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Wednesday 10 February 2010

30 years of Viz

Saturday, 17th October 2009

I have actually cried with laughter six times in my life. Once, when I was 14, watching the famous “Germans” episode of Fawlty Towers; a few years later at the Ku Klux Klan scene from Blazing Saddles. More recently I shed a shaky tear when the politician Ron Davies explained to police that he’d been “watching badgers” in a copse near the M4, and at around about the same time I saw Brass Eye’s fabulously offensive paedophilia special. Twice, though, I have been reduced to tears by the Geordie “adult” comic Viz. Back in the 1990s, when it produced a mock “limited edition” ceramic giftware called “The Life of Christ in Cats”, in which scenes from the Saviour’s life were depicted by felines – little kitten in a manger watched by pussycat figures Mary and Joseph, disappointed-looking tabby cat nailed up to a cross, etc, all painted on a plate. And then, four or five years ago when they did the most perfect take-off of the Guardian local government jobs pages in a spoof called “Vagrant Recruitment”, an entire page of job adverts for tramps written in precisely the condescending, self-important gobbledygook of local government: An opportunity has recently opened for the post of part-time Grade 3 Underpass Vagrant…..you will have considerable experience of menacing children and shouting loudly at traffic, etc etc. Wonderful stuff.

Viz is 30 years old, apparently, and the Spectator – which has always rather liked the comic – marks the fact with a fine article by Sinclair McKay (no link – buy it from a newsagents you tight-fisted bastards). I say it’s a fine piece, but I think Sinclair does make the mistake of believing Viz to be well to the right of centre, and even Tory - given its scathing depiction of yob culture, sexual profligacy, idleness, drunkenness and stupidity and its magnificently un-PC approach to homosexuality, feminism, environmentalism and indeed racism. I suppose it’s an easy mistake to make, seeing that the left has come to be defined by its leniency towards those earlier qualities I mention and its humourless credulity towards those latter qualities. But again – and it’s a familiar refrain of mine, I know – that isn’t the left which I signed up to, and nor is it one which has ever had much beyond popularity beyond London, and certainly not in the north east of England, where I grew up and from where Viz emanates. My guess is that the comic’s creators are either apolitical, like most people in the country, or even old fashioned Labour, given the avidity with which they snipe at Conservative politicians and the strong undercurrent of class war which permeates most issues. It is the fault of the Labour Party, though, that such a stance could be misconstrued as being pro-Tory.

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Hawkeye

October 17th, 2009 1:22pm

My favourite Viz bits were the "Readers' Tips" and "The Modern Parents". Some of the Tips were actually very good.

On some of your other "occasions" Rod, do you think that Blazing Saddles could even be shown in the current politically correct climate? It is a superb movie and shows the stupidity of race issues but I suspect most of the PC brigade would never get past the first 15 minutes.

As for movies that made me cry, I saw The Mask in the cinema and when the Jack Russell put the mask on, I laughed so hard that I couldn't see the screen with the tears of laughter running down my cheeks. The dog was far more talented than Jim Carey.

lupus lungfish

October 17th, 2009 2:40pm

Its not as funny as it used to be

terence patrick hewett

October 17th, 2009 2:57pm

Viz is simply carrying on the fine traditions of the Beano, the Dandy, the Wizard and the Eagle. All aboard the Black Pig me-hearties.

Wilhelm

October 17th, 2009 3:09pm

Rod howls with laughter

'' around about the same time I saw Brass
Eye’s fabulously offensive paedophilia special.''

Im glad you find the topic of paedophilia hilarious Rod, but would you find it amusing if your daughter was raped ?

This shows up the disconnect between the Islington cocktail party set and the rest of the country.

And yes Rod we do understand that Brass Eye was taking the mickey out of the media's reaction to paedophilia, oh how witty.

But some subjects are radioactive and shouldnt be touched.

In the liberal world.

Bernard Manning jokes = Bad.
Paedophile jokes = Good.

What a strange world we live .

Kevyn Bodman

October 17th, 2009 3:18pm

'Top Tips' are often very funny.

My favourite:
Fool people into
thinking you've just eaten an apple by smiling, patting your stomach and saying 'That was a delicious apple.'

Not everybody laughs at that one.
That's not necessarily a weakness of Viz, there are features that appeal to different readers that draw an equally positive response.

The 'magnificently non-PC' attitudes are always refreshing. Sometimes offensive too.But so what?There is no right not to be offended and some 'progressive' types really do deserve to be targeted.

