The Weirding Webzine

Everything is subject to change, but I am starting a webzine. The blog will continue, as will the blog @RPGGeek, and both will continue to be free as long as the controlling entities decide they are (over which I've no control), but I've never done this for the money and so have never made any money. This webzine is meant to not only recoup some of these costs I've put into this fine hobby, but also allow me to bring you content for which blogs and websites are less well-suited - such as tables, charts, and quality art scans.

A general price range of $3.99-4.99 has been decided for roughly 25 pages in (at this time) PDF only. I may use KickStarter under the advice of other creators, but will also be using DTRPG (hopefully). Depending on the success, I will invest in better software and equipment to up the production value but will keep the price range as long as the page count remains roughly the same. I am basing this cost on the current price of comic books, and may even engage in a little cartoonery myself.

Nothing in this 'zine will be AI-generated or -enhanced. That may not be a good thing, since I am the sole creator. I reached-out to others in hopes of collaborating, but it's the Internet... that has never worked out before, so I didn't have high hopes for it working this time and was not disappointed. I can include tables and charts without a bunch of formatting problems in a desktop publishing atmosphere, and charging a small amount for the extra information, original art, and labor involved seems pretty fair.

Along with tons of never-before-seen content, I will be editing and reformatting the stuff that was previously on The Weirding website and supporting a lot of older games, not unlike I do here. Newer product and content, not so much (because I haven't played it). This goes all the way down to retro-reviews of games, comics, books, movies, and TV shows you may love or might have missed. Anything that has appeared here or elsewhere that makes it into the 'zine will be significantly expanded, as I'll have more room and formatting play to do so, so just consider what is posted here to be a teaser for more in-depth articles and feature presentations I hope to bring you within the 'zine.

If I do Kickstarter, it will be at the lowest goal without any tier bonuses, and the 'zine will be published even if I am not popular enough to garner the meager amount I hope for - which would be embarrassing, but here we go...

Note, not unlike this blog and my other products, this 'zine is aimed at old-school grognards and neckbeards like myself - metalheads and burnouts who just so happen to enjoy tabletop roleplaying games. If you do not count yourself as one of us, I still hope you give it a shot! You never know what you might find that you can use in your next gaming session, including older games you might not even know exist and can be gotten for very reasonable prices these days!

I know this is dry, but Kickstarter has a promotion which starts in February, so I'm a little pressed for time. I'll be posting previews and works-in-progress along the way so you get an idea of what you'll be getting.

© The Weirding, 2025

Monsterella #1

Monsterella #1

© The Weirding, 2017

CLiNT to Carry Jake Ellis

Two years ago, Mark Millar partnered with Titan Publishing to bring about a new magazine. Part comic book anthology and part pop-culture news, CLiNT was aimed not only at dedicated comics fans, but a mainstream audience as well. Now Image Comics’ critically acclaimed ongoing series WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?, by writer Nathan Edmondson and artist Tonci Zonjic, will be serialized in the magazine beginning this August.

"International intrigue? High-octane action? I might be talking about either CLiNT or WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?," commented Edmondson. "But either way, Tonci and I are thrilled to see our international spy dashing across the pages of the hottest publication in pop-culture today."

Starting with issue #8 of CLiNT, WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? can be enjoyed again from the beginning, offering new readers a chance to get hooked. For those who are already up to date with the pulse-pounding series, the fourth issue of Edmondson and Zonjic’s original comic book will be released in just a few weeks.

"We're really jazzed here at CLiNT Magazine to have Nate and Tonci's intriguing, stylish and very cool WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? join the line-up!" CLiNT co-Publisher Nick Landau added.

WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? will have plenty of good company within the glossy pages of CLiNT. Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards’ TURF, and Garth Ennis, Amanda Conner, and Jimmy Palmiotti’s THE PRO were also serialized in the same slick fashion.

"CLiNT has done a fantastic job of serializing some truly great creator-owned material, from Mark's own Nemesis, Superior, and Kick Ass 2 to TURF and THE PRO, so we couldn't be happier to see WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? join the club," said Image Publisher Eric Stephenson.

WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? is a psychological thriller about a man named Jon Moore who is running from international hit men, the authorities, and his past, of which he has only partial memories. Jon just happens to have a secret weapon: the ever-present and seemingly omniscient Jake Ellis, whom only he can see and hear.

WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? #4 (FEB110476), a 32-page, full-color comic book priced at $2.99 will be available for sale in stores on June 1^st. The series will also be serialized in CLiNT Magazine, beginning in CLiNT #8 (FEB111147, FEB111148), which is due to hit shelves in the US on June 14^th.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Disney*Pixar Presents

Marvel and Disney Publishing will debut DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS, a new monthly magazine featuring some of the most popular characters from the acclaimed Disney/Pixar films. Intended for readers of all ages and priced at $5.99, the first issue will hit stores in May 2011.

Each issue of the magazine contains 96 full color pages of content, including a mix of brand new stories, classic adventures, puzzles, games and more. Featuring characters from Disney/Pixar’s hit movies Cars, Cars 2, The Incredibles, Toy Story 3, and more, DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS will be available at bookstores, retail chains, comic stores and more. The series debuts with DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS: Cars Magazine #1.

“We’re excited for the launch of DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS, teaming with our friends at Disney/Pixar to bring some exciting new material to fans all over the world and introducing a whole new generation to comics,” said Axel Alonso, Editor-in-Chief. “We’re committed to providing a great product and ensuring these books are available in locations that parents and kids frequent. The Disney/Pixar library includes some of the most popular characters of all time, making DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS exactly the kind of comic magazine that kids and parents have been demanding!”

Rev up those engines and join your favorite characters from CARS in DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS: Cars Magazine #1 as Lightning McQueen organizes a charity race for young cars with special needs, but he didn’t invite Piston Cup champion Chick Hicks. The snub gets Hick’s competitive juices flowing, and he’s out to show McQueen a thing or two about racing! Will Hicks ruin the good nature of the Radiator Springs Rally Race? Find out this May everywhere books and comics are sold.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Wizard Magazine to Close Immediately

This is one of those "breaking" stories I usually stay away from because none of the details are confirmed, but because there are so many of them, I decided to go ahead and report that Wizard Magazine is closing immediately, laying-off almost all of its employees and canceling all freelance engagements. According to all reports, the Wizard conventions will not be affected.

Sister publication, Toyfare, may or may not be following suit; reports vary. Newsarama reports that Toyfare is closing, but other sites have not followed suit.

You can subscribe to this post below for further updates.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Preview Heavy Metal March 2010 Issue Free Online!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marge Simpson in Playboy

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

CGC Now Grading Sports Illustrated, Playboy

As of June 16th, CGC now grades Sports Illustrated (SI) and Playboy. While the Certified Guaranty Company has been grading magazine-sized sequential art periodicals (Mad Magazine, Epic, Heavy Metal, et.al.) for more than five years, it is just now starting to extend into magazines not normally associated with collectors. A thicker version of their patented "slab" cover has been introduced to accommodate Playboy Christmas issues and Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, both of which are larger than usual.

Playboy has a circulation of 3 million monthly (U.S.), which is interesting, since I'd been hearing Playboy was worried about the continued popularity of print... But though I have a modest collection of Playboy and really dig eyeballing super-hot, completely nekkid chicks, I don't have the time to research the whole thing. I'd love to hear from some collectors/experts who could run it down for us. SI has a weekly circulation of about the same (3 million) and apparently has collectibility merit. I assumed some people collected SI, but I did not know it was popular enough to break into the collectibles field.

CGC seems to think they might have had at least a little to do with these magazines becoming more popular as collectibles, and note their magazine-handling capacities are set to expand in the near future.

Given the nature of these periodicals, I'm going to guess a -0.01 for pages stuck together? After all, it's going to be a common flaw.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Stephen Colbert to Guest-Edit Newsweek

Stephen Colbert will guest-edit the redesigned Newsweek magazine for a week this June 8^th. The first time Newsweek has ever had a guest editor in its history, Colbert got the job after impressing editor, Jon Meacham, during a lunch. Meacham said Colbert had "an almost encyclopedic feel for anything that came up."

Colbert will contribute an essay, write the editor's letter, dole-out assignments, and choose the pull-out quotes. The letters section will include the unpublished letters to the editor of Newsweek Colbert wrote as a child.

Meacham said this approach is just another way "to both inform and surprise readers."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

What, Me Worry?

Neil Cuadra has been a Mad Magazine subscriber for 40 years. He is also a computer geek from way back and now works as an Internet entrepreneur. At 55, Cuadra's biggest dream was to land in Mad Magazine.

