Et Tu, Toyfare?

Another one bites the dust.

After reporting and getting official confirmation that Wizard Magazine will cease publication, it has also been confirmed by a report in Newsarama that the monthly's sister magazine, Toyfare, will also be put to a close. So ends a generation of good stories and updates that center around the world of popculture as a result. While Wizard concentrated on everything and anything about the world of comics, Toyfare had the distinction of focusing solely on toys. Everything from upcoming releases to a photo gallery of collectibles were displayed for the diehard collector to droll on, and there was even a monthly comic strip born out of the publication called "Twisted Toyfare" that became a popular hit with the reader base. For a time, I collected Toyfare with a passion, and it always made me happy to get my dose of toy eye candy with each new issue and unique toy gallery presented. But like Wizard's fate with the advent of the internet, the magazine wasn't so updated with news anymore, and eventually the slow decline became an inevitable closure for the book.

In the wake of the loss of both printed mediums, Wizard World Inc. will launch a new online publication called "Wizard World". How that will debut remains to be seen when it eventually sees the light of day, but let us take a moment to pause and reflect on the demise of two great publications. R.I.P Wizard and Toyfare, and thanks for the memories.

Goodbye, Wizard Magazine...

Here I was just checking out my local comic shop earlier, and now I see this bit of depressing comic book news.

According to Bleeding Cool, Wizard Magazine - the comic book guide magazine that has established itself as a definite resource for information on the world of comics and popculture, has now closed up shop and will cease printing issues henceforth. The issue you see above, Wizard #229 featuring David Finch's art on Batman, is one of the last I bought, and it just breaks my heart to hear about the magazine folding itself up. I saw the rumor earlier via a comic blog news site Newsarama, but reports from sites such as Bleeding Cool confirm the magazine's demise, and it is with a heavy heart that I repost the headline here. As a kid, Wizard was introduced to me as the cool "comic book preview" book that not only featured exclusive content and interviews with writers, but also a definite price guide that was constantly updated each month for collectors who wanted to know how their issues valued in the market and so on. With the advent of the internet and like many other publications out there, Wizard also felt the sting of the web as they tried to keep up to date with the news as it came. The times however dictated its eventual demise, and the magazine created by Gareb Shamus and Stephen Shamus will cease publication. The Wizard conventions and its sister magazine Toyfare however will not be affected. Still, as the source post points out, it truly is "the end of an era" here. Goodbye and thanks for the memories, Wizard Magazine.

Update: According To Newsarama, the magazine will relaunch itself as an online publication called "Wizard World". Even with the news, the fact the print magazine's gone leaves a hole in the hearts of collectors who enjoyed reading and holding the book. You can check out the report here.