29 Oct, 2007
No longer making even the pretense of caring about its female readers (if there were any?), the latest issue of Wizard (out Wednesday) reveals it’s now calling itself “The #1 Men’s Pop-Culture Magazine!” Although none of the three different covers for this issue features any babes, upon opening you will find the following pin-up of the newest “Hero Hottie”, Kristen Bell.
While most people I know stopped reading (let alone buying) Wizard long ago, I have to admit I do still skim it regularly, and I usally find an article or two worth reading. But this month I think the only thing that really interested me at all was an interview with Grant Morrison and Neal Adams about Ra’s Al Ghul, and even that was shorter than these things usually are.
Part of this issue’s extra fluffiness is due to their “Annual Game Buyer’s Guide”, which predictably takes way too many pages to say pretty much nothing — unless of course you count the inevitable “Match the Rack” feature:
- chanzero
31 Responses to "Kristen Bell in Maxim — Oh Sorry, I Mean Wizard"
You know, part of me wants to appreciate the attention Kristen Bell gets since she’s not particularly “hot” by the usual standards of the term — seriously, she’s just an average-looking WG who lucked into some geek cred, largely because her average-ness makes her more “attainable” than the usual suspects — but then she does photo shoots like this one where they attempt to shoehorn her into the “hot” box and it’s just lame.
But, yeah, I guess it’s nice to see Wizard finally officially acknowledge what they really are, though I don’t know about the “#1″ part because if Maxim isn’t a “Men’s Pop-Culture Magazine”, I’m not sure what is!
2 | Kayode Kendall
But that’s just how it seems to be. A lot of actresses nowadays with the “hot because they’re average” factor, ultimately end up doing some sort of sexpot pin-up photoshoot in some magazine. Bell’s chronic case of “Noassatall” certainly doesn’t help.
3 | david brothers
I love Kristen Bell, but Wizard is so creepy with how they do things it isn’t even funny.
And Match the Rack? Cripes, dudes.
4 | Kayode Kendall
What’s even more disturbing is that one of those “racks” is from LEGO Star Wars!!
7 | Matt Bayne
I feel embarrassed for them. Guys, what? Was this a plan for increasing readership? Getting in line behind Maxim, Stuff, etc, etc?
Wow, lame, lame, lame move on Wizard’s part. I still have the first few issues of that ‘zine around here somewhere, from back when they focused on comics. They should have stuck with a niche… they can’t compete for a broad audience against the likes of Maxim, Stuff, FHM, Esquire, GQ, etc. etc. etc. etc.
Oh, and P.S. KB is hot. In the words of Bill Clinton addressing hecklers at a Democratic fundrasier: “How dare you. How DARE you!”
10 | sarah
wow. this takes bullshittery to a whole new level.
as a female superhero comic fan and a comic book art *major* in college, i’ve always found the mysoginy in mainstream culture especially the comics industry a difficult thing to get around.
but i’ve been trying – i really have. i’ve been buying wizard for years in an attempt to keep myself updated while i’m picking up my monthly issues of batman and such…
but it’s really just gotten disgusting. between female superheroines being raped to “deepen” their characters, being brutally killed off (in highly sexualized scenes) because some writer got sick of them, and fighting crime in suits that have completely impractical holes cut in them, i’m getting pretty sick of the whole thing.
not that i’m going to give up on comics or anything, but good lord, get through puberty already!
11 | Mike Haseloff
Not to disrupt the flaming torch wielding mob, but do Wizard have a photography department? Is this really their problem, or was this sassy snap from one of many other sources providing Wizard with images?
“What’s even more disturbing is that one of those “racks” is from LEGO Star Wars!!”
At least someone got the gag!… Wait jest a minute…
12 | T
Mike-
The image is a pick-up shot. It was originally shot for Giant back in 2006 and also ran recently in the final issue of Stuff, if memory serves.
13 | Mike Haseloff
“The image is a pick-up shot. It was originally shot for Giant back in 2006 and also ran recently in the final issue of Stuff, if memory serves.”
… DEATH TO THE SURFACE DWELLERS!!!
14 | Kayode Kendall
“as a female superhero comic fan and a comic book art *major* in college, i’ve always found the mysoginy in mainstream culture especially the comics industry a difficult thing to get around.
but i’ve been trying – i really have. i’ve been buying wizard for years in an attempt to keep myself updated while i’m picking up my monthly issues of batman and such…
but it’s really just gotten disgusting.”
Relatively speaking, I’d say it’s no worse than how it was decades earlier.
