Viz Magazine – December 2012 – Issue 221 – Christmas Edition

Original Viz Magazine, Issue 221, December 2012, featuring a colourful Christmas-themed cartoon cover, Roger Mellie, Sid the Sexist, Eight Ace, Black Bag and many other classic Viz characters.

An original December 2012 edition of the popular British adult humour and satirical comic magazine, featuring a festive cartoon illustration with Father Christmas and two exaggerated comic characters.

The magazine combines Viz's distinctive British humour with Christmas-themed artwork, topical satire, celebrity references and a large selection of recurring characters advertised on the front cover.

This particular issue is especially interesting for its festive presentation, traditional cartoon artwork and reference to a 2013 Limited Edition Collectibles Ad Calendar, originally advertised as a free inclusion.

Magazine Details

• Publication: Viz Magazine

• Issue Number: 221

• Cover Date: December 2012

• Original UK Cover Price: £3.20

• Country: United Kingdom

• Language: English

• Format: Printed adult humour and satirical comic magazine

• Theme: Christmas, British comedy, cartoon satire and recurring Viz characters

• Condition: Pre-owned – visible spine wear, creasing and handling marks

• SKU: 1574

Front Cover – Christmas Cartoon Illustration

The magazine features a large festive cartoon scene beneath the familiar oversized green VIZ masthead.

The artwork depicts Father Christmas standing beside two exaggerated comic characters in a humorous Christmas encounter.

The illustration uses a bright palette of red, green, white, blue and yellow, with bold black outlines and deliberately exaggerated facial expressions.

Father Christmas Illustration

Father Christmas occupies the right-hand side of the main illustration.

He is depicted wearing traditional festive clothing, including:

• A bright red Santa hat with white fur trim.

• A large white beard and moustache.

• Small round spectacles.

• A red coat with white fur edging.

• A wide black belt with a large gold buckle.

• Oversized brown boots.

• Large yellow-brown gloves.

• A large sack of colourful wrapped Christmas presents.

The sack is decorated with festive holly and contains several brightly coloured gift boxes.

Santa is illustrated with an exaggerated facial expression and appears to be reacting to the two characters standing beside him.

Left-Hand Cartoon Character

The character on the left is a tall, blond-haired man wearing a colourful striped top.

His appearance includes:

• Short, light-coloured hair.

• A long, exaggerated face.

• A large nose.

• A red and yellow striped top with green detailing.

• Red trousers.

• Large striped trainers.

• A cigar held in one hand.

• A blue piece of paper held in the other.

He appears to be speaking to the smaller character beside him while holding a handwritten note.

The cartoon speech bubble includes a humorous request involving Father Christmas and Roger.

Centre Cartoon Character

The smaller character in the centre is illustrated with:

• A blue-and-white cap.

• Round spectacles.

• A large red nose.

• A blue top.

• Black shorts.

• Blue socks.

• Oversized black shoes.

• A comically exaggerated facial expression.

The character stands between the taller man and Father Christmas, creating a humorous three-character composition.

The contrasting sizes, expressions and colourful outfits are typical of Viz's traditional cartoon style.

Top Cover Headline – Jimmy Savile

A prominent red banner runs across the top of the magazine.

It reads:

"JIMMY SAVILE: HIS SECRET SEX LIFE EXPOSED!"

This is a contemporary topical headline printed on the original December 2012 cover.

The reference reflects the major British news coverage surrounding Jimmy Savile during that period.

For collectors of British satire and media history, this provides an example of how Viz incorporated contemporary news events into its cover material.

The headline is described here solely as a feature of the original magazine cover.

2013 Limited Edition Collectibles Ad Calendar

The upper-right portion of the cover prominently advertises:

"FREE INSIDE! 2013 LIMITED EDITION COLLECTIBLES AD CALENDAR"

A small printed preview image of the calendar appears beside the headline.

The preview shows a colourful calendar design incorporating illustrated artwork, photographs and a calendar grid.

Important: The originally advertised free calendar is NOT included with this magazine.

The listing is for the printed magazine only.

Classic Viz Characters and Features Advertised

The lower portion of the cover contains a substantial selection of familiar Viz characters and recurring features.

Roger Mellie

Roger Mellie is one of Viz's best-known recurring comic characters, associated with outrageous television satire and exaggerated broadcasting humour.

His name appears prominently at the beginning of the cover's character list.

Sid the Sexist

Sid the Sexist is another longstanding Viz character, recognised for his exaggerated personality and comic situations.

His name appears in bold red lettering, accompanied by a decorative snowflake.

The Fat Slags

The Fat Slags are among Viz's most recognisable recurring characters.

Their appearances are associated with exaggerated British social satire, outrageous personalities and deliberately absurd situations.

Eight Ace

Eight Ace is advertised on the cover as 8 ACE.

The character is a familiar part of Viz's traditional line-up of recurring comic features.

Spoilt Pastard

Spoilt Pastard is another character named on the cover, reflecting the magazine's taste for exaggerated personalities and satirical character comedy.

Roger Irrelevant

Roger Irrelevant is advertised in large red lettering.

The character is associated with Viz's deliberately absurd and nonsensical humour.

Mrs Brady

Mrs Brady appears among the advertised characters.

