Editing Comics Buyer's Guide (section)

===Alan Light years: 1971–1983===
''CBG'' was founded in February 1971 by [[Alan Light (comics)|Alan Light]] under the title '''''The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom''''' ('''''TBG''''') as a monthly newspaper in a [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] format. ''TBG'' began primarily as an advertising venue – known in comics fandom as an "adzine", i.e. a [[fanzine]] devoted to ads. Ron Frantz, in his book ''Fandom: Confidential'', traces the lineage of Light's endeavor to ''Stan's Weekly Express'' (aka ''WE''), a pioneering adzine published from 1969 to 1973, whose bare-bones approach was inspired by an "obscure journal of flower advertising known as ''Joe's Bulletin''".{{sfn|Frantz|2000|p=53}}  Frantz also provides background on Light's interaction with the [[WE Seal of approval program]], with which he cooperated in order to help combat mail fraud. Frantz in addition describes the infamous long-running feud between Light and ''[[Comics Journal]]'' founder [[Gary Groth]].{{sfn|Frantz|2000}}

''TBG''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s frequency was changed to twice-monthly with issue #18 (August 1, 1972). Besides occasional [[letter column]]s, beginning with issue #19 (Aug. 15, 1972), prominent fans Don and [[Maggie Thompson]] began a monthly column, "Beautiful Balloons." A news column, "What Now?" by [[Murray Bishoff]], was added with #26 (Dec. 1, 1972). These provided the editorial content required by the [[United States Postal Service]] to qualify for [[mail#First-Class|second class mail]] (along with paid subscriptions being instituted with issue #27, January 1, 1973).<ref>Groth, Gary. [http://archives.tcj.com/235/nostedit.html "Editorial"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531152151/http://archives.tcj.com/235/nostedit.html |date=2010-05-31 }} ''Nostalgia Journal'' #27 (July 1976).</ref> At this time, ''TBG''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s circulation was about 3,600 copies.<ref name=Miller />

''TBG'' went weekly with issue #86 (July 18, 1975). In 1977, ''TBG''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s circulation topped 10,000.<ref name=Miller /> [[Cat Yronwode]] succeeded Bishoff as news reporter with issue #329 (March 7, 1980), renaming the column "Fit to Print".