Wizard Entertainment
Template:Short description Template:Distinguish {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check|nested=1|template=Infobox company|cat=Template:Main other|name; company_name|logo; company_logo|logo_alt; alt|trade_name; trading_name|former_names; former_name|type; company_type|predecessors; predecessor|successors; successor|foundation; founded|founders; founder|defunct; dissolved|hq_location; location|hq_location_city; location_city|hq_location_country; location_country|num_locations; locations|areas_served; area_served|net_income; profit|net_income_year; profit_year|owners; owner |homepage; website }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox company with unknown parameter "_VALUE_" | ignoreblank=y | alt | area_served | areas_served | assets | assets_year | aum | brands | company_logo | company_name | company_type | defunct | dissolved | divisions | embed | equity | equity_year | fate | footnotes | former_name | former_names | foundation | founded | founder | founders | genre | homepage | hq_location | hq_location_city | hq_location_country | incorporated | image | image_alt | image_caption | image_size | image_upright | income_year | industry | ISIN | key_people | location | location_city | location_country | locations | logo | logo_alt | logo_caption | logo_class | logo_size | logo_upright | members | members_year | module | name | native_name | native_name_lang | net_income | net_income_year | num_employees | num_employees_year | num_locations | num_locations_year | operating_income | owner | owners | parent | predecessor | predecessors | production | production_year | products | profit | profit_year | rating | ratio | revenue | revenue_year | romanized_name | services | subsid | successor | successors | traded_as | trade_name | trading_name | type | website| qid | fetchwikidata | suppressfields | noicon | nocat | demo | categories }} Wizard Entertainment Inc., formerly known as Wizard World,<ref name=SEC2021>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was a producer of multi-genre fan conventions across North America.
The company that became Wizard Entertainment began in 1991 as Wizard Press, the publisher of the 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.<ref name=SEC2010>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By 2015, the company had expanded to producing 25 annual conventions around the U.S. In 2021, Wizard sold its convention events business to FanExpo.<ref name=CBC2021>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Corporate historyEdit
Gareb Shamus founded Wizard magazine in January 1991 shortly after he graduated from college.<ref name=babka>Template:Cite news</ref> The company was originally based in Congers, New York.
Wizard magazine was successful, and the company expanded its publishing operations with more magazines devoted to other elements of the collectible industry. Wizard purchased the Chicago Comicon in 1997 to expand from its core publishing business into trade/consumer conventions.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In early 2011, the company made some major corporate transitions. First, through an arrangement with Strato Malamas of the holding company GoEnergy, it became a publicly traded company known as Wizard World.<ref name=iFanboy>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the same time, it abruptly canceled Wizard magazine<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Miller2001 /> and its other remaining publication, ToyFare,<ref name=Melrose>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to focus on its convention business.
Shamus was pushed out as company CEO in late 2011; his position was taken in March 2012 by John Macaluso.<ref name=babka /> In 2015, the company lost $4.25 million in revenue and cut back from 25 to 19 convention events in 2016.<ref name=griepp1>Template:Cite news</ref> Less than a week after the announcement of the losses, Macaluso resigned as CEO and was replaced by John D. Maatta.<ref name=griepp2>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2018, Wizard World was renamed Wizard Entertainment, Inc.<ref name=SEC2021 />
In 2021, after selling its last few conventions to FanExpo, Wizard Entertainment essentially ceased to exist.<ref name=CBC2021 />
PublishingEdit
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,<ref name=Miller2001>Template:Cite news</ref> Wizard was an instant hit, with a monthly circulation of more than 100,000 copies (although by early 2006, circulation was down to around 50,000).<ref name=Beat20110125>Template:Cite news</ref>
The magazine also spawned several ongoing magazines dedicated to similar interests, such as InQuest Gamer (launched 1995), for collectible game cards; ToyFare: The Toy Magazine, for toys and action figures (launched 1997); Anime Insider (launched 2001) for anime and manga; and Toy Wishes (launched 2001) for mainstream toy enthusiasts.
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.<ref name=Melrose /> At that point Wizard Entertainment also ceased publication of its sister magazine, ToyFare.
Black Bull EntertainmentEdit
In 2000, Wizard founder 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 limited series Gatecrasher: Ring of Fire.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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
Black Bull published comics through 2005.
ConventionsEdit
Beginnings and growthEdit
Wizard purchased the Chicago Comicon in 1996; the renamed "Wizard World Chicago" was the template for a new kind of convention that shifted its focus from actual comic books to ancillary elements of pop culture fandom: celebrity performers, films, television, video games, and toys – "comic conventions" almost in name only.<ref name=babka /> By 2006, Wizard World Chicago boasted a weekend attendance of over 58,000 people.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
In May 2002, Wizard branched out from Chicago and produced Wizard World East at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> And in 2003 the company produced Wizard World Texas, adding Wizard World Los Angeles in 2004<ref name=wizard>Template:Cite press release</ref> and Wizard World Boston in 2005.
