Was wondering if anyone here has attempted or had success in contributing to adult comics like Viz? It's just they're always very sketch-like with characters and material.
Viz being the biggest might not have their doors open to outside writers but I remember a time when there were a number of similar smaller publications on newsagent shelves; Smut, Ziggy, Pulp ~ a few others I seem to remember.
Does anyone have knowledge of these or new ones?
I know someone who set up their own magazine that became reasonably well-known (I think it was between them and Viz at one point in the early days) and he went on to BAFTAs and childrens TV. So the avenue is maybe there for a determined writer. But the message seems to be it's a cross between determination and business sense and talent (sadly in that order too) rather than simply an outlet for talent provided via an existing mag.
In this Internet age, you can sub to magazines globally and there must be some comics on this planet that take subs.
Viz I heard are notoriously closed shop.
Quote: SlagA @ January 26, 2008, 10:45 AMViz I heard are notoriously closed shop.
I thought the same, but then I ran into a writer a little while ago who submits to Viz quite regularly. He mentioned also that the money is absolutely miniscule.
I've been published in Viz. It took about 6 attempts - and, having grown up on the pathetic sharks etc, it was the best moment of my life ! the pay is not great but it has opened up doors. actually the cheque is still framed and hangs on my wall. they have about 6 or 7 regular writers (the fantastic Framley Examiner guys are regular contributors) but they receive thousands of submissions every day and it's rare to get anything in. Guess i was just lucky and the article was reasonably amusing, if i do say so myself!
I think Viz after 'not being funny anymore' for a while has recently returned to form.
There is one regular contributor to Viz - John Fardell who does The Modern Parents; an absolute scream who writes the strip regularly. If you can get a sketch like that in, one that readers can identify with there will always be a call for it.
I would like to do something like that but for a smaller publication. The last remaining one I remember was Smut, does anyone have any knowledge of the mag?
Twins! 
Quote: SlagA @ January 26, 2008, 10:45 AMI know someone who set up their own magazine that became reasonably well-known (I think it was between them and Viz at one point in the early days) and he went on to BAFTAs and childrens TV.
Would that be Dean Wilkinson you're talking about? He's a drinking pal of mine. His mag never really got anywhere, unfortunately went under like all the other Viz-a-likes. I've had a few letters published in Viz (most recently the one about Doctor Who using his time-twiddling powers to have eternal sex with Bille Piper), but other than that I hear it's virtually impossible to get proper material in. They apparently have a room stacked high with unread submissions, plus the money's poo, so probably best leave 'em to it.
