Customer Reviews

Comics Buyer's Guide

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When Comics Buyers Guide was a weekly tabloid, it appealed mainly to the hardcore comic book collector. Now that it has switched to a monthly format, delivering a healthy 244+ pages/issue, it has evolved into a dual-purpose magazine, still meeting the collector's needs while offering much more content for the discerning comic book reader and/or fan.

While Wizard is very good at what it does, hyping the latest Marvel and DC projects while offering a glimpse at the world beyond the big two - and the fanboys justifiably love it for that reason - Comics Buyers Guide offers meatier content and covers a much wider range of comics, with actual reviews as opposed to PR hype and creator-driven spin. Also, their price guide is more realistic, and thorough, than Wizard's seemingly hype-driven guide.

If you have to choose between them, Comics Buyers Guide is the one you want on a monthly basis.

While sections like "Longbox Manifesto" and "Ask Mr. Silver Age" will certainly appeal to long-time comic book lovers, CBG is a magazine that, month-in and month-out, will contain new and fresh news and stories that you more-than-likely didn't read elsewhere. The comic book and graphic novels reviewed each month are more than just Marvel and DC books, too, which is nice.

Wheras Wizard simply regurgitates the same news found on the various comic book sites online, Comics Buyers Guide is refreshingly new.

This weekly publication is a great way to dive into the culture of the comics-buying world. The letters page is several pages long, often written by incredibly knowledgable and insightful readers. Also included are lots of reviews, articles on the industry and upcoming creative news, informative/interesting/entertaining columnists, convention guides, publication schedules, and classifieds. Content ranges from the beginnings of comic book history all the way to what's happening a year from now. Definitely a highlight of my week; often I read this before I read the comics I just bought. This comes from a publisher whose primary focus has been on collecting (coins, stamps, records, etc.) Trustworthy and entertaining!

I have subscribed to Wizard magazine for years now, and was hoping for a second comics magazine to read during the month. While I was looking for something different than Wizard, I was unfortunately unhappy with what I found.

PROS: Comic Buyer's Guide(CBG) does a good job reviewing monthly titles and TPB comics, however not as many as I had hoped. They do not pull any punches with their reviews and they do not appear to be on anyone's payroll when they review a title, which is refreshing. Wizard Magazine has pretty much dropped the review aspect of comics and even when they did, were not critical enough to get a true read on what their final decision was. The 2nd PRO I can see is that it has more of a feel of who the comic reader truly is and their articles focus on the hobby which is a good thing, while Wizard ties it self to the industry professionals too much.

CONS: CBG is not a very thick magazine content wise, it is printed in B&W and on newspaper style paper. The writers seem a little too satisfied with themselves and their view points at times. I never understood why the outcasts of everyday society, who have found solace in the comic book realm, feel the need to belittle other people. There is almost no information on pricing of comics from a collector's standpoint. I find this odd as CBG publishes an Annual Price Guide. Since Overstreet is the standard for price guides, I rather see them publish some pricing monthly, and offer something new.

All and all, I still favor Wizard, even with its faults. CBG comes off as very amateurish as you are reading through the magazine, like reading page after page of mailbox letters to the editor. The Wizard magazine is slick, with professional layouts and has interesting articles about everything pop culture related, from video games, movies, comics, and more. Also, Wizard has a serious Marvel slant, while CBG has a DC slant. I am sure both publishers would deny such a claim, but its obvious to the readers. So if you have a flavor of choice, that may help you in your decision making.

I been buying Comics Buyer's Guide since 2004 since it became one month Magazine, I really enjoy the reviews of new comics and old comics. If you are into comics this is the magazine you will want to read, today there are not many comic Magazine to keep you inform on what comics are out there to read and enjoy, this one does it all.

I recommend that you not buy Comic Buyers' Guide !
I will admit that I used to like it , but I feel differently now .
Just to start with something comical , the latest issue rund an issue-by-issue retrospective of several old titles , Captain Marvel Adventures , Darkhawk , and various Avengers titles - that had appeared in as meany as two previous issues of the six months preceding !!!!! It appeared in an issue I still have ( still have beacuse , it never cam e the first time around , a supposed replacement never came , finally , Replacement #2 came . ) , so I know . Amusingly , we get told that Charlton published a Flintstones comic book in the 60s , as well , in the same current issue .
These errors might be piddling - But the current editor really appears to be driving it straight into the loo . Now , he and I have had words , so perhaps that influences my comments here - But , CBG's failure to EVER send to me in a timely manner the 2&1/2 to 3&1/2 years of coupons for " free classified ads " that they owe me , dating from before the magazine switch , predate his elevation ! Since I'm signing off them , and don't want classifieds in them amymore , I guess that's some more money F&W Publications at least indirectly pocketed , from me .
Their tendency to rah-rah whatever comics are currently being published , especially if they're selling , but , only later , criticize them - As with a lot of the " blockbuster "/" Image-style " comics of the late 80s and early 90s - might've , well , I don't know how much longer they're going to be in business , so , if they go under , perhaps that willseem retroactively cute , too !!!