Viz Magazine – March 2013 – Issue 223 – Kim Kardashian, Pippa Middleton, Biffa Bacon & Fat Slags

Original Viz Magazine, Issue 223, March 2013, featuring a colourful Frankenstein-inspired cartoon cover, classic Viz comic characters, celebrity satire and British adult humour.

An original 2013 edition of the famous British satirical comic magazine, featuring the outrageous cartoon illustrations, recurring characters, parody, topical humour and irreverent comedy that have made Viz a recognisable name in British publishing.

This particular issue features a striking illustrated front cover with a Frankenstein-inspired cartoon character surrounded by other exaggerated comic figures, gothic scenery and a humorous horror-film theme.

The cover also advertises several popular Viz characters, alongside topical references to Kim Kardashian, Pippa Middleton and David Attenborough.

An interesting collectible for enthusiasts of British comic magazines, alternative comedy, satire, cartoon illustration and classic Viz publications.

Magazine Details

• Publication: Viz Magazine

• Issue Number: 223

• Cover Date: March 2013

• Country: United Kingdom

• Language: English

• Original UK Cover Price: £3.20

• Format: Printed adult humour and satirical comic magazine

• Condition: Pre-owned – visible signs of handling and storage

• SKU: 1574

Front Cover – Frankenstein-Inspired Cartoon Artwork

The front cover features a colourful, exaggerated cartoon illustration inspired by classic Frankenstein horror imagery.

A large white VIZ masthead dominates the upper-left portion of the cover, set against a bright blue background.

The central character resembles a comical Frankenstein-style creation, with an exaggerated face, oversized hands, cartoon stitching and mechanical bolts.

Main Cartoon Character

The central figure is illustrated with:

• A black hat featuring a red band and a small red-orange ornament.

• Large, circular, red-rimmed spectacles.

• A prominent nose and exaggerated facial features.

• A cigar protruding from the mouth.

• Metal bolts extending from either side of the neck.

• A bright orange jacket with ragged edges.

• A red shirt and black trousers.

• Oversized shoes with red and yellow detailing.

• Enormous outstretched hands with visible stitching around the wrists.

The character appears to be advancing towards the reader, with both arms extended.

The exaggerated proportions and expressive face give the artwork a humorous appearance rather than a conventional horror-film presentation.

Behind the main figure is a gothic-style landscape featuring dark castle towers, pointed rooftops and a yellow-orange sky.

The overall design combines traditional monster-film imagery with Viz's familiar satirical cartoon style.

Additional Cartoon Characters

Several smaller cartoon figures appear around the main character.

Lower-Left Character

A smaller character appears running or stumbling beneath the main figure's outstretched hand.

The character has dark hair, an exaggerated facial expression, colourful clothing and oversized footwear.

The surrounding artwork includes dark shapes and gothic buildings.

Centre-Right Character

Another character appears in the background with an exaggerated face, black clothing and distinctive curly hair.

A speech bubble reads:

"Hoo! Did yee spill my brain?"

The character is positioned beside a small illustrated brain, adding to the cover's absurd horror-comedy theme.

Right-Hand Character

A further cartoon figure appears wearing colourful clothing and sporting a large black hairstyle and prominent facial hair.

The figure is drawn in a deliberately exaggerated, comical style.

Together, these characters create a crowded and energetic cover illustration typical of Viz's distinctive artwork.

Featured Celebrity Names

The top red banner advertises three well-known public figures.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian's name appears prominently at the upper-left of the cover.

Her inclusion reflects Viz's use of contemporary celebrity culture as a subject for satire.

Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton is advertised in the central section of the top banner.

The name is accompanied by a small illustration.

David Attenborough

David Attenborough is also advertised in the upper-right section.

His inclusion adds another recognisable British public figure to the magazine's topical humour.

These names are confirmed as cover-advertised subjects. The precise nature and length of their appearances inside the magazine have not been verified from interior pages.

Classic Viz Characters Advertised

The right-hand side of the cover contains a substantial list of recurring Viz characters and comic features.

Biffa Bacon

One of Viz's recognisable comic creations, associated with exaggerated confrontational behaviour and British working-class satire.

The name appears prominently near the top of the right-hand column.

Eight Ace

A long-running Viz character associated with absurd situations, exaggerated personalities and dark comedy.

The cover advertises Eight Ace immediately beneath Biffa Bacon.

Roger Mellie

Roger Mellie, one of Viz's best-known recurring characters, is advertised on the cover.

