Wizard or Wizard: The Magazine of Comics, Entertainment
and Pop Culture (previously titled Wizard: The Guide to
Comics and Wizard: The Comics Magazine) was a magazine about comic books, published monthly in the United States
by Wizard
Entertainment from July 1991 to January 2011.[1] It included a price
guide, as well as comic book, movie, anime, and collector news, interviews, and
previews.
Publication history
Wizard launched in July 1991. With issue #7, the magazine switched to glossy
paper and color printing. Wizard strongly supported new publishers Valiant Comics and Image Comics, heavily
promoting their new releases.
The magazine has also spawned several ongoing magazines dedicated to similar
interests such as ToyFare for
toys and action figures, Inquest Gamer for collectible game cards,
Anime Insider for
anime and manga, and Toy Wishes for mainstream toy enthusiasts, though
all have subsequently been cancelled.
In 2006, the magazine was revamped with a bigger look and more pages,
switching from the "perfect bound" or staple free look, to that of a more
traditional magazine. After issue 200, Wizard made several changes to the
magazine, shifting focus from reviews and humor to information about upcoming
comics and the industry as a whole. The 3-page "Magic Words" section, which
consisted of reader questions, was dropped and replaced by "Fan Mail", a
half-page section allowing 3 short (and often humorous) letters.
In November 2006, Wizard editor-in-chief and co-founder Pat McCallum
was fired, after more than a decade with the company. Wizard declined to
say why he was removed.[2] On February 21,
2007, Scott Gramling was announced as the new Editor-in-Chief.[3] Soon after, longtime
Wizard Editor Brian Cunningham was removed in August 2008.[4] The current editor
is former staff writer and managing editor Mike Cotton. On February 27, 2009,
Wizard laid off ten percent of its work force, including its three staff
writers, in order to make room for freelance writers.[5] Wizard was relaunched with issue #228 (August 2010 issue), which
featured Mark Millar as a
guest editor. The magazine went back to its strictly comic book roots. The issue
featured a Green Hornet film cover and
round table discussion with creators in the comic book film industry.
On January 24, 2011, Rich Johnston of the website Bleeding Cool
confirmed that the magazine would cease print publication, that almost all of
its magazine staff had been laid off, and all freelance engagements
canceled.[6] This was confirmed
later that day by Wizard, who also revealed that its sister magazine,
Toyfare, was also canceled. According to the publication's
representatives, Wizard would be relaunched in February 2011 as an online
magazine called Wizard World.[7] The first issue of
"Wizard World" was made available online and through major digital distribution
channels on March 2, 2011.[8]
Regular features
The magazine went through an ever-changing line-up of regular and
semi-regular features, including
Book Shelf - Brief descriptions of the monthly trade paperback and
hardcover collection releases.
Top 10 Writers and Artists Lists charting the most popular creators
of the month in each category.
Retired features include
Casting Call - A feature proposing the "dream" cast for potential
film adaptations of various comic books. It later appeared sporadically.
Last Man Standing - A dream "faceoff" between two different
characters or teams, always of different companies and/or universes. The feature
would detail a brief showdown between the two, including the victor and would be
accompanied by an exclusive illustration (usually by a high profile artist)
depicting the battle.
Exclusive offers
In addition, both Wizard and ToyFare often featured mail-away
offers for exclusive merchandise. Wizard began a practice of producing
specially offered Wizard #1/2 issues. These were special issues of
ongoing major comic book series which featured in-continuity stories that
supplemented the regular series published issues. The issues were numbered #1/2
so as not to disrupt the series ongoing numbering system. Often Wizard
would also include free pack-in issues with their magazines, usually numbered as
Wizard #0's.