So he started saving all those AOL CDs and when those stopped coming, he began collecting any and all CDs he could find for his collection. Finally, he created a computer matrix of Alfred E. Neuman's head and used it as a blueprint to create the massive mural of those CDs.

Cuadra sent it to the usual gang of idiots, who said, "You used junk mail from AOL to create a piece of art that became junk mail to us!"

Cuadra's Alfred E. Neuman CD mural was published in the 500^th issue of Mad Magazine.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Alfred E. Neuman Finds Reason to Worry

From the Archives:

Two weeks ago, DC Comics announced Mad Magazine was going quarterly and also discontinuing two spin-off publications, Mad Kids and Mad Classics. The legendary satirical rag has seen a steady decline in quality and readership since its founding in 1952. Editor, John Ficarra, said, "The feedback we've gotten from readers is that only every third issue of Mad is funny, so we decided to just publish those."

The changes also came with personnel cutbacks, including many in the Mad department. However, the issues will be larger, as the magazine expands to 56 pages (from 48). Apparently, there is no word on how subscriptions will be handled, though one commenter on the DC Forums was told, "You paid for 12 issues, you'll get 12 issues." I assume subscribers to the canceled titles will receive a form, asking if they wish to switch to the regular Mad Magazine.

Print is dead, guys.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Metal Edge, Metal Maniacs Fold

Zenbu Media has confirmed that both Metal Maniacs and Metal Edge magazines are folding. One more issue of each is said to be on the way, though it is uncertain if they will be commemorative Final Issues. Both were acquired by Zenbu Media in 2007.

Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs were published for 24 and 19 years, respectively. Both were considered legendary within the metal community, and carved-out their place as the mainstream outlets for the metal and extreme music genre(s). However, fans complain that recent years saw a decline in quality and coverage, and many admit they turn to the Web now for information more than print.

While some are calling it "the end of an era," one commenter summed it up nicely by noting that both the publishing and music industries are "fucked."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Scrye Foresees Own Ending

The April 2009 issue will be the last for collectible card-gaming (CCG) magazine, Scrye. Rising printing costs, and diminished subscriber and advertising bases were cited as the reasons. Founded in 1993, Scrye was considered the authority on the CCG hobby and industry, providing current prices for cards of such games as Magic. In recent years, Scrye added collectibles miniatures games to its subjects. I am honestly surprised it lasted 15 years; that's honestly about 10 years longer than I would have predicted at the onset.

Analysts note Scrye's folding puts the exclamation point on CCG's sentence, but add the recession is hitting the magazine industry in general quite hard.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Comic Book Day

Technically, Comic Book Day came this past Monday, but I was so busy with holiday preparations that I didn't get to them until now.

For those of you wondering, my comics are a month behind because I advance order... and stay behind on my bill. Actually, I have it set so that my books are shipped once they reach a certain number (to save on shipping)... and remain about a month behind on my bill. 

I really hate that, because the guys I order from are literally some of the best in the business - at least that I have ever dealt with (hopefully more on that soon) - but until the asshats online start paying when payment is due, I am destined to keep getting further behind. Something literally has to give on that front.

Regardless, here is what I am ordering (not all of which am I reading):

• Green Arrow Black Canary #14
• Superman & Batman vs. Vampires & Werewolves #1-3
• Walking Dead #54
• Gemini #3
• Wolverine & Power Pack #1
• Hellboy in the Chapel of Moloch One-Shot
• Savage #1
• Spawn #185
• Secret Invasion Thor #3
• Thor #11
• X-Men First Class Giant-Size Special #1
• Thor: Truth of History #1
• Daredevil #112
• Hawaiian Dick #5
• Moon Knight #23
• Skrulls vs. Power Pack #4
• Uncanny X-Men #503
• Sketch Magazine #37
• Write Now #19
• Rough Stuff Vol. 10
  

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Zenescope Teams with Hustlenomics

Hustlenomics Magazine, one of the more popular car and model magazines featuring the latest in hip hop, hot rides and beautiful models, has teamed with Zenescope Entertainment for the Toyz Nation Expo on August 23^rd in Atlanta, GA.

Hustlenomics will be holding multiple competitions at the Expo, some of which include a model search and a gaming tournament. Winners will receive cash prizes and will also be featured in Zenescope's upcoming comic book mini-series entitled STINGERS which follows a hardcore bounty hunter who goes up against a group of aliens attempting to colonize on Earth.

