Viz #353

Viz magazine was established in 1979 by Chris Donald, Simon Donald, and Graham Dury in Newcastle upon Tyne. It began as a photocopied fanzine sold in local pubs, characterized by its crude, satirical, and often offensive humor that parodied the style of traditional British children's comics. Issue 353, released in the early 2010s, fits within the publication's long-standing tradition of mocking celebrity culture, politics, and social norms through recurring characters like The Fat Slags, Sid the Sexist, and Roger Mellie.

The design of the magazine centers on its distinctive, minimalist cover art which often features a single, biting visual gag or a parody of contemporary media tropes. Artists associated with the publication over the decades have maintained a deliberately rough aesthetic that serves to reinforce the magazine's anti-establishment persona. By the time of issue 353, the title had cemented its status as a cult institution in British media, reflecting a specific vein of irreverent, underground humor that found a lasting audience despite frequent controversies regarding its content.