Controversy
Comics creator Frank Miller had a well-publicized feud
with Wizard, initiated by his keynote speech at the 2001 Harvey
Awards, during which he ripped a copy of the magazine apart and threw it in
a trash can, calling it a "bible written by Satan," a "monthly vulgarity," and a
"tree killer (which) regularly cheapens and poisons our field."[9]
Awards
The magazine presented the Wizard Fan Awards annually for works of
distinction within the comics industry from 1993 to 2006. From 1993 to 1995, the
awards were presented during Dragon Con; in 1996 the awards moved their home to
the Chicago Comicon (later renamed Wizard World
Chicago).[10]
In 1944 German-occupied Poland, a 13-year-old boy is separated from his
parents upon entry to a concentration camp. When he tries to get back in after
the gates have been closed, he is restrained by four guards. The gates suddenly
start to curl in towards the group, as though attracted by a magnetic force; the
boy is then knocked unconscious by another guard.
In present day, a girl named Marie (Anna Paquin) is studying with her
boyfriend at her house in Meridian, Mississippi. They hug together
and they kiss, which knocks him out and he almost dies. She screams as her
mother arrives. Terrified, she decides to leave her home.
In Congress, Senator Robert
Kelly attempts to pass a "Mutant Registration Act", which
would force mutants to publicly reveal their identities and abilities. Magneto begins his
plans to level the playing field between mutants and humans. Meanwhile, Marie,
now going by the name of Rogue, meets Logan, also known as Wolverine, at a
bar in Canada. Rogue's mutation makes
her temporarily assume the powers of any mutant she touches, while Wolverine
possesses superhuman healing abilities, heightened senses, and metal claws that
extend outwards from his knuckles. Suddenly, both of them are attacked by Sabretooth, a
fellow mutant and an associate of Magneto. Cyclops and Storm arrive and save Wolverine and
Rogue, and bring them to the X-Mansion, a facility run by Professor Charles Xavier, who leads a group of
mutants who are trying to seek peace with the human race, educate young mutants
in the responsible use of their powers, and stop Magneto from starting a war
with humanity.
Abducted by Mystique and Toad, Senator Kelly is brought to Magneto, who
tests a machine on Kelly that artificially induces mutation, though Kelly
manages to escape imprisonment with his new abilities. After an accident causes
Rogue to use her powers on Wolverine, she is convinced by Mystique (disguised as
classmate Bobby
Drake) that Xavier is angry with her and that she should leave the school.
Xavier uses Cerebro to locate Rogue at
a train station. Mystique infiltrates Cerebro and sabotages the machine. At the
train station, Wolverine convinces Rogue to stay with Xavier, but a fight ensues
when Magneto, Toad and Sabretooth arrive to take Rogue. Arriving at Xavier's
school, Kelly dissolves into a puddle of water when his mutation becomes
unstable.
The X-Men learn that Magneto was severely weakened in the test of the machine
on Kelly, and Wolverine realizes he intends to use Rogue's ability to transfer
his powers to her, so that she can power his machine in his place, possibly
putting her life at risk. Xavier attempts to use Cerebro to locate Rogue, but
falls into a coma, due to Mystique's earlier
meddling with the device. Jean
Grey fixes it and uses Cerebro to find Magneto's machine on Liberty Island, which
Magneto intends to use on the world leaders, who are meeting for a summit on
nearby Ellis Island. Just
as the group arrives at the top of the statue, defeating Toad and incapacitating
Mystique, Magneto and Sabretooth incapacitate the group and continue with their
plans. Magneto transfers his powers to Rogue (which makes part of her hair go
white), who is forced to use them to start the machine. Wolverine breaks free
and initiates a fight with Sabretooth, but is thrown off the top of the
statue.
Wolverine returns, and Cyclops, with Jean's help, blasts Sabretooth out of
the statue. With Jean's telekinesis stabilizing him, Storm uses her abilities to
send Wolverine to the top of Magneto's machine. With time running out, Wolverine
attempts to stop the machine and save Rogue, but Magneto, now having regained
some of his strength, halts Wolverine's claws. Cyclops manages to find a clean
shot, wounding Magneto and allowing Wolverine to destroy the machine. Placing
his hand to Rogue's face, as she is dying, Wolverine succeeds in transferring
his regenerative abilities to her; Professor Xavier also recovers from his coma.