“between female superheroines being raped to “deepen” their characters,”
Wonder Woman, despite being an Amazonian princess used to get tied up in some pretty questionable poses back in the comics from the forties; wasn’t her creator a bondage nut anyway?
“being brutally killed off (in highly sexualized scenes) because some writer got sick of them,”
Usually, when any superhero, male or female, is killed off, it’s brutal. being KILLED is brutal. To say nothing of the fact that it’s essentially an occupational hazard. As a superhero you risk being killed. And while I won’t discount times when a female character was killed off unnecessarily, it’d be ignorant of you to suggest that such treatment is exclusive to female characters.
“and fighting crime in suits that have completely impractical holes cut in them, i’m getting pretty sick of the whole thing.”
Superhero costumes in general are impractical.
15 | Tally
Tim: Thanks for the info (and good to see you)
Kayode: If you’re prepared to sit here and respond to everyone who is going to disagree with your points, this could turn into an even longer thread! Good luck buddy
16 | Kayode Kendall
October 31st, 2007 at 10:08 am
Oh, I live for debate. If everyone just agreed with each other all the time, the world would be as dull as dishwater. Let the haters come!
17 | Jon Haehnle
October 31st, 2007 at 12:05 pm
I hear ya. But by the way, that was me at #15 — I didn’t realize Tally was logged into her account on her computer when I posted that comment
18 | Diana
October 31st, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Oh awesome. I was wondering when they were going to let me know they don’t need my dollar any more. Thanks, Wizard! morons…
19 | Mickle
“Great. Now where’s the #1 women’s pop culture magazine?”
Bitch. :)
“Superhero costumes in general are impractical.”
Riiiight. cuz nothing says impractical like a utility belt. I mean, really, what’s fishnets and high heels compared to that?
20 | Kayode Kendall
“Riiiight. cuz nothing says impractical like a utility belt. I mean, really, what’s fishnets and high heels compared to that? ”
Colored briefs outside the pants. Who’s bright idea was that? Not to mention capes. How many superheroes have been swung around by those damn things? 1-2-3-4. . . .aw, f***! I ran outta fingers AND toes.
21 | Cassandra Lovell
Wow, looks like I won’t be buying Wizard anytime soon. Way to go guys!
.. not.
22 | Chris Allen
Something of a confused message from some of those commenting here. Wizard is creepy for objectifying women, but it’s okay for us to talk about Kristin Bell’s ass and “average WG” looks, since we can appreciate her talent. Anyway, kudos for only celebrating Lego racks, as Duplo racks would’ve been really inappropriate.
23 | Kayode Kendall
Well, if my avatar isn’t enough indication, I’m pretty lax in how I view Wizard’s depicition of women. I draw the line with things like speculating on the rack of a LEGO CHARACTER!! And I didn’t talk about Kristen Bell’s ass! I was talking about her complete lack of one! It’s TOTALLY different!
24 | Tally
I (real Tally) can only respond to this with ellipses:
…
Also, I don’t think KK will get as many comments as the Pokemon thread will…
26 | roy
i really like kristen bell but this pic makes her look like courtney love.
as for wizard,they have been objectifying women for years. this is nothing new.
27 | Tally
The last time I ever looked at a Wizard was way back when my little brother (not so little anymore…) was collecting cards and was into the whole comic book scene…I didn’t know people still actually read it religiously.
Also, since when does the world not go around objectifying women? Wizard is just another guys ONRY turf same goes with comics…if I ever wrote a comic I would objectify men BUT that would just play into some sick men’s fantasies…
28 | Kayode Kendall
“if I ever wrote a comic I would objectify men BUT that would just play into some sick men’s fantasies…”
You know I’m dead sexy!
29 | ALloyd
November 17th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Dear God. Do these people have any idea what constitutes acceptable business practise? Surely they don’t actually think they’re going to sell MORE copies after this repulsive rebranding? Not only are they explicitly rejecting (according to reliable estimates) 20-30% of their potential market (and rising), they’re also alienating most of their existing demographic (myself included, although admittedly I’ve never bought Wizard before).
Who, exactly, is going to go to the checkout with a “men’s pop culture magazine”? Someone should tell them that comics geeks are generally not the sort of people who buy Playboy and Maxim.
They are a comic magazine the way MTV is a music station. Calling themselves a men’s popculture magazine is way over due…
31 | Robert
December 19th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
First off i just want to say i believe Kristen Bell is the most beautiful actress out there today. Second. Wizard really hasn’t called themselves a comic book magazine for like a year now. They just added the #1 mens popculture magazine because really there is no other popculture magazine for men.