Long may Viz thrive.

On the subject of laughing till tears ran, there were a few moments in the sitcom 'Coupling' that caused me to do that.

No such moments in 'Friends', 'Frasier' or 'Seinfeld'.

Or indeed in 'Terry and June.'

Noa Zrk

October 17th, 2009 3:22pm

Viz helped me pass many a happy hour when I was working in Riyadh. Always brought in the luggage of fellow expats' because the censuring goons that used to ink out pictures of women would never have allowed anything as funny as the Fat Slags to pollute the innocent Saudi mindset. But they didn't bother confiscating comics. It didn't provide me with my best, if not most successful chat-up line, of "don't sweat much for a fat lass, do you"? That was Mike Harding describing his experiences, familiar to many of us, of beer-fuelled bird cruising in the post industrial north. Moderately happy days!

The REAL Mary Seacole

October 17th, 2009 4:21pm

"Big dog's cock" said Rude Kid. Sort of sums up the incumbent government, really.

Noa Zrk

October 17th, 2009 4:40pm

"that isn’t the left which I signed up to..."
Which leads to the question, who nicked the Labour party? The answer is it lost its reason for existing when the country stopped producing anything worth having. In turn that left a vacuum which attracted loonies from the Socialist Workers, ex-Communists, and every crazed minority craving attention and 'respect' from ordinary people who would otherwise have ignored them or put 10p in the tin as they passed them by.Add an opportunistic snake oil salesman to this toxic mix and you have the recipe for the gaily flagged tatterdemalion rabble that coalesced into New Labour and provided the government based of stunning incompetence that we know today. They've traded ruthlessly on the UK's traditional class hatreds to portray themselves as something they haven't been since the 1960's. The representatives of a truly working class.

daniel maris

October 17th, 2009 4:59pm

Yes, Viz is certainly not a right of centre publication. They have in their sights all absurdity - whether it be the absurdity of fat sl*gs believing they are comely or socialist militants wanting to boss everyone around. It can indeed be extremely funny. Modern Parents was hilarious.

Mel Brooks has been a good source of tearful laughter over the years though he eventually dried up as it were.

My faves:

- The "psycho" shower scene from Hi Fidelity where the hotel bellboy stabs at the man in the shower with the newspaper he has been asking to have delivered to him with increasing irascibility.

- The horse being punched (and felled) by the cowboy in Blazing Saddles.

I recall seeing Blazing Saddles in a cinema in Oxford early afternoon - not the most laugh-friendly time of day. People were literally rolling in the aisles suffering paroxysms of mirth.

- Putting on the Ritz as sung by the monster in Young Frankenstein.

Hey - I could go on and on...Brooks was brilliant...Springtime for Hitler and Germany...

Jez

October 17th, 2009 5:04pm

I have dedicated the majority of my blog posts, letters, email in the fashion of Viz's letter page / top tips this past almost decade.

This shortly after i realised that the 'mainstream' would gladly watch the likes of me / my family / my friends burn rather than to even try to analize their mindset / core marxist principles in the face of their abject and utter failure.

Viz is good.

('Milli-Tant'- one of the best!)

The REAL Mary Seacole

October 17th, 2009 5:14pm

"Those Thieving Gypsy Bastards" headlined one amusing early strip. Sort of sums up the incumbent government, really (in more ways than one).

Lupus Lungfish

October 17th, 2009 5:19pm

Wilhelm- you'd better rush out and beat up some of those nasty paediatricians then.

Olaf Rye

October 17th, 2009 5:35pm

The 'Modern Parents' and 'The Critics' are a work of cynical genius ! I am particularly fond of 'Top Tips' and the 'Letterbocks', but there was a brilliant cartoon called 'Sherlock Homeless' which, to my mind, was their finest creation. Incidentally, on their web-site you can view the 'Sting Webcam'--I shall not tell you more, as it is worth a chuckle.

Wilhelm

October 17th, 2009 6:41pm

Chris Rock on OJ Simpson

'' Some blacks just dont like freedom, do they ? ''

What a brilliant line.

Also Chris Rock does a 20 minute routine on the differences between African Americans and N*****s. The reason why its funny is because there's truth in it. You'll probably see clips of it on Youtube.

The liberal PC tree huggers wont find it funny, too busy saving the world.

Wilhelm

October 17th, 2009 6:48pm

The Waffen SS doing the goose step is very funny, Rod, you'll have to admit its a great looking uniform, dont you think ?

