From: cblaise@moose.uvm.edu.UUCP (Chris Blaise)
Subject: Re: WIZARD: GOOD OR BAD?
Originator: cblaise@moose.uvm.edu
Organization: University of Vermont -- Division of EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 19:56:35 GMT

From article <1a8cjrINN7k1@darkstar.UCSC.EDU>, by intruder@cats.ucsc.edu (Isaac Truder):
> I've heard various grim sounding rumors regarding the folks at WIZARD.  One
> such rumor says that the WIZARD people have signed some kind of agreement
> with Image Comics, agreeing to hype their comics through the roof.  Can't
> think of any reason why they'd do this, though one was given when I heard
> this rumor, though I don't remember what it was.  The other rumor I've heard
> is that WIZARD is being investigated by some government organization,
> presumably for possible involvement in price-fixing.

	Surely this comes to this occasional reader of the Wizard as a
complete and total shock.  :)

> 
> The bottom line, as I see it though, is that WIZARD is basically total
> fanboy fluff.  You can tell right off EXACTLY the market they're aiming for.
> COMICS BUYERS' GUIDE is an excellent publication on comics and the industry,
> but it lacks the "flashy", slickly produced look that appeals to the Image
> crowd.  WIZARD is shooting straight for this market, and to the same type
> of investor/"collectors" that fall for the holograms and other bullshit as
> gimmicks to get you to buy ten copies of a comic book.  Whether this is
> really some conspiracy to milk the fanboy of his hard-earned (taking out
> the garbage, mowing the lawn) dollars or not, doesn't concern me too 
> terribly much.  I just see WIZARD as another nail in the coffin of good
> comics, as the market continues to plummet headlong into the pit of
> investor mania.

	Best things I found in the current issue:  Apparently
they've been selling different covered copies to direct outlets
and bagging some copies.  The fact that in the last 2-3 issues of them that
I've read (let me say that my parents own a grocery store and like
noteable others on here, I have the "privelege" of reading this without
buying it) they've had "collector" cards for characters of what up
and coming comics company?  Can you say Image?  Can you say surprise?

	Here's a question I have for others:  How long is this shit
gonna last?  All of this fanboyish stuff like going for 125 copies
of WILDCats so you can get that cool extra-rare cover?  How long are
people gonna sucker themselves into buying these cheap "collector cards"
which are nothing more than panels from comic books printed on
cards (I will say however, that Marvel's Masterworks edition looks like
an exception.  Nice new art that IMHO, might make them worthwhile).
When is this stuff finally gonna come crashing down around people's ears
and we see today's 12 year olds carting off their 30 copies of Youngblood
1 to the recycling bin because the shops won't give them $.10 apiece for
them?

	But hell...why should I complain?  Neither Next Men or 
the Star Wars comics from DH are "fanboy" books...as long as I can
walk into the comics shop and am able to read some geniunely well
written, drawn and overall enteraining stories, I shouldn't bitch.

 TTYL
 Chris