Drunken Bakers

Drunken Bakers is another familiar Viz comic feature, known for its dark, exaggerated humour.

Suicidal Syd

Suicidal Syd is also advertised on the cover.

Aldridge Prior

Aldridge Prior is listed in prominent red lettering.

Finbarr Saunders

Finbarr Saunders is one of Viz's recognisable recurring characters, associated with double-entendre comedy and humorous misunderstandings.

Pathetic Sharks

Pathetic Sharks appears among the advertised features.

This is particularly interesting alongside the magazine's other absurdist cartoon characters.

Profanisaurus

The Profanisaurus is one of Viz's longstanding features, parodying conventional dictionaries through deliberately unconventional definitions and adult humour.

Letterbocks

Letterbocks is Viz's humorous readers' correspondence section.

Top Tips

Top Tips is another longstanding Viz feature, presenting absurd and satirical advice in the style of practical readers' suggestions.

Terry Fu

The lower-right portion of the cover also advertises Terry Fu, although part of the printed wording is obscured by the circular illustration.

The Return of Black Bag

A prominent green banner runs along the bottom of the magazine.

It reads:

"Plus the Return of BLACK BAG"

The title is printed in large red letters with a black outline.

A circular black-and-white illustration of a goat-like animal's head appears beside the headline.

The feature's return is prominently advertised and adds another recognisable element to this particular issue.

Christmas Cover Design and Collectors' Appeal

This December 2012 edition has a distinctive festive design.

Notable visual features include:

• Large green VIZ masthead with black and white outlines.

• Snow-like white edging around the masthead.

• Prominent red Jimmy Savile topical headline.

• Original December 2012 issue number and cover price.

• Traditional Father Christmas cartoon.

• Large sack of wrapped Christmas presents.

• Colourful holly and festive decorations.

• Two exaggerated comic characters beside Santa.

• Handwritten note and speech bubble.

• Large selection of recurring Viz character names.

• Decorative blue snowflakes between the character names.

• 2013 calendar promotion.

• Green Black Bag feature banner.

• Original barcode and publisher website details.

The combination of festive illustration, topical references and recognisable Viz characters makes this an interesting example of the magazine's early-2010s Christmas editions.

It may appeal to collectors of British comics, satirical publications, Christmas-themed magazine covers and original Viz issues.

Condition Report – Important

Condition: Pre-owned – fair to good overall from the visible front cover, with noticeable wear along the spine and edges.

This magazine dates from December 2012 and shows signs of previous handling, reading and storage.

The following observations are based on the supplied photograph.

Front Cover

The front cover remains presentable, with the original Christmas illustration and printed headlines clearly visible.

The bright green, red, white and blue colours remain strong.

However, visible imperfections include:

• Light surface rubbing and scuffing.

• Minor handling marks.

• Small creases and surface impressions.

• Some wear around the upper-left portion of the cover.

• Minor marks on the lighter background areas.

• Slight bending and wear along the top edge.

• Light wear around the lower corners.

• Minor edge irregularities.

The main festive illustration remains clearly recognisable.

Spine – Noticeable Wear

The spine shows visible signs of wear and previous handling.

The left-hand edge has several areas of rubbing and small abrasions.

These include:

• Small white areas where the printed surface has worn away.

• Creasing along the spine fold.

• Minor paper fraying.

• Small scuffed areas along the left-hand edge.

• More noticeable rubbing towards the lower portion.

• Slight irregularity where the cover meets the spine.

The magazine should not be considered mint or near-mint.

Top Edge and Corners

The upper-left corner shows minor bending and wear.

The top edge has slight unevenness and handling marks.

The upper-right corner appears reasonably well preserved, although minor wear is visible.

Bottom Edge and Corners

The bottom edge shows light rubbing.

The lower-left corner has some wear around the spine junction.

The lower-right corner appears relatively tidy, with minor signs of handling.

Interior Pages

The internal pages have not been shown in the supplied photograph.

Their full condition, completeness and any possible writing, folds, stains or tears cannot be independently verified.

Back Cover

The back cover has not been photographed, so its condition cannot be fully assessed.

Overall Condition Summary

An original December 2012 Viz Magazine with an attractive Christmas-themed front cover.

The main illustration and printed headlines remain clear, while the spine shows noticeable rubbing, scuffing and handling wear.

A suitable reading or collecting copy for someone seeking an original issue rather than a pristine example.

Please inspect the supplied photograph carefully before purchasing, as it forms part of the condition description.

Important – Missing Original Extras

THIS LISTING IS FOR THE PRINTED MAGAZINE ONLY.

The 2013 Limited Edition Collectibles Ad Calendar advertised on the front cover is NOT INCLUDED.

Any other original free gifts, promotional supplements, loose inserts, vouchers or additional items that may originally have accompanied the magazine are also no longer included.

Only the magazine itself is being supplied.

Packaging and Postage

UK Orders

The magazine will be carefully packaged and posted in a protective hardback envelope to help minimise the risk of bending and damage during transit.

International Orders

International orders will be carefully packaged in a sturdy cardboard mailing-size box for additional protection during shipping.

The photograph shows the actual magazine being offered for sale.

Please review the condition details and photographs before purchasing.

SKU: 1574