Wizard and Toyfare magazines ceasing publications...

[Kuzeh]

I used to have Toyfare's subscription back in the day,
but haven't bought it in a while, mostly because their news are already old by the time they are printed.
But they did set a standard for collectors and comic book geeks IMO,
and I always loved Twisted Toyfare theater...

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/01/24/wizard-magazine-to-close-immediately/

SCOOP: Wizard Magazine & Toyfare To Close Immediately (UPDATE)
Submitted by Rich Johnston on January 24, 2011 – 10:12 am (30) comments
Now this is an end of an era.

I am receiving multiple confirmations from across the industry, through none yet from Wizard’s higher ups and PR people yet, that Wizard: The Guide To Comics, the magazine that covered the mainstream comics industry for twenty years and created all manner of careers in the process has closed, effective immediately. Or at least the print version has.

Almost all Wizard magazine staff have been laid off, and all freelance engagements cancelled.

Sister magazine Toyfare, covering the toy market, has not been affected, nor have the Wizard comic conventions.

Created by Gareb Shamus and Stephen Shamus in 1991, the magazine carved a niche for itself covering the most commercial comics in the most aggressive fashion. At one point it regularly sold more than the comics it covered. But sales have declined of late, as the internet has grown in prominence and favour for this kind of news. For many Wizard is no longer the news breaker and agenda setter of the comics industry it once was. And people still have issues with the tone it has taken over the years. Even though it’s arguable that the last couple of years have seen some of the best Wizard content since it started.

But right now it’s time to bury that pointy hat…

(…and UPDATE: see Wizard World Inc. Goes Public for the company’s future plans)

(UPDATE 2: Newsarama is now reporting that Toyfare has been cancelled as well)

 

[galactiboy]

I used to have Toyfare's subscription back in the day,
but haven't bought it in a while, mostly because their news are already old by the time they are printed.

I think you summed up the issue for many... I was also moving into more high-end collectibles and at the time I canceled my subscription they never covered Sideshow or Hot Toys products. I know that has since improved, but the news is faster and more reliable here and other forums.

 

[Darth Snoopy]

I used to read both magazines but with the interwebs...their news is always old before it's printed!

So I give ol' Gareb Shamus a big...

 

[DPrime]

I might be interested in an online subscription... well, once I get me an ipad that is.

Too bad. I still bought Toyfare from time to time. Sure, all the GI Joe, Sideshow and Hot Toys stuff I get online, but there's lots of toy news I don't care to look up on the internet but am still interested in reading in a magazine.

 

[cokebabies]

Even though Toyfare doesn't have much breaking news in the online age, it is still a very entertaining read. This is definitely depressing news for me.

I've been reading it from the beginning (I gave up on Wizard about eight years back when the coverage became a big multimedia mix), and have subscribed for the past four-five years.

I hadn't been able to reach them about an issue I was having with my subscription, this could be a good reason why.

 

[Darth Madden]

I think I have 1 more issue but I wasn't going to renue anyway. Toyfare was good back in the day but over the last year or so it started to go down hill. Too much stuff I didn't care about and most of the stories were just blah.

 

[The Craw]

Toyfare is usually first to preview the new Masters figures. this kinda sucks. but i'm surprised any magazine can make it in the internet age. why buy monthly mags when everything can be found online for free.

 

[Devil_666]

Gareb Shamus also lost millions of dollars on the failed MMA company he co-founded, the "International Fight League" or IFL that shut down back in 2008.

Wonder if that hit plus low sales of his magazines contributed to this decision?

 

[Kabukiman]

Wizard was a huge part of my life growing up. Sad to see it go, but I haven't bought an issue in ages.

 

[MadCow]

Hmm interesting. I have a good friend that writes for Toyfare and he told me just the other day about something he was working on for them.

 

[Customikey]

Wizard was a huge part of my life growing up. Sad to see it go, but I haven't bought an issue in ages.

Ditto. I started with issue 9. So weird to see it go.

 

[Kuzeh]

Hmm interesting. I have a good friend that writes for Toyfare and he told me just the other day about something he was working on for them.

They will continue to publish content online, but magazines are gone...

 

[WarSpawn]

I was with them since issue 1, but haven't bought a magazine since around 2003 or 4. Sad to see them go.

 

[The Ween]

Toyfare is usually first to preview the new Masters figures. this kinda sucks. but i'm surprised any magazine can make it in the internet age. why buy monthly mags when everything can be found online for free.

I know of at least two magazines that I get that don't put it online. I'd rather have hardcopies of magazines anyway. I can take them anywhere then.

 

[The Josh]

I had a Toyfare sub a couple years ago. Sucks they won't be making it anymore.

 

[daikkenaurora]

I used to read Wizard but after awhile they started to mainly focus on Major Marvel lines and also thinned out the number of pages. Plus as everyone said the internet has more to update information anyway.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

I used to read Wizard but after awhile they started to mainly focus on Major Marvel lines and also thinned out the number of pages. Plus as everyone said the internet has more to update information anyway.

that and the price guide went from great to sucking ass

 

[King Darkness]

Kinda sad, sign of the times, but I stopped buying Toyfare years ago, around the time I found this place.

Its great getting up to the second news here, but nothing will be ever beat that moment of buying the new Toyfare and ripping through it for new toy news, and then that sad feeling of having to wait another month for the next one.

 

[intothevoid]

Sad to see them go but not surprised... I used to buy regularly 6-7 years ago... but as many have said, the internet age has claimed yet another victim.

 

[occulum]

* pours one out for Bart Sears' Brutes & Babes*