Dixon

October 17th, 2009 8:20pm

Indeed, wasnt "Student Grant" a toff?

Could the cats scenes you refer to have been a very erudite reference to that cult-classic among the taxidermy fraternity, "The Death of Cock Robin" by Potter. I saw that diorama, in which most roles were played by stuffed kittens, as a child in Potters private museum at Bramber. Almost nobody had heard of it then. It was with disgust that my family observed that the collection...a marvellously macabre and fusty single cluttered room of taxidermy displays and preserved freaks...was sold off to make way for a museum of pipes. But it was only after going out into its present taxidermilogical diaspora that Potters work became famous.A century after his death. To the extent that the Cock Robin diorama ( featuring an actual dead cock robin ) is, as I say, now world renowned.

Although I cannot remember ( if I ever knew ) Potter the taxidermists first name, I predict that he will be remembered long after the world has forgotten his illustrious playwright kinsman, Dennis.

In fact, surely the Viz creation you describe was a parody of this classic piece of Victorian macabre.

Rory Sutherland

October 17th, 2009 8:26pm

A letter to Viz Letterbocks (from Ena B Sharples) following Lewis Hamilton's reception at the Barcelona Grand Prix:

"How can Spanish Formula 1 fans be racist, as surely they are foreigners themselves?"

October 17th, 2009 8:36pm

Wilhelm- I don't know what to say to you- nobody can really win with you can they ?.
I'm not sure Chris Rock would enjoy your company- the 'nigger' sketch is a one or two steps up from your level.

Dixon

October 17th, 2009 8:41pm

"Wilhelm
October 17th, 2009 6:48pm
The Waffen SS doing the goose step is very funny, Rod, you'll have to admit its a great looking uniform, dont you think ?"

Its even funnier when the Russians do it...hundreds of men who look like mindless clones of Dolph Lundgren dressed in blue-striped sailor suits and pretty berets doing a chorus-line two-step. In a land which has so thoroughly suppressed gay culture, the irony is that they dont realise how incredibly "gay" their putative displays of "manhood" are!

Indeed, Wilhelm, tin pot countries ( like Russia ) furnish us with hilarious displays of "military proficiency" everyehere we look. Be it Saddams Feddayin spinning on trapezia beneath helicopters like human chandeliers or Fatahs hunks diving through flaming hoops. From the abseiling Burka-babes with HK MP5 submachine guns jumping off balconies in Tehran to Hizbollahs fiercesome demonstrations of the eating of live chickens! The more insignificant in military terms a military becomes, it seems the more elaborate and absurd become their displays.

The one exception of course being those Waffen SS!

But that wouldnt stop you laughing at Fawlty Towers. You see, thats theonly rule about humour, there are NO rules about what makes people laugh.If you admit the NAZIs on parade were funny...as you do...then you have conceded that already.

Obviously you think of "comedy" as it is represented in "comedy clubs", which for the most part is a right-on PC substitute for going to church in which "humour" involves tittering knowingly ones approval where expected.

Humour, in reality, entails an involuntary reaction, or none at all.

Personally, my test of "humour" is to try not to find it funny. If it doesmnt make me laugh nonetheless, then it isnt.

But Phil Collins talking about "Nonce-sense" really made me howl! It also, like most of Brass Eyes celebrity moments showed up what a bunch of mindless, mecenary creeps our "cebrities" are.

Lupus

October 17th, 2009 8:59pm

Wilhelm - you are being contentious for the sake of it- how you have the balls to quote Chris Rock I'll never know- he would verbally tear you to pieces. I can sort of understand where you are coming from, but really, I think you have slightly mis-understood the 'nigger' sketch.

mark

October 17th, 2009 9:11pm

My favourite readers Tip. " I always carry a tin of red paint in the boot of my car. Then if I come across an accident scene I can pretend to have been involved"

Scene that has me rolling around the floor every time: The Biggus Dickus scene from the Life of Brian, and the immortal line " He wanks as High as any in Wome".

