The Wizard is dead.

Wizard Magazine announced its cancellation today and pretty much blew up every comic news site out there. It still had its readers, but it is far removed from its heyday of the mid-nineties.

That being said, it still makes me a bit sad to realize its gone. Wizard was an integral part of the comic experience in my youth. It was pretty much my sole source for cool news, and gave insight in to an industry I wanted to join. I did give it up for a bit and favored the slicker, more indie friendly Hero Illustrated, but Hero died an unfortunate death against its larger competitor.

I also have great memories of some really solid 1/2 issues published as special order items. I got tons of great comics that way, and found myself introduced to several titles I probably would have never tried anyway.

In the last couple years, it became a terrible attempt at being a pop culture magazine while stories of a poor work environment surfaced more and more. I can’t think anyone was really surprised by this story. But that doesn’t make it any less sad.

It will supposedly be relaunched as a web magazine, but even then it will pale in comparison to Newsarama, CBR, or Bleeding Cool.

Wizard is dead. And for all its bluster and problems, the comic industry is a bit sadder for it.

This was also the greatest Marvel Overpower card ever (included).