Wizard Entertainment
Formerly | Wizard Press, Kick the Can, GoEnergy, Wizard World |
---|---|
Company type | Public |
OTCQB: WIZD | |
Industry | Entertainment |
Founded | 1991 (Wizard Press) 2001 (GoEnergy) |
Founder | Gareb Shamus (Wizard Press) Strato Malmas (GoEnergy) |
Headquarters | , U.S. |
Area served | North America |
Key people | John Maatta (CEO 2016-present) |
Products | magazines (1991–2011) |
Services | Fan conventions (1997–2021) |
Website | wizardworld |
Wizard Entertainment Inc., formerly known as GoEnergy and Wizard World,
Gareb Shamus started the previous bearer of the Wizard Entertainment name in 1991 as Wizard Press the publisher of one monthly magazine (Wizard). That company evolved into a multi-title publishing company with diversified interests in branded products and related convention operations. By 2011, the company had discontinued its print division to focus exclusively on its convention business.[2] Since then, they have expanded to producing thirteen annual conventions around the U.S.[3]
History
Gareb Shamus founded Wizard magazine in January 1991 shortly after he graduated from college.[4] The company was originally based in Congers, New York.
Wizard purchased the
In December 2007, Darren Sanchez was named Vice President of Production at Wizard Entertainment.[6]
On December 7, 2010, GoEnergy acquired Kick the Can Corp.
Shamus was pushed out as company CEO in late 2011; his position was taken in March 2012 by John Macaluso.[4]
In 2015, the company lost $4.25 million in revenue and would be cutting back from 25 events to 19 events in 2016.[7] Less than a week after the announcement of the loss, John Macaluso resigned as CEO and was replaced by John Maatta.[8]
Publishing
Wizard started as a price guide to comics but evolved into focusing squarely on pop-culture, specifically targeting young adult males. (The magazine ultimately featured a price guide to comics and action figures in the back of the magazine.) With its high-end production values and embodiment of the comic speculator boom,[9] Wizard was an instant hit, with a monthly circulation of more than 100,000 copies.
The magazine also spawned several ongoing magazines dedicated to similar interests, such as
Anime Insider folded in the spring of 2009.[citation needed] On January 24, 2011, after 20 years of publication, the company announced that Wizard would cease print publication and become an all-digital magazine called Wizard World, launching in February 2011.[10] At that point Wizard Entertainment also ceased publication of its sister magazine, ToyFare.
Black Bull Entertainment
In 2000, Wizard founder Gareb Shamus forayed into the world of actual comic book publishing, creating the imprint Black Bull Entertainment, featuring several well-known creators, including Mark Waid, Chris Eliopoulos, Nelson DeCastro, and Garth Ennis. The first Black Bull title was the miniseries Gatecrasher: Ring of Fire.[11] Black Bull's titles included:
- Beautiful Killer (2002–2003), #1–3
- Gatecrasher (2000–2001), #1–6
- Gatecrasher: Ring of Fire (2000), #1–4
- Just a Pilgrim (2001), #1–5
- Just a Pilgrim: Garden of Eden (2002), #1–4
- The New West (2005), #1–2
- Shadow Reavers (2001–2002), #1–5
Conventions
Just a few years after purchasing the
In May 2002, Wizard branched out from Chicago and produced "Wizard World East" at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.[13] And in 2003 the company produced "Wizard World Texas;" adding "Wizard World Los Angeles" in 2004,[14] and "Wizard World Boston" in 2005.
In 2005, Wizard announced that it would be holding a comic book convention in
In 2008, Wizard began adding an academic forum called "Wizard World University" to include scholarly panels at their conventions, beginning with the November convention in Arlington, Texas.[18]
In 2009, Wizard canceled the Texas event and postponed the Los Angeles convention.[19]
In 2009, Wizard World acquired the
In 2009, Wizard World also acquired the
Wizard Entertainment's 2010 North American Comic Con tour included city stops in
]Wizard's 2013 conventions included
Over time, Wizard World reduced the number of conventions they would hold each year, down to only six by 2021. In August 2021, Wizard World announced they would be selling the convention events business to FanExpo, with the final Wizard World Chicago show occurring in October.[27][28]
References
- ^ SEC filings
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission (Washington, D.C.). Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ "Form 10-K: WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC." December 31, 2018. United States Securities and Exchange Commission (Washington, D.C.). Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ The Riverfront Times(Apr. 3, 2014).
- ^ "News Watch: Wizard Magazine Buys Chicago Comicon". The Comics Journal. #195 (April 1997), p. 24.
- ^ "Wizard Entertainment Names Darren Sanchez VP of Manufacturing"
- ^ Griepp, Milton. "WIZARD WORLD LOSES $4.3 MILLION IN 2015," "ICv2" (Apr. 19, 2016).
- ^ Griepp, Milton. "WIZARD WORLD BRINGS IN NEW CEO," "ICv2" (Apr. 25, 2016).
- ^ Miller, John Jackson "The print age of Wizard ends," ComicChron (Jan. 24, 2011).
- ^ Melrose, Kevin (January 24, 2011). "Breaking: Wizard and ToyFare magazines fold". Comic Book Resources.
- ^ De Blieck, Jr., Augie (May 5, 2009). "GATECRASHER, 2000-2001". Comic Book Resources. May 5, 2009
- ^ "Wizard World Chicago Sets Attendance Records," ToyMania (Aug. 7, 2006).
- ^ Atchison, Lee. "Wizard World East," Sequential Tart (June 2002).
- Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.website (2004). Accessed Jan. 30, 2016.
- ^ "Heroes Con & Wiz Atlanta, Drum's Not Changing Dates," Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine Comic-Con.com (7/22/2005).
- ^ a b Fernandez, Don. "Comic book hero: Little guy slays threat from weighty Wizard," Atlanta Journal-Constitution (13 Aug 2005), p. A.1.
- ^ Matt Fraction on HeroesCon/Wizard World, Comic Book Resources (July 22, 2005).
- ^ "Announcing Wizard World University Academic Programming". Wizard World-Texas. Archived at the Archived September 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Wizard World to Postpone LA Show and Cancel Texas Show". Wizard World (2009). Archived January 22, 2009, at archive.today
- ^ Armitage, Hugh (June 25, 2009). "Wizard CEO buys Toronto Comicon". Digital Spy.
- ^ "Wizard's Gareb Shamus Buys Toronto Comicon". Comic Book Resources. June 24, 2009.
- ^ "GAREB SHAMUS, WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT CEO, BUYS TORONTO COMICON". Paradise Comics. Archived from the original on January 27, 2010.
- ^ CBR News Team, ed. (July 16, 2009). "Official Press Release: Wizard Announces Anaheim Comic-Con for 2010". comicbookresources.com.
- ^ "Philly Wizard World Photo Gallery Now Open!". Dread Central. 4 October 2012.
- ^ "Wizard World Comic Cons". Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (September 17, 2013). "Wizard World adds seven cities including Tulsa, Sacramento, and San Antonio". The Beat.
- ComicBook.com. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ Salkowitz, Rob (August 10, 2021). "Fan Expo Acquires 6 Wizard World Events Including Chicago, Building Global Fan Con Juggernaut". Forbes. Retrieved September 27, 2021.