Dear Kurt…
Wizard really is stupid. I mean really, really, absurdly stupid. I’ve been highly critical of their publishing empire in the past, an empire that has now dwindled to two magazines that are both little more than a laughing stock. They also run a series of comic book conventions that have basically been an upscale version of Creation Conventions. They were never serious competition to the more mainstream cons, but I suppose they filled in empty holes in the convention calendar and people who wanted to go to them were certainly welcome to do so.
Unfortunately, Wizard got full of themselves and started to schedule their comic conventions opposite actual, respected conventions. I guess they were hoping to draw off some of the attendance and talent from these shows in order to prove to people they were a force to be reckoned with. It backfired on them horribly however, not only have the pros all been telling Wizard where to shove it, the fans have been overwhelmingly abandoning the Wizard conventions in favor of the more mainstream fare.
That hasn’t made a bit of difference though, Wizard is not only continuing their foolish self-destructive ways, it seems like they’re going out of their way to piss everyone off that they can. Take this response from Scott Kurtz, which was posted on his website, the wonderful and highly recommended PvP (Player vs. Player) webcomic.
From: Larry Ernst (learnst@wizardent.com)
to: Scott KurtzDear Kurt,
I hope things are well and business is good.
We wrapped up Big Apple Comic Con a couple of weeks ago and are now focused on our 2010 shows.
Our next show is in Toronto in March and then in Anaheim. The Anaheim dates are April 16th-18th. I have attached the form for reserving space in Anaheim and hope you can join us. As you will see, there are no drayage fees.
The celebrity list will grow substantially in the coming weeks but we have confirmed the attendance of Eliza Dushku from Dollhouse.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
All the best,
Larry
Larry Ernst
Sales Manager
Wizard EntertainmentDear Larry,
First of all my name is not Kurt. It’s Scott. Scott Kurtz. It’s written right there in the email you just pretended to send me. Not that my name’s important or that you are actually aware of who you’re addressing. I’m a pioneer in my field and a “tastemaker” with a large podium, why would it be important to get my name right? Let’s not dawdle on such mundane details.
Your conventions are total horseshit, so it’s wise to stop branding them with the name Wizard. But no amount of polishing is going to make me want to attended any of the 5 turds your company is going to crap out in 2010, especially when you schedule them against other shows in some bullshit dick measuring contests that serves no other purpose but to fracture an already dying industry that I have nostalgic ties to.
Remember Mike Wieringo? Remember how you guys only cared about him when he was the “hot artist” for a window of time and then you quickly forgot his name despite the fact that he was producing some of the best work of his career on Fantastic Four with Mark Waid? And then remember how after he died you had the balls to name one of your panel rooms the Mike Wieringo room? I will eternally hate everyone associated with your company for that. For eternity. For Jack Kirby’s version of Eternity where the concept is embodied as a giant man made up of the universe. That’s me, hating you for the Mike Wieringo thing. Forever.
Maybe if you cared enough to actually get my name right, or maybe if you cared about creators like the late, great Mike Wieringo beyond what they can do for you THIS FIVE MINUTES, the entire industry wouldn’t all be anticipating your inevitable bankruptcy.
Give Dushku my best. She’s pretty hot and Dollhouse is alright. Otherwise, shove everything else up your ass.
Best.
Scott (Kurt) Kurtz
Cartoonist
www.pvponline.comp.s. please take of me off the comp list for your retarded super-hero boobs magazine.
Does that sound at all like a company that really gives a damn about the pros that they want to draw crowds to their cons? They don’t. They only want to use people to make a buck and the second that person isn’t useful, they toss them into the dustbin. It’s how they’ve always done business. If a company advertises with Wizard, you can be sure their products will be given a glowing “independent” review. No ads? Your products won’t get talked about anymore. Wizard has always been a “recommendation for hire” magazine and that’s why they’re such a pathetic joke.
I guess they really do want to go out of business and when they do, I suspect no one will miss them. In fact, I doubt anyone will even notice they’re gone, except perhaps that the air might be a little cleaner in the comics media world. I, for one, can’t wait until the Wizard stench vanishes, maybe we can get a little more credibility back in an industry that desperately needs it.
No Comments Yet to “Dear Kurt…”
Bitchscriptions
Revolt Basic theme by NenadK. | Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS).