Viz Magazine – October 2012 – Issue 219 – Pathetic Sharks, Eight Ace & Raffles

Original Viz Magazine, Issue 219, October 2012, featuring the hilarious Pathetic Sharks cartoon cover, classic Viz characters, celebrity references and traditional British satirical humour.

An original October 2012 edition of the popular British adult humour and satirical comic magazine, featuring a distinctive underwater-themed cartoon cover packed with exaggerated characters, colourful illustrations and the irreverent comedy for which Viz is famous.

This particular issue features a large cartoon shark surrounded by a group of unusual scuba-diving characters, accompanied by the prominent cover headline "OH NO! It's the... PATHETIC SHARKS".

The cover also advertises several well-known Viz characters and topical references to Neil Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, Stretch Armstrong and Olympic hero Mo Farah.

An appealing collectible for enthusiasts of British comic magazines, alternative humour, vintage-style cartoon illustration and original Viz publications.

Magazine Details

• Publication: Viz Magazine

• Issue Number: 219

• Cover Date: October 2012

• Country: United Kingdom

• Language: English

• Original UK Cover Price: £3.20

• Format: Printed adult humour and satirical comic magazine

• Condition: Pre-owned – noticeable spine wear and signs of handling

• SKU: 1574

Front Cover – The Pathetic Sharks

The front cover features a bright, colourful underwater cartoon scene dominated by an enormous black shark with a deliberately ridiculous appearance.

The illustration combines the familiar visual elements of a traditional shark adventure with the exaggerated humour associated with Viz.

Main Shark Illustration

The central shark occupies much of the front cover and is illustrated with:

• A large black body.

• An enormous open mouth.

• Oversized white teeth.

• Bright pink and red gums.

• Two large, protruding cartoon eyes.

• A red shape across the upper portion of its head.

• Exaggerated facial proportions.

• A comical rather than threatening expression.

The shark appears to be swimming through a busy underwater scene while several scuba-diving characters surround it.

Its enormous mouth and oversized eyes create the main visual focus of the illustration.

Scuba-Diving Characters

Several exaggerated cartoon divers appear around the shark.

Upper-Left Diver

A small figure appears near the upper-left portion of the illustration.

The character wears colourful diving equipment, a mask and breathing apparatus, with arms and legs extended in a comical swimming pose.

Lower-Left Diver

Another character appears wearing:

• Yellow scuba-diving cylinders.

• A yellow diving cap.

• A breathing mask and mouthpiece.

• Purple clothing.

• Blue trousers.

• Diving fins.

• Additional underwater equipment.

The figure appears to be holding a long, pointed underwater tool while swimming towards the shark.

Right-Hand Diver

One of the most prominent supporting characters appears on the right-hand side of the cover.

This figure features:

• A large orange curly hairstyle.

• An oversized diving mask with red-orange framing.

• A prominent nose and exaggerated facial features.

• A breathing regulator.

• Black breathing tubes.

• A bright pink diving outfit.

• Yellow and black diving equipment.

• An outstretched arm.

The character's oversized facial features and exaggerated pose contribute to the deliberately absurd underwater scene.

Lower-Centre Divers

Two further figures appear beneath the shark.

One wears dark diving equipment and raises a hand, while another smaller figure appears in a black diving suit with yellow cylinders.

Additional colourful shapes and equipment complete the underwater illustration.

Cover Headline

The large yellow lettering reads:

"OH NO! It's the... PATHETIC SHARKS"

The title is positioned towards the lower-right of the cover.

The exaggerated shark artwork and deliberately ridiculous divers make this one of the most visually distinctive elements of the issue.

Celebrity References and Topical Satire

A colourful yellow banner runs across the top of the magazine.

It advertises three different Armstrong names, each accompanied by a small portrait or illustration.

Neil Armstrong

The American astronaut Neil Armstrong is named on the upper-left portion of the cover.

His appearance as a cover-advertised subject reflects the magazine's interest in topical personalities and recognisable public figures.

Lance Armstrong

Cyclist Lance Armstrong is advertised in the centre of the top banner.

His name appears alongside a small portrait.

Stretch Armstrong

The classic Stretch Armstrong toy character is referenced on the upper-right side.

The combination of three unrelated figures sharing the Armstrong surname is typical of Viz's absurdist humour.

Olympic Hero Mo Farah

Another prominent headline reads:

"TOP HONOUR FOR OLYMPIC HERO – ARISE KING MO!"

The headline is accompanied by a cartoon illustration of a crowned character with exaggerated facial features.

The reference to Mo Farah is particularly relevant to the magazine's October 2012 cover date, following the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The illustration features a crown, bright clothing and a humorous royal presentation.

These topical references give the magazine additional interest as an example of British satire during the London Olympic year.

Classic Viz Characters and Features Advertised

The bottom of the cover contains a large list of recognisable Viz characters and recurring comic features.

Raffles

Raffles is advertised in prominent white and red lettering.