The group learns, after seeing Mystique impersonating Senator Kelly on a news
broadcast, that, despite being stabbed by Wolverine at Liberty Island, she is
still alive.
In an attempt to help him learn more about his past, Xavier sends Wolverine
to a military base near Alkali Lake. Xavier visits Magneto in his plastic prison
cell, and the two play chess. Magneto
warns his friend that he will continue his fight, to which Xavier promises that
he and the X-Men will always be there to stop him.
Cast
Patrick Stewart
as Professor Charles
Xavier Founder of the X-Men and the
Xavier School for Gifted
Youngsters, Xavier hopes for peaceful coexistence between mutantkind and
mankind and is regarded as an authority on genetic mutation. Although he is
restricted to a wheelchair, he is a powerful mutant with vast telepathic
abilities. Along with Magneto, he is the inventor of the Cerebrosupercomputer, which further amplifies his
abilities.
Hugh Jackman as Logan /
Wolverine A tough, rugged, belligerent loner who makes a living in cage
fights. He has lived for fifteen years without memory of who he is, apart from
his dog tags marked "Wolverine" and an adamantium-encased skeleton (as well as adamantium
claws). He has enhanced, animal-like senses and the ability to heal rapidly from
numerous injuries, including the surgery that bonded the metal to his skeleton,
which makes his age impossible to determine.
Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr /
Magneto A Holocaust survivor, he and Xavier were once
allies, and they built Cerebro together. However, his belief that humans and
mutants could never co-exist led to their separation. He has powerful magnetic
abilities and a sophisticated knowledge in matters of genetic manipulation,
which he uses to plan a mutation of the world leaders to allow mutant
prosperity.
James Marsden as Scott Summers /
Cyclops He rescues Wolverine and Rogue from a truck explosion, taking them to
safety to the X-Mansion, where
they live. He is the second leader of the X-Men behind Xavier, and is the team's
field leader when they are out on missions as well as an instructor at the
Institute. He is in love with Jean Grey and has a relationship with her. He
produces a strong red beam of force from his eyes, which is only held in check
by a specialized ruby-quartz visor and sunglasses.
Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe /
Storm She works as a teacher at the X-Mansion and has the ability to
manipulate the weather. Ororo has become bitter with other people's hatred for
mutants, and while comforting a dying Senator Kelly says that she sometimes
hates humans.
Anna Paquin as Marie / Rogue A
seventeen-year-old girl, forced to leave her family in Mississippi after putting her boyfriend in a coma by kissing him. If she touches anyone, she
absorbs their strength, memories and abilities, potentially killing them. During
her travels, she meets Wolverine, who becomes her closest friend.
She begins to have a romance with Bobby Drake.
Tyler Mane as Sabretooth A
ferocious, feline-like fighter who attacks Wolverine and Rogue in Canada before being stopped by Storm and
Cyclops. He is a
brutal and sadistic henchman of Magneto, and wields claws extending past each
finger.
Bruce Davison as Senator Robert
Kelly An anti-mutant politician that supports a Mutant Registration Act
and wishes to ban mutant children from schools. He is kidnapped by Magneto in a
test of his mutation machine, which causes his body to turn into a liquid-like
substance.
Ray Park as Toad A very agile
fighter with a menacing streak and a long, prehensile tongue, who can also spit
a slimy substance onto others.
Rebecca
Romijn-Stamos as Mystique Magneto's loyal
second-in-command, her mutant ability to alter her shape and mimic any human
being is almost secondary to her role as "the perfect soldier". She is an agile
fighter, expert martial artist, and seems completely facile with respect to
modern technology.
Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake /
Iceman A student at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters who takes a
liking to Rogue. He can change temperatures to subzero degrees and use the
moisture in the air to create ice.
