VIZ: The Big Hard One (Best of Issues 1 to 12)

Viz Comic 1 first appeared in December 1979. Only 150 copies were printed. By 1984, the print run had gone up to 5000. Later during the 1980s Viz became an institution in comics circles in the UK. This issue includes weird and wonderful strips like Victor Pratt, Tommy and his Magic Shoes, The Revenge of the Steel Skull, Ted Dempster and his Giant Ape, Captain Muscle, Mickey The Martian, Skinheed, Professor Piehead, Paul Whicker The Tall Vicar, The Pathetic Sharks, Sidney Sidebottom, Albert O'Balsam and his Magic Hat, Mr Logic, The Mighty Orgon, Roger Mellie The Man on the Telly, Billy The Fish, Hamilton Winterbottom, Mr Crazy Face and his Funny Monkey, Tommy "Banana" Johnson, Victor and his Boa Constrictor, Aldridge Prior the Hopeless Liar and Johnny F@rtpants. There are also some hilarious photo romances, like Love Souvenir, Love Is Blind, He Played On My Heartstrings and Prisoner Of Love. In this last one, Karen Smith's flatmate Sandy locks her in the toilet in order to steal her boyfriend, Alan. Two months later, Alan and Sandy order fish and chips in a restaurant. Alan discovers a bottle in his fish containing a note written by Karen in lipstick on wet toilet paper, telling how she had been keep prisoner. Alan rushes to Karen's place, kicks down the toilet door and rescues her. True love, and the weeks Karen spent in the toilet only strengthened her love for Alan. I love stories that end well!