the story of the meteoric rise of the magazine but also Chris Donald’s story, including exciting episodes in his life such as being invited to dinner by Prince Charles, being questioned by New Scotland Yard’s Anti-Terrorist Branch, wining and dining Catherine Zeta Jones and catching his wife up to no good with Keith Richards in Peter Cook’s attic. In reality these episodes are merely the fluff sitting on the surface of Donald’s story of humble beginnings as the classroom creator of The Fat Crusader (the dour and boring schoolboy who could transform himself into a caped superhero) through the birth and development of classic Viz characters such as Roger Mellie, The Fat Slags, Millie-tant, Sid the Sexist, as well as lesser known but inspired pieces such as The Vibrating Bum-Faced Goats. The heart of the book is concerned with Donald and his fellow Viz collaborators, Jim, Graham, Simon and Thorpy in the day to day running of the magazine. It’s about the relationship with his money-hungry publisher, the magazines astonishing growth and the crap records, videos and documentaries that led to the decline in sales and a tarnished reputation. Interestingly, the man never did live the rock and roll lifestyle , didn’t do drugs, didn’t sleep around, never became an alcoholic and-- after the riches rolled in—still preferred to stay home and watch TV. Donald comes over as a sharp, self-deprecating bloke who hates naval-gazing, the advertising world and pretentious folk who use big words. Brutally honest about the things and people he dislikes as well as his own personal failures Donald tells a fast, entertaining and sometimes belly-laugh funny story about the years he lived and breathed Viz.-- Larry Brown

Review:

‘Donald is lucid and engaging, and he’s affably disrespectful to the celebrities he meets when his life turns (relatively) showbiz.’ Q Magazine

‘Chris fires out jokes and anecdotes with the rapid-fire intensity and lewdness of Sid the Sexist downing seven like Newkie Broons.’ Front Magazine

'...a very good read. It is briskly executed in the Viz house style: a rude and brutally accurate tabloidese.' New Statesman

• Publisher: HarperCollins Entertainment
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0007330340
• ISBN 13: 9780007330348
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400