Work is proceeding apace on STRIP Magazine with the strip line up now firmed up for the first issues.The magazine is on course to launch as planned in October 2011, but as a result of discussions with our news stand distributor we have decided to delay a wide roll out until 2012.
As a result of these discussions, STRIP will launch in UK comic shops only, solicited through Diamond, but we still plan to widen our sales to the UK high street in 2012, effectively 're-launching' the title after its initial tranche of content draws to a close.
Naturally, we expect some potential readers who've been following developments might be disappointed by this news but we actually see it as an opportunity to "test bed" the title, in the a similar way to part works publishers who roll out test magazines in a key region to see if the project appeals.
We will also, of course, be offering subscriptions to the magazine and we're looking at a digital edition - although there are issues about that relating to the use of creator-owned strips that need to be resolved.
STRIP Magazine Issue One includes Black Ops Xtreme, drawn by PJ Holden; Warpaint by Phil Hester and John McCrea - the first episode will feature in an upcoming issue of Tripwire (see news story); Age of Heroes by James Hudnall and John Ridgway; Hookjaw, re-mastered by Jim Campbell and Gary Caldwell; 'Hush Hush' a prequel story to Stephen Walsh and Keith Page's Iron Moon graphic album; Recovery Inc. by Michael Penick and Dean Deckard; and the first winners of our Strip Challenge.
(The initial winners for the first three slots have been notified and we'll be advising creators of the next three slots very soon).
We'll also have features on the 1970s comic Action that originally published Hookjaw, written by Moose Harris; and an exclusive interview with PJ Holden by Matt Badham.
The bumper 68-page STRIP Magazine Issue One will cost £2.99 and will come with a free poster, and will be on sale in October.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI just got the following reply from Gosh Comics in London after asking about getting Strip by mail order: "We don't carry the magazine I'm afraid. It's not been made available to us via any of our usual suppliers."
I've sent them back the Diamond order code so I'll see what their reply to that is.
Looks like you have an uphill battle ahead of you though.
Kiwijohn
That's frustrating news. Gosh is a terrific comic store and the folk there are some of the best in the business.
ReplyDeleteDiamond actively solicited Strip Magazine and I would have thought Gosh ordered from them. We have met deadlines for information (and indeed, I just sent info on Issue 3 to Diamond UK this week. Diamond very kindly sent around an Issue 1 preview to their customers and Mike Conroy included copies of Strip Issue Zero with Multiverse magazine. And with coverage in Comic Heroes, online and other places, I don't think we've slouched in terms of making comic fans aware that the Magazine was on its way.
Although we have received orders for Issue 1 we do plan to print more than has been ordered. If you live in London, I do know that Forbidden Planet has ordered copies.
We'll also be offering people the chance to order individual copies as well as subscribe from our web site when it goes live.
I'm not sure how the Diamond solicitation went but it doesn't seem to have filtered through to a lot of suppliers.
ReplyDeleteI asked Economic Comics if they were going to have Strip available and they said they didn't have any info about it! They did ask if I had any further details so I have given them the link to this page and the Previews code, so now crossing my fingers that I can get my hands on a copy..
Zacspalace
Thanks for the information. I've dropped Economic Comics a line via their web site to ask if they'd like some Issue Zeros.
ReplyDelete