Lupus

October 17th, 2009 9:35pm

Wilhelm and Rod- I met Clarissa Dickson Wright this afternoon, I think we can agree on some common ground here. We all love this beautiful country, the diversity of scenery and wilderness in this superb country. We are all interested in a common goal Wilhelm- that is, to preserve the future for our children and beyond.And to have a degree of fairness to boot.
I understand your anger Wilhelm, but going the BNP route is completely counter productive. (Clarissa doesn't like the Hairy Bikers- they stole her idea!)

gareth

October 17th, 2009 9:45pm

Good grief!! - is Viz left wing or right wing!!!!!
Who do the drunken bakers aspire to!!!
Yes you're probably right Rod - anything that's cool can't be right wing, therefore Viz must be left wing working class popular rock n roll - just like you!!
You may have not signed up for the left wing deal we have had for the last....40 years did you say Rod? .....but you sure have ridden that beast for all it's worth.
"I'm left wing working class" is the best way to get critical immunity in social groups - or popular trendy social comment. New Labour rode that one into the ground just like you have Rod.
When Heffer gave you chance to explain what you did believe in, man to man, - you ran away back to your old comfort blanket of left wing is good and right wing evil!! Which you seem to be colouring every argument with. What room is left for satire Rod?
Here's a good Viz letterbocks:
On holiday a few years back, I took part in a quiz and managed to reach the final only to lose out after what I consider to this day, to be a correct answer. The question asked 'What 'C' would you associate Jeremy Clarkson with?' to which I confidently replied 'cunt'. Not only was I told the answer was incorrect, but I was asked by the holiday rep to leave the premises immediately. Has anyone else experienced such appalling treatment whilst holidaying with one's family?

Lupus

October 17th, 2009 9:56pm

Wilhelm- I'm with Toby Ballocks on this one- you are completely numb, dumb and extremely stupid.I'm sure Fergus will agree, your attitude is non conciliatory, perfunctory and ridiculous. I can tell you some excellent Bernard Manning jokes by the way- the man was a genius.

Wilhelm

October 17th, 2009 9:59pm

Lupus

'' You mis understand ''

I find your comment rather puzzling. Let me put it this way, Wilhelm has ever made a mistake or distorted information. I am, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.

So there !

rod seacole liddle

October 17th, 2009 10:19pm

Don't get yourself too worked up, Gareth old chap, it's just a point of view.

Lupus

October 17th, 2009 10:49pm

Wilhelm- 1947 was a big mistake, but we all have to find some way . Its a hangover from world war two Wilhelm.
We must learn to live with what we have- end of.
I'm just watching Boris Becker being interviewed by that idiot Piers- prying etc.
Anyway Kaiser I think you should calm down- you'll never win any argument by Bla Bla etc!- I happen to think that this country still has a lot to offer!

Wilhelm

October 17th, 2009 10:50pm

During Bernard Manning's national service in the 1950s, he was posted to Spandau Prison and guarded Rudolf Hess, Karl Donitz and Albert Speer. can you believe it ?

Lupus goes loopy

Please give me times dates and places where I have said '' I support the BNP.'' you'll be seeing my lawyers in the morning.

I have never ever never said '' I support the BNP, not never.

Talking of the Waffen SS uniform, it was designed by Hugo Boss, thats probably why its snappy looking.

Noa Zrk

October 17th, 2009 11:09pm

Gareth;

"Has anyone else experienced such appalling treatment whilst holidaying with one's family"?

Your audience?

lupus

October 17th, 2009 11:12pm

I'm like you Wilhelm- I love this country and am slightly concerned when I have a few drinks in the Fighting Cock in Bradford. I may as well be in Islamabad- I really don't like it.
I doubt Liddle has been to the Fighting Cock lately.
Wilhelm- keep telling us how it is and I'll keep telling you how to do something about it ie. Be reasonable and don't use aggression as a tool.

rod seacole liddle

October 18th, 2009 12:06am

I've been to the Mile End Road, Lupus.

Wilhelm

October 18th, 2009 12:21am

I read at the back of this weeks Radio Times that Simon Mayo's favourite website is the Spectator and Rod Liddle, can you believe it ?

The poor deluded fool.

Lupus Lungfish

October 18th, 2009 1:42am

Wilhelm- I'll gladly meet you in The Fighting Cock, Bradford, most Friday and Saturday evenings. I truly hate the way we have been sold out- especially by people like- nah, I'd better not say.I'm not voting for those c+unts the BNP though-although I have got an open mind!.

lungfish

October 18th, 2009 2:01am

Rod-Why do you think this is becoming a serious issue now? YOU DUMB IDIOT- you write speeches about inclusion etc- you stupid git.Quite Frankly- we have to repair the damage now, and I'v never voted Tory in my life.I have never voted Tory but I am now.Jesus fucking Christ the Labour Party have murdered around 100,000 people for NO reason.I can't really explain my anger in a few words- but just trust me.I now loathe the Labour Party.

