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''Wizard'' was founded in 1991 by college student Gareb Shamus as a newsletter for his parents' comic book store, estimating the values of "hot" comic books, comics with high demand in the back-issue market. Shamus' interest in the comics market stems from his friendship with comic artist Todd McFarlane and from working in his parents' store. In issue #7, ''Wizard'' became closer to the magazine it is today, with glossy paper and color printing. Unlike other comics publications such as '' Hero Illustrated '' or '' The Comics Journal '', ''Wizard'' has historically focused on superheroes and the economic side of comic collecting. ''Wizard'' strongly supported new publishers Valiant Comics and Image Comics , heavily promoting their new releases. Wizard Magazine's old website, www.wizardworld.com, was home to a lively internet forum community in the late 1990s. The magazine has also spawned several ongoing magazines dedicated to similar interests such as '' Toyfare '' for toys and action figures, '' Inquest Gamer '' for collectible game cards, '' Anime Insider '' for anime and manga, and '' Toy Wishes '' for mainstream toy enthusiasts, particularly children and parents. In 2006, the magazine was revamped with a bigger look and more pages, switching from the "perfect bound" or staple free look, to that of a more traditional magazine. In November 2006, Wizard Editor-in-Chief and co-founder Pat McCallum was fired, after more than a decade with the company. Wizard has declined to say why he was removed.http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9035 On February 21, 2007, Scott Gramling was announced as the new Editor-in-Chief.http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=102399&highlight=wizard+magazine REGULAR FEATURES The magazine has gone through an ever-changing line-up of regular and semi-regular features, including
Retired Features include
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS In addition, both Wizard and Toyfare often feature mail-away offers for exclusive merchandise. Wizard became renowned for their Wizard #1/2 Issue offers--issues of then on-going series which featured in-continuity stories that supplemented the regular series published issues. The issues were numbered #1/2 so as not to disrupt the series ongoing numbering system. Often Wizard would also include free pack-in issues with their magazines, usually numbered as '''Wizard #0's'''. Series that participated include
CONTROVERSY For many, ''Wizard'' is the most visible face of the American comics industry, and it encounters a fair amount of Controversy . Critics charge that ''Wizard'' discusses mainstream American Superhero comics to the exclusion of other kinds of comics; however, such comics are the dominant genre among the majority of American comics buyers. Critics also characterize Wizard as simply an organ to generate hype and publicity for the largest publishers, DC and Marvel, and sometimes others like Image, Dark Horse and Top Cow. It is true that Wizard has arranged mutually-lucrative deals with publishers - preferential advertising and coverage, in exchange for news exclusives for the print magazines and product (toy, comic) exclusives for the publisher's string of conventions. Additionally, critics have accused Wizard of promoting comics they had a financial interest in, whether because they are published by Wizard Entertainment-owned Blackbull Press, or because Wizard's online store has a large inventory in stock. Comic creator Frank Miller had a well-publicized feud with ''Wizard'', initiated by his keynote speech at the 2001 Harvey Awards , during which he ripped a copy of the magazine apart and threw it in a trash can, calling it a "bible written by Satan", a "monthly vulgarity", and a "tree killer (which) regularly cheapens and poisons our field." The two parties have seemingly repaired their relationship (notably, after Miller's successful '' Sin City '' film), and Miller was a "Guest of Honor" at Wizard World Chicago 2005. AWARDS The magazine received the '' Comics Buyer's Guide '' Fan Award for Favorite Publication About Comics for 1992. The magazine also gives out its own awards for the comic book industry: the Wizard Fan Awards . REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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