Wizard (magazine)

''Wizard'' or ''Wizard: The Magazine of Comics, Entertainment and Pop Culture'' (previously titled ''Wizard: The Guide to Comics'' and ''Wizard: The Comics Magazine'') was a magazine about comic books, published monthly in the United States by Wizard Entertainment from July 1991 to January 2011. It included a price guide, as well as comic book, movie, anime, and collector news, interviews, and previews.

Publication history

''Wizard'' launched in July 1991. With issue #7, the magazine switched to glossy paper and color printing. ''Wizard'' strongly supported new publishers Valiant Comics and Image Comics, heavily promoting their new releases.

With its high-end production values and embodiment of the comic speculator boom, ''Wizard'' was an instant hit, with a monthly circulation of more than 100,000 copies.Melrose, Kevin (January 24, 2011)
"Breaking: Wizard and ToyFare magazines fold"
Comic Book Resources.

The magazine also spawned several ongoing magazines dedicated to similar interests such as ''ToyFare'' for toys and action figures, '' Inquest Gamer'' for collectible game cards, '' Anime Insider'' for anime and manga, and ''Toy Wishes'' for mainstream toy enthusiasts, though all have subsequently been cancelled.

In 2006, the magazine was revamped with a bigger look and more pages, switching from the "perfect bound" or staple free look, to that of a more traditional magazine. After issue #200, ''Wizard'' made several changes to the magazine, shifting focus from reviews and humor to information about upcoming comics and the industry as a whole. The three-page "Magic Words" section, which consisted of reader questions, was dropped and replaced by "Fan Mail", a half-page section allowing three short (and often humorous) letters.

In November 2006, ''Wizard'' editor-in-chief and co-founder Pat McCallum was fired, after more than a decade with the company. ''Wizard'' declined to say why he was removed. On February 21, 2007, Scott Gramling was announced as the new editor-in-chief. Soon after, longtime ''Wizard'' Editor Brian Cunningham was removed in August 2008. The final editor was former staff writer and managing editor Mike Cotton. On February 27, 2009, ''Wizard'' laid off 10% of its work force, including its three staff writers, in order to make room for freelance writers.

''Wizard'' was relaunched with issue #228 (August 2010), which featured Mark Millar as a guest editor. The magazine returned to its strictly comic book roots. The issue featured a ''Green Hornet'' film cover and round table discussion with creators in the comic book film industry.

Despite all these changes, however, the magazine was losing subscribers at an unsustainable rate; by December 2010, its circulation was just 17,000 copies. On January 24, 2011, Rich Johnston of the website ''Bleeding Cool'' confirmed that the magazine would cease print publication, that almost all of its magazine staff had been laid off, and all freelance engagements canceled. This was confirmed later that day by ''Wizard'', who also revealed that its sister magazine, ''ToyFare'', was also canceled. According to the publication's representatives, ''Wizard'' would be relaunched in February 2011 as an online magazine called ''Wizard World''. The first issue of ''Wizard World'' was made available online and through major digital distribution channels on March 2, 2011.

Regular features

The magazine went through an ever-changing line-up of regular and semi-regular features, including:
* Book Shelf – Brief descriptions of the monthly trade paperback and hardcover collection releases.
* Top 10 Writers and Artists – Lists charting the most popular creators of the month in each category.

Retired features include
* Casting Call – A feature proposing the "dream" cast for potential film adaptations of various comic books. It later appeared sporadically.
* Last Man Standing – A dream "face-off" between two different characters or teams, always of different companies and/or universes. The feature would detail a brief showdown between the two, including the victor, and would be accompanied by an exclusive illustration (usually by a high-profile artist) depicting the battle.

Exclusive offers

Both ''Wizard'' and ''ToyFare'' often featured mail-away offers for exclusive merchandise. ''Wizard'' began a practice of producing specially offered ''Wizard'' #½ issues. These were special issues of ongoing major comic book series which featured in-continuity stories that supplemented the regular series' published issues. The issues were numbered #½ so as not to disrupt the series' ongoing numbering system. Often ''Wizard'' would also include free pack-in issues with their magazines, usually numbered as ''Wizard'' #0.

Wizard Fan Awards

The magazine presented the Wizard Fan Awards annually for works of distinction within the comics industry from 1993 to 2006. In 1993, the awards were presented at Dragon Con; in 1994, they were presented at Great Eastern Conventions' Philadelphia Comic Book Spectacular;"Newswatch: Greenhill Sues Great Eastern and Wizard", ''The Comics Journal'' #172 (Nov. 1994), p. 40. in 1995, the awards moved their home to the Chicago Comicon (later renamed Wizard World Chicago), where they remained for the remainder of their existence.Wizard Fan Awards
Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

References

External links

- ''New York Times'' article on ''Wizard''

Archived Wizard Magazines
on the Internet Archive

{{American Comic Book Industry Awards

1991 establishments in New York (state)
2011 disestablishments in New York (state)
Defunct magazines published in the United States
Magazines about comics
Magazines established in 1991
Magazines disestablished in 2011
Monthly magazines published in the United States
Online magazines with defunct print editions
Online magazines published in the United States