David Hayter, Stan Lee, and Tom DeSanto make cameo appearances. George Buza, the voice of Beast in X-Men: The Animated Series, appeared as
the truck driver who drops Rogue off at the bar at which Wolverine works.[1] Other cameo
appearances include Sumela Kay
as Kitty Pryde, Katrina
Florece as Jubilee
and a young Colossus sketching a picture in one
scene.[2]Gambit was considered
for one of the students at the X-Mansion. Singer remembered, "We thought about
Gambit as the young boy on the basketball field, but the feeling was that if he
has the basketball and then releases it and it exploded, [then] people would be
like 'What's wrong with those basketballs?'"[2] The success
of X-Men (alongside Blade) started a reemergence for the comic book and superhero film genre.[3]
Production
Development
Throughout 1989 and 1990, Stan
Lee and Chris
Claremont were in discussions with James Cameron and Carolco Pictures for an X-Men film adaptation. The deal fell apart when
Cameron went to work on Spider-Man, Carolco
went bankrupt, and the film
rights reverted to Marvel Studios.[5] In December
1992, Marvel discussed selling the property to Columbia Pictures to no avail.[6] Meanwhile, Avi Arad produced the animated X-Men
TV series for Fox Kids. 20th Century Fox was
impressed by the success of the TV show, and producer Lauren Shuler
Donner purchased the film rights for them in 1994.[5][7] Andrew Kevin
Walker was hired to write the script in early 1994.[8] Walker's draft
involved Professor Xavier
recruiting Wolverine into the X-Men, which consists of
Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Angel.
The Brotherhood of Mutants, which consisted
of Magneto, Sabretooth, Toad, and the Blob, try to conquer New York City, while Henry Peter
Gyrich and Bolivar
Trask attack the X-Men with three 8 feet (2.4 m) tall Sentinels. The
script focused on the rivalry between Wolverine and Cyclops, as well as the
latter's self-doubt as a field leader. Part of the backstory invented for
Magneto made him the cause of the Chernobyl disaster. The script also featured
the X-Copter and the Danger
Room. Walker turned in his second draft in June 1994.[9]
More scripts were written by John Logan, James Schamus,[1] and Joss Whedon. One of these
scripts kept the idea of Magneto turning Manhattan into a "mutant homeland",
while another hinged on a romance between Wolverine and Storm.[7] Whedon's draft
heavily featured the Danger Room, and concluded with Jean Grey dressed as the Phoenix.[10]
According to Entertainment Weekly, this screenplay
was rejected because of its "quick-witted pop culture-referencing tone",[11] and the
finished film contained only two dialogue exchanges that Whedon had
contributed.[12][13] In 1996, Fox
approached Michael
Chabon to write a script. Chabon's six-page film treatment focused heavily on character
development between Wolverine and Jubilee. It also included Professor X,
Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Beast, Iceman, and Storm.
Under Chabon's plan, the villains would not have been introduced until the
second film.[14] Robert
Rodriguez was approached to direct, but turned down the offer.[15]Bryan Singer was looking to
do a science
fiction film after the release of The Usual Suspects. Fox approached
Singer for Alien Resurrection, but producer Tom DeSanto felt X-Men
would be a better opportunity as he was impressed with how Singer directed an ensemble cast in The Usual
Suspects.[5] Singer turned
down the offer, believing that comic books were unintelligent literature. By
July 1996, Singer had further turned down the film another two times,[7] and finally
accepted after reading the comics and watching the animated series.[5] The themes of
prejudice in the comic resonated with Singer.[1]
By December 1996, Singer was in the director's position, while Ed Solomon was hired to write the
script in April 1997, and Singer went to film Apt Pupil. Fox then announced a Christmas
1998 release date.[16][17] In late 1997, the
budget was projected at $60 million.[2] In late
1998, Singer and DeSanto sent a treatment to Fox, which they believed was
"perfect" because it took "seriously" the themes and the comparisons between
Xavier and Magneto and Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, unlike the other scripts.[1] They made Rogue an important
character because Singer recognized that her mutation, which renders her unable
