Wizard: The Comics Magazine Officially Dead

[BurningDoom]

http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/01/24/rumor-is-wizard-magazine-dead/

Developing Story: WIZARD and TOYFARE Both To Cease Publication

Though nothing official has come through from Wizard or owner Gareb Shamus, there are multiple reports, including Bleeding Cool, saying the magazine has shuttered.

Our own calls to Wizard’s listed public relations phone number go unanswered, and their “bullpen website” is down, listed as under maintenance mode. The Subscriptions page on WizardUniverse.com gives a 404 error as well.

Johnston speculates ToyFare and the multitude of Wizard conventions will continue on. Shamus has come under heavy fire in the last several years, with reports of non-payment of freelancers, mail fraud from the Wizard store, and hefty layoffs, all while purchasing more comic book conventions in his own name.

UPDATE

We’ve just received a Press Release from Gareb Shamus announcing his intent to launch a digital magazine called “Wizard World” in February 2011, and a 12-city convention tour. While there’s no explicit mention of the print magazine in the release, this serves as functional confirmation of the print monthly’s end. Full Press Release follows:

GAREB SHAMUS UNDERTAKES PUBLIC COMPANY WIZARD WORLD, INC. AND LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE PUBLICATION ‘WIZARD WORLD’

New York, NY (January 24, 2011) – Gareb Shamus, recently appointed President and CEO of public company Wizard World, Inc. (“Wizard World”) (OTC: GOEE.PK), today announced that the Comic Con Tour, which consists of pop culture conference events that provide high visibility marketing opportunities to pop culture brands and companies in multiple venues throughout the year, is now being produced by public company Wizard World. The Wizard World Comic Con Tour intends to cover 12 cities in 2011, including major cities such as New York City, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Austin and New Orleans. The Tour will include sponsors ranging from major movie studios and TV networks to gaming and toy companies to content publishers.

In addition, Wizard World plans to launch in February 2011 an all-new digital magazine called ‘Wizard World’ that will appeal to pop-culture fans, the same audience to which Mr. Shamus has catered to, for over 20 years. Wizard World digital magazine will provide coverage of the world of comic books, toys and superheroes, and the personalities behind them.

“This is a very exciting day for Wizard World and the industries it serves,” said Shamus. “Having the Tour produced by a public company provides additional opportunities to expand and grow the Tour. The new digital magazine Wizard World will give consumers the content they want in a magazine format with which they are familiar, but distributed in a form that is always available at any time on any device. It is a natural evolution for us in this market.”

Wizard World Comic Con will begin its North American tour at New Orleans Comic Con held from January 29 to 30, 2011. The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

UPDATE #2

Albert here. Just got an e-mail from Jerry Milani at Wizard World PR, confirming that ToyFare is also ending publication:

Wizard Entertainment is ceasing publication of the print magazines Wizard and ToyFare. Wizard World, Inc. will begin production of the online publication “Wizard World” beginning in February. We feel this will allow us to reach an even wider audience in a format that is increasingly popular and more readily accessible.

[BurningDoom]

It's no wonder since the quality of the magazine went waaaaayyyyyy down in quality in the last 2-3 years. They jacked up the price of the magazine, but at the same time significantly lowered the page-count and got rid of like 90% of the price guide. The quality of the articles themselves definetly went down in quality too, not nearly as much inside info and not nearly as entertaining as writing like their humorous puns of yesteryear.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

Back when I collected comics, I skipped Wizard in favor of Comic Buyer's Guide. I wanted a real publication, not something that catered to pubescent 14 year old boys.

JY

[Bikeage]

Before the recent revamps Wizard could be entertaining, lame, informative, and dumb, all at the same time. To it's haters, no one forced you to read it, and in it's heyday no one can deny you got quite the bang for your buck... a typical issue back then got alot of bathroom reading mileage, even though sometimes I wanted to wipe with it.

