the vynsane asylum

Last year at Comic-Con, I grabbed one of the freebie issues they were giving away. And the salesgirl was a cutie. Never mind that my wife is with me, and that I'm happily married (despite how my played-up posts here may often read), I still grew up a geek and am a sucker for a cute salesgirl. (I have this crazy feeling that the companies at Comic-Con know this, as most of the females are behind the counters.)

Long story short, I bought a year subscription at what is a low price (I think $15 for a year). I figured this could help me keep my finger on the mainstream comics pulse without my having to read a ton of comics that otherwise aren't interesting.

Even at a cut-rate deal, this was a waste. $15 too much.

I hadn't read the book in over a decade. I forgot how much it sucks. I forgot it is ToyFare's retarded brother.

It is nothing but a huge ad for Marvel and DC. And sometimes Image. Once in a blue moon, Dark Horse. They hype the shit out of upcoming projects, but are quick to change their own opinions after the fact and say something sucks.

I got an issue last night. There was a cover that was a huge display of Gareb Shamus fellating Joe Quesada. (Okay, it was really Cap and IM in the umpteenth Civil War cover, but the intent was the same.) I hurriedly pulled it out of the polybag, because the headline at the bottom read: "Wanna write comics? Alan Moore and Brian Michael Bendis show you how!" Now, I'm not a teenaged fanboy anymore, but I'd be an idiot to pass up insight from the likes of Mr Moore. Especially when I've paid for it already.

The article? Four pages. Four writers (I don't even recall the other two.) Each page is a scan of one page of script, and a scan of the finished page. Well Jesus H Christ, that's insightful and a tremendous frigging resource!

Just one example among many of why this magazine blows The Goat.

I haven't even taken the previous two issues out of the polybags. The stupidity level just frustrates me.

I know Hero Illustrated went under years ago, being just a Wizard clone. I've not seen Comics Scene or Comics Journal in years. Are any of these real publications about comics still in existence, or did Wizard defeat them all with its inane prattling?

yeah, i can relate... it was funny and sometimes actually impressive 15 years ago when i was as smart as the writers. now that i've intellectually matured and they haven't, it's a waste of good paper, ink, glue, and whatever other resources go into creating a printed material.

toyfare is by far funnier, and more clever, but it's still just a wank-off to the toy industry instead of the comic industry.

They still publish Wizard?
Huh, ya learn something new every day.

Fuck them both. If it wasnt for the price guides, I dont think i would have looked at it 2 months ago.

I always loved when, during the previous time when I occasionally read the mag, a comic (usually from Image) would be delayed several months, or even cancelled, but word didn't get to Wizard before they went to print, and it showed up as being an issue or so ahead, and worth several times cover price.

Like PITT, which was delayed an entire year. #1 hadn't come out, and Wizard kept printing that it was on #3 or #4, and #1 was worth $15.

No, no corporate ass-kissing here.

Does Wizard own CGC Comic Grading? Why else would they devote so much of their price guide to explaining what it is and a half dozen pages of recently graded books with prices in the back of the book? Is there really that much of a demand for comics you'll never be able to read? It seems hinky to me.

And what is the criteria for choosing the Hot 10 Writers/Artists? is is the staff picking faves? Is it based on monthly sales? yearly sales? I don't think so because a prolific writer doesn't necassarily make a "hot" writer. Some writers, like Frank Miller can put out a single issue in one year, and still be on the "Hot" list month after month. And isn't it all subjective anyway? I think #6 Ed Benes is entirely better as an artist than #3 Leinel Yu, but what is the criteria? I just don't get the rating system.

Also, whats the point of focusing on Ultra Rare Retailer Incentive covers that go for hundreds of dollars because theres only 10 in existence? Do we really need a half page every month complete with photos of books we will NEVER see?
For that matter, why do companies commision big name artists like Michael Turner to do variant covers and then make them so fucking difficult to get? Is that a wise investment? I guarantee a Turner cover will sell more copies than some no name douche eurotrash painter. Yet thats the cover regular readers get? Makes no sense.

I'm sure they have a "business agreement". When CGC first started rearing its head, they were calling "Modern Age" books "Wizard Age". That got shit canned in a hurry.

jjreason wrote:I'm sure they have a "business agreement". When CGC first started rearing its head, they were calling "Modern Age" books "Wizard Age". That got shit canned in a hurry.

That explains a lot.

There are a few things about Wizard I enjoy. Like when they do the "running comentary" features with artists and writers about certain issues or story arcs and point out, page by page, easter eggs or the reasons why they did or choose a certain angle or color. Those are insightful.