The Fat Slags

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

Their exaggerated personalities and outrageous situations have been a longstanding part of the magazine's British social satire.

Wockney Canker

Wockney Canker is another character advertised on the cover.

Eight Ace

Eight Ace is one of Viz's familiar recurring characters, associated with exaggerated situations and dark humour.

The name appears in bright yellow lettering along the lower portion of the magazine.

Terry Wuckfitt

Terry Wuckfitt is also advertised among the featured characters.

Porn Mice

Porn Mice appears in yellow lettering on the lower-right portion of the cover.

Profanisaurus

The Profanisaurus is another well-known Viz feature, associated with the magazine's distinctive parody of dictionaries and unconventional language.

Letterbocks

Letterbocks is Viz's humorous readers' correspondence feature.

Top Tips

Top Tips is another longstanding part of Viz, featuring deliberately absurd advice and satirical observations.

All the above features are advertised on the front cover. Their individual page counts and complete interior content have not been independently verified.

Cover Artwork and Design

The October 2012 issue has a particularly colourful illustrated cover.

Notable design details include:

• Large white VIZ masthead with red outline.

• Bright turquoise-blue background.

• Yellow Armstrong-themed celebrity banner.

• Small portraits accompanying the Armstrong names.

• Prominent Olympic hero Mo Farah headline.

• Humorous crowned character illustration.

• Large black cartoon shark with oversized teeth.

• Multiple scuba-diving cartoon characters.

• Bright pink, orange, yellow and purple illustrations.

• Large yellow Pathetic Sharks headline.

• Bold lower-cover list of recurring Viz features.

• Original issue number, cover date, price and barcode.

The cover combines several recognisable elements of Viz's visual style, including exaggerated facial expressions, busy cartoon compositions, topical humour and bold lettering.

The underwater scene gives this issue a particularly distinctive appearance.

Collectors' Interest

This issue may appeal to collectors interested in:

• Original Viz Magazine publications.

• British adult humour and satire.

• Classic British comic characters.

• Early-2010s cartoon illustration.

• The Fat Slags and Eight Ace.

• Pathetic Sharks cover artwork.

• British celebrity satire.

• London 2012 Olympic-era memorabilia.

• Mo Farah references.

• Neil Armstrong and Lance Armstrong cover references.

• Alternative British comic magazines.

The original October 2012 cover date, distinctive shark artwork and recognisable recurring characters make this an interesting addition to a Viz collection.

Condition Report – Important

Condition: Pre-owned – fair, with noticeable wear, particularly along the spine.

This is an original magazine from 2012 and shows visible signs of previous handling, reading and storage.

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

Front Cover

The original illustrated cover is present, with the colourful shark artwork and printed headlines remaining clearly visible.

However, there are noticeable signs of wear.

These include:

• Surface rubbing and light scuff marks.

• Visible creasing near the left-hand side.

• Small marks and scratches across portions of the cover.

• Minor wear along the top edge.

• Slight bending and wear around the upper corners.

• Some handling creases and surface impressions.

• Light rubbing along the lower edge.

• Minor wear around the bottom corners.

The cover retains its strong colours and the main illustrations remain clearly recognisable.

Spine – Noticeable Wear

The spine is the most visibly worn area of the magazine.

There is considerable rubbing and scuffing along the left-hand edge.

Visible imperfections include:

• Multiple white areas where the darker printed surface has rubbed away.

• Small abrasions along the spine.

• Creasing and wear near the spine fold.

• Several small areas of paper fraying.

• More noticeable wear towards the lower-left corner.

• Minor edge irregularities consistent with previous handling.

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

Corners and Edges

The top and bottom edges show some signs of handling.

The upper-left corner has slight wear and minor bending.

The lower-left corner has more noticeable rubbing and surface wear where it meets the spine.

The lower-right corner appears comparatively presentable, although minor handling wear is visible.

Interior Pages

Only the front cover has been supplied for inspection.

The condition of the internal pages cannot be fully assessed.

Any internal writing, folds, tears, stains or missing pages cannot be ruled out from the available photograph.

Back Cover

The back cover has not been shown and its condition cannot be independently verified.

Overall Condition Summary

An original October 2012 copy of Viz Magazine with a colourful, presentable front cover but noticeable age-related and handling wear.

The most significant visible imperfections are concentrated along the spine, where there is rubbing, scuffing, paper fraying and small areas of surface loss.

The magazine is best suited to a buyer looking for an original reading or collecting copy rather than a pristine example.

Please examine the supplied photograph carefully before purchasing. The photograph forms part of the condition description.

Important – Original Extras Not Included

THIS LISTING IS FOR THE PRINTED MAGAZINE ONLY.

Any original free gifts, promotional supplements, loose inserts, promotional cards, vouchers 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 sent 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 for additional protection during shipping.

The photograph shows the actual magazine being offered for sale.

Please review the photographs and condition information carefully before purchasing.

SKU: 1574