[BurningDoom]

http://www.ifanboy.com/content/articles ... yee_Speaks

EXCLUSIVE: Former Wizard Employee Speaks
by Ron Richards | ShareThis

With the news today that Wizard was ceasing publication, our phones have been ringing off the hook and our e-mail inboxes filled with news and opinions from all around the comic book industry. Say what you will about Wizard, but it was definitely a catalyst when it came to discussion and analysis. But when we got the opportunity to speak to a former Wizard employee who was among the group laid off today as the magazine came to an end, we jumped at the opportunity. This employee requested to remain anonymous but was willing to answer our questions. Keep in mind that this is just one former employee's thoughts and opinions.


iFanboy: Tell us what happened today at Wizard.
Former Wizard Employee: Actually its pretty screwed up what they did. They gave everyone off on Friday (very strange) then last night at 6:30 PM (right before kickoff [of the Jets/Steelers playoff game]) they called me and told me the magazines were no longer in publication. I was asked to go get my personal belongings and they told me the office was closed and moved to a different location and they would let us know when it was okay to get them. When I asked about severance or unemployment they shrugged me off and quickly dismissed me. So, I still have no idea what is happening in those regards.

iF: Did the Wizard Magazine employees know this was coming or was it a surprise?
FWE: A few people were told what was going on. This was pure favoritism by the staff. Things seemed very shady and obviously they did not want us taking home our things for some reason.

iF: Were you, or anyone you're aware of, briefed on the changes and given the opportunity to move over to the upcoming digital magazine?
FWE: No. I was not asked to be moved. A friend of mine on the edit side was simply told "This is what you're doing now." No one was given the option. Not even people who were kept on.

iF: What was the state of Wizard in recent years? What sense of the magazine's performance did you have?
FWE: The magazine was in complete disarray. I had not been there long before I realized that no one knew what they were doing. All the senior staff were promoted simply because everyone above them was fired. They had no working relationships with any of the major publishers. They had not covered Marvel for a number of years because (again, very shady) they re-published a few Marvel books in a "masterpiece" type collection. When Marvel asked them about they simply refused the calls and never paid them a cent. Once I heard this I realized that these people did not give a shit about anyone or anything. I was never given any numbers on how the magazine was doing but I am sure they have been consistent in the sales as they are a very niche magazine.

iF: What was Wizard's online strategy, if you knew of it, while you were employed there?
FWE: It is really funny that you ask about the online strategy; as far as I knew, there was none. A few weeks ago, I heard some talk of having our magazine published on the iPad through Comixology. Having had some experience with digital publishing, I suggested to the editorial director and most senior member of the editorial staff that pages might need to be re-thought to fit the format. He seemed very confused as to what that even meant as far as workflow, etc. I later heard that the iPad idea was dead. About a week later, we needed to take our editorial blog piemonkey.com offline for a few days because Gareb was supposedly severing his ties with his old web project, GeekChicDaily. Thats all I know of the web strategy. Most importantly, I think, is that our ad sales department was not doing well. No one wanted to buy ads and it seemed they were failing miserably. This is probably the number one reason for the switch.

iF: Do you think their new venture that was announced earlier today will succeed? Why or why not?
FWE: Honestly, I know it will fail. First off, there is no leadership. The people that are still on staff have no digital publishing experience or seem to want to be there. As more money goes into the conventions, the less the owners care about the magazine side. They plan on publicly trading and launching this app for free with no real advertising. I think anyone who does a little research before purchasing stock will find just how screwed that place is.

Wow, real classy Wizard. What a way to go out and leave a legacy on the comic industry.

It really is a shame because at one time I loved reading Wizard Magazine and was a proud supporter.

Also, the current issue on stands is the final issue. So we don't even get a farewell issue or a best of Wizard Magazine Special or anything of the sort.

[Redline9]

Oh wow, that's messed up news. I haven't read a Wizard since the early 90s, back when I collected comics, but wow. What a terrible workplace. It's no surprise if the magazine's quality has significantly deteriorated.

[Specineff]

And I thought that Gamefan's demise was the worst possible way to end a magazine's run.

[flojocabron]

I remember reading and subscribing to this many times in the past.

but its been like two years since I've read one of them.

They've cancelled magazines in the past too. I used to get their anime magazine as well, but they ended that too.

everything is already online. so theres no real need for it now.

oh well!