Lupus

October 18th, 2009 2:34am

I think I know how working class people think - thats why myself and Emma are seriously thinking about moving away- we are going to split and leave you poor dumb curruthers to pick up the pieces

lupus

October 18th, 2009 4:28am

I'm butting out of this pointless war

Lungfish

October 18th, 2009 10:33am

Oh shit, I have a blinder behind the eyes this morning AND i'v been threatened with legal action by Wilhelm.
P.S.- could somebody tell that Donald chap that I don't want to see a pair of splayed lungs with my morning smoke- is nothing sacred for heavens sake.
Mile End Road?- fair point I suppose but have you been to The Fighting Cock in Bradford?- they should rename it The Enclave.

toby fanny craddock forward

October 18th, 2009 11:26am

Clarissa Dixon-Wright? Why should we take any notice of a woman who gets her pleasure form torturing animals? Horrid fat lady.

Lungfish

October 18th, 2009 1:03pm

Fair point Toby- I'm not into pointless cruelty.

October 18th, 2009 1:13pm

Liddle- apologies for the 'DUMB IDIOT' comment, pissed again I'm afraid.

Carl

October 18th, 2009 1:41pm

Junior Cop was a classic as was the one about the Travelling community which we can't mention.

rod seacole liddle

October 18th, 2009 1:57pm

lungfish - no apology needed, sir. Saturday night, what are we to do, etc

Lungfish

October 18th, 2009 2:49pm

Liddle- I'm thinking of buying a kiln- throw some pots on a Saturday evening.

rod seacole liddle

October 18th, 2009 3:13pm

Nah, stick to narcolepsy, Lungfish.

Now I think of it, the first three frames of "Thieving Gypsy Bastards" was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Frame one: man standing by side of road with dog on a lead and young daughter, caravan approaching. Frame two: all you can see is the caravan as it passes the man. Frame three: Man standing by side of the road with caravan disappearing into the distance; man has no dog, no daughter, no jacket. Fabulous, absolutely wonderful. They got done for that, from the CRE. And they apologised.

Lungfish

October 18th, 2009 4:48pm

Nah- the funniest Viz thing I'v ever seen was a spoof advert for an exercise bike. No saddle just an extra large back wheel with bristles to remove 'gruffnuts'- I'm afraid I have been guilty of bursting out laughing for no apparent reason over that one- wearing a whistle and trying to pretend I'm clever etc- then that image rears its ugly head and I just crack up!- out of the blue, bang!, its not as funny as it used to be etc

lungfish

October 18th, 2009 5:29pm

Now what was it-- zzzzz fart grunt scratch- I was going to say something very witty zzz no really shplaaat duh zzzz scratch grunt zzzz, somebody turn the light out I'm gonna throw, zzzzz. etc etc.
How come the 'editorial team' at Viz never win the Nobel prize for literature- I'm sure in a hundred years or so when historians are trying to define our times etc grunt etc Fart ballocks.

Carl

October 18th, 2009 6:30pm

It is entertaining that some posters seem to be offering to fight each other. Can they please ensure that it is filmed and put up on YouTube? I never did manage to get hold of a copy of Bum Fight, so this will have to do.

Thank you in advance.

logdon

October 18th, 2009 7:24pm

Effin' 'ell. I'm amazed. I am not alone.

Each time I buy Viz and that's every month now, I feel the need to make some statement of loyalty as excuse.

As a man knocking on in age should I be still in awe of it's juvenile humour? Obviously the answer is yes because I just cannot resist it.

I say juvenile but, like Family Guy the farts have a meaning and buried within the scatology there's such a core of honesty and understanding of what it is to be human. Then to rip the piss out of it.

And the graphics? Some are worthy of Hollywood storyboard status.

My favourites?

The Critics and Modern Parents for the way John Farrel exposes the hypocrisy of what passes for contemporary liberal thought.

Drunken Bakers with it’s brutal black humoured nihilism and despair when alcoholism takes hold.

Top Tips and the astonishingly adroit surreality of British humour it’s contributors never fail to exhibit.

Letterbocks, especially when a ‘reader’ responds to a letter further up the page in the same issue.

Mrs Brady and her old biddy buddies, constantly immersed in nostalgia, personal ailments and a kind of warm truth of what it’s like to be old and semi senile in a youth obsessed nation.

Jack Black and Silver, Black Bag the Highland shepherds bin bag and in the same vein the fifties comic adventure strip spoofs which simultaneously recreate that post war period of innocent patriotism whilst pushing it into realms of complete dottiness.