to touch anyone, was the most symbolic of alienation. Singer merged attributes
of Kitty Pryde and Jubilee
into the film's depiction of Rogue. Magneto's plot to mutate the world leaders
into accepting his people is reminiscent of how Constantine I's conversion
to Christianity ended the persecution of
early Christians in the Roman Empire; the analogy was emphasized in a
deleted scene in which Storm teaches history. Senator Kelly's claim that he has a list
of mutants living in the United States recalls Joseph McCarthy's similar claim regarding
communists.[1]
Fox, who had projected the budget at $75 million, rejected the treatment
which they estimated it would have cost $5 million more. Beast, Nightcrawler, Pyro, and the Danger Room had to be deleted
before the studio greenlightedX-Men.[7][18] Fox head Thomas Rothman argued
that this would enhance the story,[7] and Singer
concurred that removing the Danger Room allowed him to focus on other scenes he
preferred. Elements of Beast, particularly his medical expertise, were
transferred to Jean Grey.[1] Singer and
DeSanto brought Christopher McQuarrie from The Usual
Suspects, and together did another rewrite.[19][20]David Hayter simultaneously
rewrote the screenplay, receiving solo screenplay credit from the Writers
Guild of America, while Singer and DeSanto were given story credit.[7] The WGA offered
McQuarrie a credit, but he voluntarily took his name off when the final version
was more in line with Hayter's script than his.[21]
Casting
Russell Crowe was
Singer's first choice to play Wolverine. After Crowe turned the role down due to
salary demands,[1] a number of
actors offered their services for the role before Singer cast Dougray Scott. Part of
Scott's contract included a sequel, but Scott backed out due to scheduling
conflicts with Mission: Impossible II in early
October 1999.[22][23][24]Hugh Jackman, who was an
unknown actor at the time, was cast three weeks into filming.[25]Keanu Reeves also expressed
interest in the role.[26]
Singer first suggested to Patrick Stewart that he play Xavier while
X-Men executive producer Richard Donner was filming 1997's Conspiracy Theory.[27]James
Caviezel was originally cast as Cyclops, but backed out due to scheduling
conflicts with Frequency.[28]James Marsden was
unfamiliar with his character, but soon became accustomed after reading various
comic books. Marsden modeled his performance similar to a Boy Scout.[29]Eric Mabius expressed interest
for the role of Cyclops. Angela Bassett was approached to portray Storm
in late 1997,[2] as was Janet Jackson.[30]Anna Paquin dropped out of the
lead role in Tart in
favor of X-Men.[31]Terence Stamp was
considered for Magneto[32] before Singer cast
Ian McKellen, who acted in
his previous film, Apt Pupil. McKellen responded to the gay
allegory of the film, "the allegory of the mutants as outsiders, disenfranchised
and alone and coming to all of that at puberty when their difference manifests,"
Singer explained. "Ian is activist and he really responded to the potential of
that allegory."[27]
The filmmakers decided not to replicate the X-Men costumes as seen in the
comic book. Stan Lee and Chris Claremont
supported this decision. Claremont joked, "you can do that on a drawing, but
when you put it on people it's disturbing!"[5]
Producer/co-writer Tom
DeSanto had been supportive of using the blue and yellow color scheme of the
comics,[1] but came to
conclude that they would not work onscreen.[40] To acknowledge the
fan complaints, Singer added Cyclops' line "What would you prefer, yellow
spandex?" – when Wolverine complains about wearing their uniforms – during
filming. Singer noted that durable black leather made more sense for the X-Men
to wear as protective clothing,[1] and Shuler
Donner added that the costumes helped them "blend into the night".[41]
Wolverine's claws required a full silicone cast of Hugh Jackman's arm, and
700 versions for Jackman and his stunt doubles.[42] It took nine hours
to apply Rebecca
Romijn's prosthetic makeup.[43] She could not
drink wine, use skin creams, or fly the day before filming, because it could
have caused her body chemistry to change slightly, causing the 110 prosthetics
applied to her skin to fall off.[7] Between takes,
the makeup department kept Romijn isolated in a windowless room to ensure
secrecy. Romijn reflected, "I had almost no contact with the rest of the cast;
