Wizard Universe
Wizard World logo
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Formerly called
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Wizard Press, Wizard Entertainment |
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| Public | |
| Traded as | OTCQB: |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Gareb Shamus |
| Headquarters | New York City, U.S. |
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Area served
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North America |
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Key people
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John Maatta (CEO 2016-present) |
| Products | magazines (1991–2011) |
| Services | Fan conventions (1997–present) |
| Website | www |
Wizard World Inc., formerly known as Wizard Press and Wizard Entertainment, is a producer of multigenre fan conventions across North America. Starting out in 1991 as the publisher of one monthly magazine (Wizard), the 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. Since then they have expanded to producing more than 20 annual conventions around North America.
Gareb Shamus founded Wizard magazine in January 1991 shortly after he graduated from college. The company was originally based in Congers, New York.
Wizard purchased the Chicago Comicon in 1997 to expand from its core publishing business into trade/consumer conventions.
In December 2007, Darren Sanchez was named Vice President of Production at Wizard Entertainment.
Shamus was pushed out as company CEO in late 2011; his position was taken in March 2012 by John Macaluso.
In 2015, the company lost $4.25 million in revenue and would be cutting back from 25 events to 19 events in 2016. Less than a week after the announcement of the loss, John Macaluso resigned as CEO and was replaced by John Maatta.
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,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 ToyFare: The Toy Magazine, for toys and action figures; Inquest Gamer, for collectible game cards; Anime Insider for anime and manga; and Toy Wishes for mainstream toy enthusiasts.
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Wikipedia