"We're thrilled to be part of the Toyz Nation Expo with Hustlenomics. I think exposure like this shows how the comic book industry has become more widely accepted as a part of mainstream entertainment." said Zenescope Vice President Ralph Tedesco.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

CBG San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Schedule

Comics Buyers Guide will be in booths #1419 and 1421, as usual, starting Preview Night. Make sure to stop by to chat with their guests and sign-up for their various contests. Guests this year include:

• Senior Editor, Maggie Thompson
• Editor, Brent Frankenhoff
• Advertising Sales Representative, Shannon Piotrowski
• Editorial Director, Robyn Austin
• Assoc. Publisher, Scott Tappa
• Interactive Media's Matt Gergeni

As always, they will be just down from parent company, F+W and their Impact books line. Make sure to check them out!

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Obama Camp Blasts New Yorker for Lampooning Cartoon

Presidential hopeful, Barrack Obama's political camp has blasted the New Yorker magazine for a satirical caricature of the politician and his wife, depicting them as Muslim and radical terrorists.

In what may be the biggest blow to their campaign, the Obama camp proved themselves artistically retarded when they blasted the left-wing literary rag for its choice of cartoons. The cover depicts Obama in traditional Muslim garb and his wife as a radical terrorist, ala the Black Panthers, giving one another a "fist-jab" in front of a burning American flag. Each of these grandiose images directly lampoons one outlandish criticism or another that Conservative pundits have lobbed in the Democratic candidate's direction thus far in the campaign. That Barrack Obama's people do not realize this is evidence of undeveloped artistic sensibilities. That they do not like it is regardless.

But the New Yorker, once a bastion of literary wealth, has become a parody of its own former glory, which makes me wonder if this was not a concerted effort:

The Obama camp uses the cover and the controversy they, themselves, stir to gauge public opinion and the New Yorker sells a few issues someone actually reads. Conspiratorial and theoretical, it may be, but I am cynical man; my fist-jab over all this works differently (it's vertical).

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Strange, Weird, & Wonderful Seeking Submissions

I post paying markets over on Weird Ink regularly, but as it is dedicated to writing and blogging, I realize some visitors may never bother to check it out. I decided to cross-post this press release here because the magazine is also accepting submissions for artwork.

Strange, Weird, & Wonderful Magazine was founded in 2008 as a free pdf. periodical with equal dedication to writers and readers that share a love of Horror, Fantasy, Sci Fi, and all things Paranormal.

At Strange, Weird, & Wonderful Magazine we believe, "there's talent everywhere," and four times a year, we'll give you 35,000 to 100,000 words of the best fiction and related articles available.

As for writers, authors, & artists we want your best material, because like us, we know our readers expect no less. Everyone that receives Strange, Weird, & Wonderful Magazine has requested it and chances are they will read and view your work. We want stories with depth, breadth, characterization, and plot development. We want images that we can't get out of our mind, even after the pages have all been turned. We want each of you to take pride in knowing that your work will be available alongside the best in your field. Again, we believe talent is everywhere, help us prove it!

We currently pay a flat rate of $25 per fiction piece, and $20 per article. Our rates for artwork are negotiable. Please query first.

Our website is currently under construction: www.strangeweirdandwonderful.bravehost.com or www.strangeweirdandwonderful.com.

Submit to swandwsubmission@aol.com.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

The Usual Gang of Idiots - A Review

I don't know where or how I saw my first Mad Magazine, but I have a pretty good guess:

My fraternal cousins were several years my senior (actually, they were my, like, grand-cousins or something, since they are my dad's cousins; there was like a 13-year difference between my grandmother and my great aunt) and they used to spend their summers at their grandmother's, who was my great-grandmother. I am pretty sure the collection of Mad Magazines from the '60s and '70s were their hand-me-downs.

However it happened, I was addicted to Mad from a very early age - probably around 6-7. One of my most vivid memories is when my 7^th-grade homeroom teacher took a new copy of it from me. Later that year, she paddled me for not being where I was supposed to be or something, but mentioned that I had been reading Mad and it was "a dirty, stupid thing."

