Posted in: Comics, Video | Tagged: Comics, gareb shamus, subscriptions, wizard, wizard magazine, wizard world
Gareb Shamus Pursued Across Convention Floor To Get Wizard Magazine Subscription Answers (VIDEO)
Bleeding Cool used to have… let's say… a working relationship with Wizard Magazine. I'd report on their shows if I could, even being flown out once to cover their first New York Wizard World Comic Con. And while I ran critical articles when warranted, I could usually get a response from one of the Shamuses at least, or the likes of Peter Katz, or Jerry Mulani. They seemed to appreciate that people would only relate to the good stuff if I also covered the bad stuff – but would give them a fair shake to put their version of a story across as well.
That all changed when I wrote about the subscriptions. Wizard Magazine and Toyfare moved from print to digital, leaving thousands of subscribers up shit creek. Some who had paid recently with a credit card were able to claw their subscription moneys back, those who hadn't, couldn't. There were suggestions that subscribers would see their subscription play out with other, similar magazines. But that didn't happen either.
And suddenly Wizard wouldn't respond to any e-mails, return any phone calls, about anything. They ran away. A bit like this video, where a fan dressed as Lando Carlrissian corners Gareb with a microphone at Wizard World Texas. And Gareb runs. And Lando follows.
He eventually stops running and explains that they do have plans, but they've had problems with the third party that took subscriptions, something they now have "access" to.
And while I understand Gareb's fear of being assaulted, that's not the reason why he and the rest of the Wizard crew haven't been answering Bleeding Cool's questions on this… seriously, I'm an ocean away.
You know what? Later today, I'm going to call them again. Just in case.