it was like I was making a different movie from everyone else. It was hell."[7]
In the late 1990s, computer-generated imagery was
becoming more commonly used. Singer visited the sets of Star Wars Episode I: The
Phantom Menace and Titanic to understand practical and
digital effects.[2] Filming had
started without a special effects company hired. Digital Domain, Cinesite, Kleiser-Walczak Construction, Hammerhead
Production, Matte World Digital, CORE and POP were all
hired in December 1999.[44]Visual
effects supervisor Mike Fink admitted to have been dissatisfied with his
work on X-Men in 2003, despite nearly being nominated for an Academy Award.[45] Digital Domain's technical
director Sean C. Cunningham and lead compositor Claas Henke morphed Bruce Davison into a liquid figure for Kelly's
mutation scene. Cunningham said, "There were many digital layers: water without
refraction, water with murkiness, skin with and without highlights, skin with
goo in it. When rendered together, it took 39 hours per frame."[46] They
considered showing Kelly's internal organs during the transformation, "but that
seemed too gruesome", according to Cunningham.[46]
On June 1, 2000, Marvel published a comic book prequel to X-Men, entitled X-Men:
Beginnings, revealing the backstories of Magneto, Rogue and Wolverine.[49] There was also a
comic book adaptation based on the film.[50]Marvel Studios was
depending on X-Men's success to ignite other franchise properties (Spider-Man,
Fantastic Four, Hulk and Daredevil).[51]X-Men was
released in 3,025 theaters in North America on July 14, 2000, earning
$54,471,475 in its opening weekend. The film eventually grossed $157,299,717 and
made $139,039,810 in other countries, coming to a worldwide total of
$296,339,527.[52]X-Men
was the ninth highest-grossing film of 2000.[53] The film made over
$50 million in home video sales.[2]
Reception
The film received positive reviews. Based on 153 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 82%
were positive.[54] 59% of 32 selected
popular reviewers gave it positive reviews.[55] By comparison Metacritic collected an average
score of 64/100 from 33 reviews.[56] Kenneth Turan found
"so much is happening you feel the immediate need of a sequel just as a reward
for absorbing it all. While X-Men doesn't take your breath away
wire-to-wire the way The
Matrix did, it's an accomplished piece of work with considerable pulp
watchability to it."[57] ReelReviews.net's
James
Berardinelli, an X-Men comic book fan, believed, "the film is
effectively paced with a good balance of exposition, character development, and
special effects-enhanced action. Neither the plot nor the character
relationships are difficult to follow, and the movie avoids the trap of spending
too much time explaining things that don't need to be explained. X-Men fandom is
likely to be divided over whether the picture is a success or a failure".[58]Desson Thomson of The Washington
Post commented, "[T]he movie's enjoyable on the surface, but I suspect
many people, even die-hards, will be less enthusiastic about what lies, or
doesn't, underneath".[59] Roger Ebert of the Chicago
Sun-Times said he "started out liking this movie, while waiting for
something really interesting to happen. When nothing did, I still didn't dislike
it; I assume the X-Men will further develop their personalities if there is a
sequel, and maybe find time to get involved in a story. No doubt fans of the
comics will understand subtle allusions and fine points of behavior; they should
linger in the lobby after each screening to answer questions."[60] He also gave it a
"thumbs down" on Ebert & Roeper.[61]Peter Travers of Rolling Stone noted,
"Since it's Wolverine's movie, any X-Men or Women who don't hinge directly on
his story get short shrift. As Storm, Halle Berry can do neat tricks with
weather, but her role is gone with the wind. It sucks that Stewart and McKellen,
two superb actors, are underused."[62]
X-Men: Children of the Atom is a six-issue comic booklimited series released
in 1999, retelling the origins of the X-Men.
The first issue is about the teenagerhood of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast and Angel, while the
mutants have just appeared in the news. Professor X is pretending to be a school
coordinator, in order to help the young mutants.
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