Comments on: Comics Now! Magazine

By: Two More Comic Magazines Die Ã‚Â» Comics Worth Reading

Two More Comic Magazines Die Ã‚Â» Comics Worth Reading — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:44:12 +0000

[...] Comics Now!, which launched early 2008, has been confirmed as ending. #3, the last issue, came out on September 10, [...]

By: Comic Foundry #3 » Comics Worth Reading

Comic Foundry #3 » Comics Worth Reading — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:01:39 +0000

[...] — too many magazines these days seem to miss out on some of the basics, like readability (Comics Now!) or approachability (the grey blocks of TwoMorrows’ publications are off-putting) — [...]

By: Magazines Take Second Chances » Comics Worth Reading

Magazines Take Second Chances » Comics Worth Reading — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:41:25 +0000

[...] Comics Now!’s second issue came out last week, March 19. I haven’t seen it yet, but some early respondents suggest that they addressed some of the concerns readers had with #1. [...]

By: Thought-Provoking LinkBlogging » Comics Worth Reading

Thought-Provoking LinkBlogging » Comics Worth Reading — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:22:25 +0000

[...] designer (and competitor as Editor-in-Chief of Comic Foundry), looks at Comics Now! (which I reviewed last week) and has some harsh criticism. Based on the reactions I’ve seen from the CN crew, [...]

By: comicfoundry.com » Tim Looks at Comics Now! Magazine

comicfoundry.com » Tim Looks at Comics Now! Magazine — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:36:24 +0000

[...] I was surprised because I hadn’t heard of it before then and still didn’t until Johanna posted a review this week. Having worked on print publications in some capacity for the past 9 years, I’m a [...]

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:57:31 +0000

Amazing Heroes can usually be found in the back issue bins at cons for cheap. I came across a nice run at Eides during last year’s Pittsburgh Comic Con. It’s a kick to see “Ace” MacDonald talking comics from that time. Sweet stuff.

By: James Schee

James Schee — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:25:58 +0000

Thanks Derek, it was just something I was curious about. I did do some for a couple of deaf posters on a forum I frequented at the time. So when I saw the mention of them getting a spotlight I was just curious if there were any that did the transcript.

By: Alan Coil

Alan Coil — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:39:04 +0000

Nova—good choice for cover article for when this was supposed to come out…back in November or so, when the series was still going/just finishing.

The switch (explained above) from stapled to square bound explains why the articles and art bled into the center of the book.

I still haven’t read the whole issue, but I welcome its presence as an antidote to Wizard. Best of luck to Comics Now!

By: Derek Coward

Derek Coward — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:01:46 +0000

James, I don’t know of any podcasts (comic book or otherwise) that offer transcripts.

This is something that I was considering a long time ago, but without a potential audience for it, I decided it was something that would be put on the backburner.

By: James Schee

James Schee — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:57:08 +0000

Since you guys are discussing podcasts, it brought to mind something I had a discussion about with someone. Are there any that do transcripts or recaps for those who are hearing impaired?

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:48:01 +0000

I think I really missed out, not being around for Amazing Heroes. From what I hear, that’s a great model.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:55:38 +0000

Excellent review Johanna. And your points on type/printing/the Meanwhile columns are already being addressed. (We originally were going to go the staple method, but had to switch to bound last minute. So there was no way to change the overall layout. All good for #2). We’re excited about the future – and we know full well not to compete with the internet. Which is why you’ll rarely see press releases or newsbites. For a quarterly mag, it’s just not timely enough. For me, I’m a huge fan of the old Amazing Heroes which mixed fandom with “journalism” (for lack of a better word). I miss that mag. Thanks again!

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:20:52 +0000

Oh, neat, thanks for letting us know.

By: Derek Coward

Derek Coward — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:00:27 +0000

Although it doesn’t look like it, the podcasting ‘article’ is actually going to be an ongoing column. There are at least 125 comic book related podcasts that I know about so it will take some time to get to most of them.

Also, it’s not really a list of recommended podcasts, but more of an overview of what’s out there. And because of delays, it also features at least four podcasts that no longer exist.

I just wanted to point this out because I have already caught flak from some podcasts that weren’t featured in the first issue. Like I said, it was due to the whole ‘at least 125 of them’ thing.

By: James Schee

James Schee — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:43:21 +0000

True, true. For me personally a character I think on the same level, but more interesting to me. Would be Booster Gold, who has also been getting a big push lately as well.

That is true, I tend to blank if I read something online too long. I saw this book somewhere recently, I may thumb through it if I stumble upon it again.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 03:39:46 +0000

You make a good point, and I should clarify: there’s a difference between a lesser known character that, once introduced, a reader will find interesting, and one that makes a lot of people go “eh”. I put Nova in the latter category. Of course, it’s a matter of opinion, but I would think that there were better choices without resorting to someone overplayed or too familiar.

I do think CN is competing well with the web by doing longer, in depth pieces that would be fatiguing to read online.

By: James Schee

James Schee — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 03:29:31 +0000

“If we’re in agreement that the character’s history and future are both somewhat uncertain, why choose him as the kickoff cover feature? I’d think a better known selection would be more marketable (or more interesting). ”

I wonder if it might be more of a strength going with a fairly uncovered character though? For a new comics magazine I wonder if yet another feature on Superman/Batman/Spider-Man might have got readers to have gone “been there, done that.”

Of course I don’t have much interest in Nova either. He’s an odd sort for me, as I liked him when I first saw him in New Warriors. Yet the more I went back to read (especially Essential Nova) the less I liked him.

Yet he’s getting some noteriety currently, and seems to be one of those characters that keeps getting new looks (sort of Marvel’s Aquaman without the other media tie?) so I guess there’s stuff to be covered.

I’ll be curious to see how a magazine focusing on so much of todays comics will do. There’s so much of that type of stuff online these days already for free, that it seems a tough sale. We’ll see I guess.