Updated: Wizard Magazine to Shut Down, Relaunch as New Online Publication ‘Wizard World’
Over on Bleeding Cool, Rich is reporting that he’s been informed by multiple industry insiders, that popular comic industry magazine, Wizard, is going out of business, effective immediately.
Almost all of Wizard magazine’s staff have been laid off, and all freelance engagements cancelled. Wizard‘s Sister magazine Toyfare, covering the toy market, has not been affected, nor have the Wizard comic conventions.
UPDATE: The Beat has a statement from Jerry Milani, Wizard’s PR rep:
“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.”
UPDATED: If you were wondering when the last issues of these series would be, I just pulled this quote from http://www.previewsworld.com
Wizard Entertainment has also informed Diamond that it will cease publication of both Wizard Magazine and ToyFare. Wizard Magazine #235 (DEC100699, $5.99) and ToyFare #163 (NOV100683, $4.99) mark the final editions of those publications. The following editions of those magazines have been cancelled:
- WIZARD MAGAZINE #236 (JAN11 0876, $5.99)
- WIZARD MAGAZINE #237 (FEB11 0694, $5.99)
- TOYFARE #164 (DEC10 0700, $4.99)
- TOYFARE #165 (JAN11 0877, $4.99)
- TOYFARE #166 (FEB11 0695, $4.99)
Wizard was launched by Gareb Shamus and Stephen Shamus in July 1991, as Wizard: The Guide to Comics. For many years, the publication was considered the de facto magazine of the comic industry. However, in recent years, the magazine has seen reduced sales, due to competition from online sources, and has also faced much criticism over the style in which the magazine is written.
One thing’s for sure, it’s the end of an era! With Wizard gone after 20 years, and The Comics Journal radically changing format, it looks like that’s the end for comics news in print form.
UPDATE: I just received the following press release from Wizard Entertainment, which reveals that they will be launching an online publication called ‘Wizard World’, which take the magazine’s place. In addition, the Wizard corporation is being replaced by Wizard World, Inc., a new public company, which is being traded as a penny stock.
From the press release:
GAREB SHAMUS UNDERTAKES PUBLIC COMPANY WIZARD WORLD, INC. AND LAUNCHES NEW
ONLINE PUBLICATION ‘WIZARD WORLD’New York, NY (January 24, 2022) – 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.
About Wizard World:Wizard World is a producer of pop culture and multimedia conventions across North America that markets movies, TV shows, video games, technology, toys, social networking/gaming platforms, comic books and graphic novels. It has the rights to the names, marks, domains, customer lists and production rights for a portfolio of pop culture and multimedia conventions.
Related posts:
- Wizard World Acquires NOLA Comic-Con
- Wizard World Acquires Central Canada Comic Con (C4)
- Wizard World Acquires Mid-Ohio-Con
- Twelve Eisner Award Winners, Nominees To Attend Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, Jan. 29-30
- More Than 180 Comics Creators To Attend Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con This Weekend
