Deadline Coming!

Hey gang!!

How are the 'zine coming along?

The deadline's coming.....

Who watches Wizard?

Any Wizard readers/subscribers?

I ask, because I think this magazine needs to be put on Marlan's deathwatch list.

The new issue hit my mailbox a few weeks ago. It's Calista Flockhart thin. And it has about as many ads as the last issue of Pulp Legacy, as in very, very FEW.

Check it out -- page 1 is the table of contents. That's valuable real estate to an ad salesperson, and here it is, being used as the TOC. The magazine is an anemic 96 pages. Remember when this book used to be 200+? Granted, that was in the days they published an in-depth price guide with every issue.

Here's a rundown of the major ads in this issue:

Inside front cover: Marvel (full page)

Page 3: Star Trek/eSurance (full page)

Page 5: Topps Obama trading cards (full page)

Page 7: Midtown Comics (half page)

Pages 8-9: Wanted video game (spread)

Page 35: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 67: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 69: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 71: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 79: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 88: Classifieds

Page 89: Wonderland Chronicles (full page)

Pages 92, 93, 94: House, house, house (full pages)

Inside back: Marvel

Back cover: Wanted

There were also 2 half-page Marvel ads that I skipped over.

I'm not claiming to be an expert on the magazine business, but a friend I know thinks he knows a thing or two. Eight full-page house ads in a 96-page book isn't bringing any money in, folks. And 8, maybe 9 real ad pages in a 96-page book? That's a 9% ad to edit ratio. Check out any other magazine you get... the ratio of a healthy magazine is closer to 60/40 or 50/50.

I'm not wishing ill on Wizard. I'm just wondering aloud if the magazine can remain profitable with ad/edit ratios like this?

I've put up a new poll on this topic. Check it out, let me know what you think.