The character is known for parodying television presenting and celebrity entertainment culture.

The Fat Slags

The Fat Slags are another famous recurring feature of Viz.

Their stories typically use exaggerated cartoon characters and outrageous situations to parody British social life.

Brown Bottle

Brown Bottle is also advertised among the featured comic characters.

Ferry Tuckwitt

Ferry Tuckwitt appears in the list of advertised features.

Drunken Bakers

The cover also advertises Drunken Bakers, another example of Viz's deliberately absurd and darkly humorous comic material.

The Return of Frankenstein's Cock

One of the most prominent cover headlines advertises the return of Frankenstein's Cock.

The title appears in large black lettering on the right-hand side, beneath the list of recurring comic characters.

The headline ties directly into the monster-inspired cover illustration.

The artwork features a comically reimagined Frankenstein-style character, gothic buildings, exaggerated anatomy and other humorous horror elements.

This combination of horror parody and adult cartoon humour is characteristic of Viz's distinctive style.

The Curse of the Queen Mummy

A large promotional banner runs across the bottom of the front cover.

The headline reads:

"BLUE BLOOD CURDLING HORROR IN... THE CURSE OF THE QUEEN MUMMY!"

The text uses dramatic red lettering against a blue background, parodying the appearance of traditional horror-film advertising.

At the lower-right corner, a black-and-white illustration depicts a bandage-wrapped mummy.

The mummy is shown with one arm raised and carries a small handbag.

Its costume, pose and exaggerated presentation add a humorous element to the horror-themed design.

The combination of gothic artwork, monster characters and dramatic lettering gives this particular issue a distinctive visual identity.

Cover Design and Collectability

The March 2013 issue combines several recognisable elements of Viz's publishing style.

The front cover features:

• Large white VIZ masthead.

• Bright blue upper background.

• Red celebrity-name banner.

• Oversized Frankenstein-inspired central character.

• Gothic castle and horror-themed background.

• Several smaller cartoon figures.

• Large right-hand column of recurring character names.

• Yellow stars separating advertised features.

• Dramatic horror-style promotional lettering.

• Black-and-white mummy illustration.

• Original issue number, date, price and barcode.

The mixture of celebrity satire, traditional Viz characters and horror parody makes this an appealing example of the magazine's early-2010s artwork.

Particularly suitable for collectors interested in British adult humour, Viz comic characters, satirical publications and original printed comic magazines.

Condition Report – Please Read Carefully

Condition: Pre-owned – generally presentable, with visible signs of previous handling and storage.

This is an original magazine from 2013 and should not be considered new or mint.

The following observations are based on the supplied front-cover photograph.

Front Cover

The original illustrated cover is present and remains visually colourful.

The large white masthead, blue background, orange cartoon artwork and printed headlines are clearly visible.

There are visible signs of previous handling, including:

• Light rubbing and scuffing around the cover edges.

• Wear along the left-hand spine.

• Small creases and surface marks around the spine area.

• Slight bending and irregularity along the top edge.

• Minor wear around the upper corners.

• Light surface rubbing across portions of the cover.

• Small handling marks and slight creasing towards the lower edge.

• Minor wear around the lower corners.

The cover appears reasonably flat overall, although the left-hand edge shows some unevenness from previous handling.

The artwork remains clear and the main printed details are readable.

Spine

The visible spine shows some rubbing and minor creasing.

There are small areas of wear along the left-hand edge, particularly towards the lower section.

The photograph does not establish the condition of the entire binding.

Interior Pages

Only the front cover is shown in the supplied photograph.

The interior pages have not been independently checked for writing, tears, folds, stains, missing pages or other imperfections.

The complete page count and internal condition cannot be guaranteed from the available image.

Back Cover

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

Overall Assessment

A presentable original copy of Viz Magazine, Issue 223, March 2013, with visible signs of normal previous handling and storage.

The front cover retains its colourful and distinctive appearance, with the main imperfections consisting of spine rubbing, minor creasing, edge wear and light surface marks.

Please study the supplied photograph carefully, as it forms an important part of the condition description.

Important – Original Extras Not Included

THIS LISTING IS FOR THE ORIGINAL PRINTED MAGAZINE ONLY.

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

No additional items are supplied unless specifically shown and described.

Packaging and Postage

UK Orders

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

International Orders

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

The photograph shows the actual magazine being offered for sale.

Please examine the photographs and read the condition information carefully before purchasing.

SKU: 1574