In 2007–2008, Wizard held conventions in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Texas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2008, Wizard began adding an academic forum called "Wizard World University," integrating scholarly panels into its conventions, beginning with the November convention in Arlington, Texas.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
"Con Wars" / growing painsEdit
Beginning in 2005, Wizard CEO Gareb Shamus made a concerted push to dominate the North American convention circuit. First, Wizard announced that it would be holding a comic book convention in Atlanta from June 30 – July 2, 2006, the same dates on which the long-running Charlotte, North Carolina–based Heroes Convention was scheduled to take place.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This caused an outcry amongst the comic book community, as Atlanta is only a four-hour drive from Charlotte, and several comic book creators voiced concerns about an attempt by a large, corporate event to force out an independent comic book convention.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Fernandez>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a result of the outcry, many prominent creators signed up to appear at HeroesCon 2006 rather than the competing Wizard con. Wizard ultimately announced that it would postpone the planned Atlanta convention until 2007.<ref name=Fernandez />
In 2009, Wizard canceled its Texas event and postponed the Los Angeles convention.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> That spring and summer, however, Shamus/Wizard acquired the Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> and the Big Apple Comic Con, New York City's longest-running comic book, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and pop culture convention.<ref name=TCJ299>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Wizard Entertainment's 2010 planned North American Comic Con tour included city stops in Toronto, Anaheim,<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Philadelphia,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Chicago, New York City, Boston, New Jersey, and Austin. As part of a "major offensive against Reed Exhibitions' New York Comic Con," Wizard scheduled "three East Coast shows in a row—the New England Comic-Con in Boston on October 1-3, Big Apple the same weekend, and the new New Jersey Comic-Con the weekend after, on October 15-17."<ref name=TheBeat20100518 /> The 2010 Big Apple Comic Con was scheduled for October 7–10, the same dates as the previously scheduled New York Comic Con.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Beat20091019>Template:Cite news</ref> After a public outcry, Wizard ended up moving the dates of its 2010 New York convention to October 1–3.<ref name=TheBeat20100518>Template:Cite news</ref> (Additionally, the planned Wizard 2010 New Jersey convention was canceled.)<ref name=TheBeat20100518 />
Despite Wizard World's setbacks in Atlanta/Charlotte and New York City, by late 2010, it was apparent that the company's strategy was to blanket the U.S. with Wizard conventions, including buying previously existing small-scale shows in various locations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Going public; further expansionEdit
Wizard went public in 2011; its financial statements proved that it was doubling down on dominating the North American convention market:
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Wizard's 2011 convention calendar included "a show-a-month schedule" and guest-lists of "nerd-lebrities of various levels of fame,... turning their shows into autograph-focused events."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ultimately, however, Wizard scaled back its 2011 operations to seven shows—New Orleans, Toronto, Big Apple (New York), Philadelphia, Mid-Ohio, and Austin—ultimately canceling scheduled conventions in Los Angeles,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Miami, Atlanta, and Central Canada. In addition, previously announced new Wizard conventions in New Jersey, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Nashville never materialized.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Wizard skipped New York altogether in 2012, returning in 2013 with a "Wizard World New York Experience" focused on "celebrities, creators, sports stars, music, exhibitors, parties and other attractions"—very little comics content.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The rest of Wizard's 2013 convention schedule included Portland, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Wizard World Chicago, Ohio Comic Con, Nashville, Austin, and New Orleans. In September 2013, Wizard World announced seven new stops for the 2014 tour: Sacramento, Louisville, Minneapolis, Atlanta, San Antonio, Richmond, and Tulsa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=babka /> Wizard gave up the New York market after 2013 due to the dominance of the New York Comic Con; in 2014 the Big Apple con was reacquired by its founder, Michael Carbonaro.<ref name=Scoop2015>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The explosion in Wizard-produced conventions brought accusations that the entertainment behemoth was deliberately trying to push its competitors out of business.<ref name=conwars>Template:Cite news</ref> On the other hand, many praised Wizard's professional and standardized approach to producing conventions.<ref name = babka />
Convention contractionEdit
In 2015, Wizard produced 25 conventions but lost $4.25 million in revenue.<ref name=griepp1 /> The 2016 schedule, cut back to 19 events, included Wizard cons in Portland, Cleveland, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Madison, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Albuquerque, Columbus, Orlando, Chicago, Richmond, Austin, Tulsa, and Pittsburgh.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
By 2018, the company was producing thirteen annual conventions around the U.S.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Post-pandemic woes; sale of convention businessEdit
The COVID-19 pandemic hit Wizard Entertainment hard—as it did the convention business worldwide. Most 2020 conventions scheduled for after mid-March of that year were canceled,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and many moved online in 2021.
Wizard World held only six in-person conventions in 2021,<ref name=TheBeat20210810>Template:Cite news</ref> and that August the company announced it would be selling the convention events business to FanExpo, with the final Wizard World Chicago show occurring in October.<ref name=CBC2021 /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=TheBeat20210810 />