While I'm sure the usual gang of idiots would be pleased with that country bitch's assessment, I'm the one who took the beating, so yesterday was the first Mad Magazine I've picked-up since then. (Actually, I hate to credit a redneck mow-ron for such an influence in my life; the truth was that I'd moved-on to Dragon, Uncanny X-Men, and more "serious" fare.)

I had to be an hour away for an MRI yesterday and it caught me by surprise. I always bring something with me to read and I just got caught-short. So, when my mom had to stop by Kroger, I looked and looked for a Wizard or... something, but found none - nothing! - and then I saw Alfred E. Neuman's face and thought, "What, me worry?"

At $4.99, Mad Magazine is no longer "cheap." But what could I do? So I thumbed it a bit, saw the 30 Rock satire and started not to bother with it. Then I saw the Dexter satire and decided to grab it. In case you weren't with us back when the blog was split, I reviewed Drecch-ster when it premiered and have never watched it since.

I spent the rest of the trip reading through it and I hate to say, I was less than impressed.

The usual gang of idiots are still in top-form when it comes to the artwork, but the writing is nowhere near what it used to be. Even past that, many of the old columns have been taken over by newer talent and they aren't as good. In particular, Spy vs. Spy is now painted and isn't very clever. The painting really takes away from the effect, so even if it was as good as it used to be, it would be hard to tell.

The newer features have the slight smell of Onion, though nowhere near as clever. Well, maybe "clever" is not the right word, because The Onion is seldom truly clever; maybe not as satirical or biting is the best way to put it? While Mad Magazine is nowhere near as edgy as it used to be, I don't think comparing it to The Onion is necessarily fair. While the latter obviously takes a lot of cues from the usual gang of idiots, the two actually lay at opposite ends of the spectrum.

But while Mad's quality has definitely suffered, the Mad sense of humor is still there and it shines through often enough that it's still a valid comedic outlet for the younger set. It's generally hard to critique satirical works because it's difficult to separate them from the source material, but when you talk satire, Mad Magazine has to be included. While the satires are still good enough to warrant a $3.99 cover price, $4.99 is not "cheap."

And if you're over about 15, it isn't worth it.

©Copyright 2008, C Harris Lynn

TCJ vs. CBG

I have complained about The Comics Journal in print before and I maintain my position on that: I have yet to receive an issue that has much of anything I consider worthwhile. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate being turned-on to new artists and ideas, but most of the artists and ideas featured in TCJ are long-dead, foreign, completely obscure, and almost totally unavailable to me in any other format... so, like, why the hell do I care?

Bud Plant echoed my sentiments exactly several months back in the letters column, but I guess we're both being ignored by the good Mr. Groth, whose tastes have always veered toward the very old and very obscure. Yes, yes, these are some very subversive works; yes, yes, it is important to support independents and recognize their points of view; but the result is that TCJ is just as bad in the opposite direction as Groth and its supporters claim the mainstream comics slicks are in the other: they have a complete dearth of superhero and mainstream comics coverage in favor of nothing but ashcan, foreign, and indie pap. Just completely out of touch with the fanbase.

But I can deduct it from my taxes, so I keep giving it "one more month." But a few months back, I added a new glossy to my order, Comics Buyer's Guide, the longest-running, true authority on mainstream American comics. CBG was started by a cat in his basement back in 1971 (same guy who organized the first comics convention, IIRC) and the last copy I saw or received was back when they used to be in newspaper format (I'm friggin' OLD!). Since then, that guy has died (if it is the same guy I'm thinking it was), many comics companies have come and gone, new formats and processes have sprung to life, and CBG has adopted a full-color magazine format.

And it is plain-old chockful of information. I mean new comics, current comics, past comics, upcoming and past events, comics history and futures, people, places, things, events, ideas - the whole shebang. And where TCJ eschews the mainstream comics and superheroes altogether (unless they're lesbian superheroines possessed of indefinable powers drawn by gay Republicans who live in Oregon), CBG turns not a blind eye to anything in Comicdom; true, it's concerned primarily with what hits the American newsstands, but, like, uh, that's the market!

All told - and mind you, I like Gary Groth (theoretically, I don't know that I've ever met him and, if I have, I didn't know who he was when I did) and I love Fantagraphics - I have nearly an entire year's run of TCJ and have read a single issue (though I do read the news items at the front each month); I received my first copy of CBG on the 10^th and read it cover-to-cover in one sitting.

The More You Know...