Baxter Basics. It’s name alone brings a smile.

Viz is the yardstick of anti pompous. MP’s should be obliged to read it (but would they even begin to get it?) It is British to the core. It is wildly creative yet never succumbs to the mallaise of back slapping loveydom. And there’s another, Lovey Darling with his ludicrous hat and even more ludicrous inability to notice that it’s all over.

Our so called ‘edgy humourists’, and Mock the Week springs to mind, are self absorbed pedants in comparison. Always the same old, same old tired victims. Always the boring tediousness of it’s up it’s own fundament circularity and predictive punchlines. And a quite sadistic line in bullying viciousness from those characters so right on it not only hurts but grates at our fair play sensibilities.

Viz cleverly avoids all that. To call it gentle would be idiotic yet somehow it rises above it’s own prodding by dint of the sheer absurdity of it’s humour.

Long may it live.

Richard

October 18th, 2009 7:31pm

Rod,
have you ever looked at Dubtoons? They do Tintin in a Teeside accent. And what a rude little bastard he is, man.

workie unwaged ticket

October 18th, 2009 7:43pm

On the subject of Viz, Biffa Bacon and (in its v early days)-Skinheed pretty much described our daily lives - like.

Nowadays 8 Ace seems to do the trick.

Noa See Cole Mugabe Nelson and Winnie Mandela Zrk

October 18th, 2009 7:58pm

Having had previous form at St James Park I'm considering standing for a seat in the North East at the next election, as a representative of the "Save our Newcie Brown and Lynch the Scottish one" Party. I recognise that much of my hard acquired previous linguistic skill in Geordie has gone forever, but I nevertheless need a language refresher course. Can any kind readers therefore send me their old copies of the Newcastle Gazette whilst they are sorting them from the copies of Viz to go that are going on the tip?

N

October 19th, 2009 2:09am

The Ku Kulx Klan scene is one of my favorites too. Such a classic movie.

John Lea

October 19th, 2009 10:09am

One of my favourite adverts in Viz was the one for the 'gallow-matic' - the do-it-yourself public gallow. The tag line read: 'Bring back capital punishment in the comfort of your own living room', and there was a picture of Jim Davidson giving a thumbs up sign. Fantastic!

hiro

October 19th, 2009 10:15am

Viz - right of centre?

Pull the other one.

Johnny Seacole Fartpants

October 19th, 2009 11:41am

Fwarrrrrp!!

Chris Clark

October 19th, 2009 12:09pm

It's normally the Biffa Bacon strip that gets me in uncontrolable giggles while on public transport. Also the "Kids say the funniest things about.." feature. Pant wettingly funny.

Just thinking of the last two times I wept with laghter, bot in the cinema and both connected, though years apart. First one was when the alien ships started blowing up New York and Washington in Independence Day, and second was the "America! Fuck Yeah!" scene in Team America.

Ian Bailey

October 19th, 2009 12:19pm

The best thing about "Look Out! Its the Thieving Gypsy Bastards" was the apology printed the following issue. Something along the lines of "we in no way meant to portray that Gypsies were Thieving or indeed Bastards"

Other favourites - the one-off 1950s-comic spoofs. "Arse Farm" where they grow arses. "The Vibrating Bum-faced Goats". "The Rotating Chin Men" where flying men have rotating chins that spray spunk onto the Queen.

Oh yeah, Donald Sinden in "Whoops There Goes my Knighthood". Which ends with him on stage at the Royal Variety standing in a vat of shit wearing a nazi T-Shirt trying to wank a bee out of his cock.

Viz at its best was always surreal, a little insane and vicious in its parody. It lost it after the Donald brothers stopped doing it - the "not as funny as it used to be" strap line finally - sadly - came true.

workie reduced to clear ticket

October 19th, 2009 4:44pm

I seem to remember a strip which concerned summit like a band of marching beavers (phnarr) and one episode had them doing a show at a home for colour blind kids (cosily covered in tartan rugs in wheelchairs..

Peter W

October 21st, 2009 12:38pm

Oh for goodness sake, the travelling community piece was followed up immediately with "The Nice Honest Gypsies", I think at request of CRE.

Surely all humour is fundamentally conservative, identifying the gap between good intentions and reality. The Daily Mash, best of the satire websites, certainly is. I think James Delingpole once wrote about this.

Incidentally is anyone else surprised at how illiterate most of these comments are? It's more reminiscent of the Private Eye parody than what we expect from Spectator readers.