It wasn't removed when I read it the first time...
Those Wizard guys really do a great job at not coming off heavy-handed. Of course, it is a little disappointing to see CBR fold like that as well.
what did it say?
Same thing Newsrama has been reporting. I don't remember it being particularly inflamatory, just pointed out that Wizard was working on making a big play for the convention circuit. Rich even offered to go to WW Atlanta if they would pay his way...
Maybe Rich can post the original here? I know he checks this board...
yeah...what a coop. WWA gets Rich and Heroes gets Millar and Ellis.
From Lying in the Gutters:
The WizardWorld backlash is in earnest and both Marvel and DC Comics are in discussion over what their move should be.
For the past few years, WizardWorld have been increasing the numbers of their comics conventions in order to squeeze the competition. A WizardWorld Los Angeles was originally planned for the same day or the previous weekend to the number one comics convention, San Diego - not so much as replace it, but to leech importance from it, thus increase the importance of WizardWorld Chicago and other WizardWorlds through the year. This plan was, however abandoned for something smaller.
And the recent decision to coincide WizardWorld Atlanta with Heroes Con was exactly that. Using the power of the WizardWorld brand to knock out possible competition around the country and grow to challenge San Diego for the number one spot.
But finally a number of prominent creators have rebelled against this Starbuckisation of comic book conventions. Giving Heroes Con its best star line-up for years - JMS, Mark Millar, Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch, Travis Charest, Art Adams, Tony Harris and many more.
Which leaves Marvel and DC with a dilemma. WizardWorld has long courted these two companies and provided serious discounts for their appearance, as long as they commit to a number of shows across the country and agree to make headline-making announcements there.
But with pressure from their own creatives and staff, and the possibilities of a PR nightmare, is it conceivable that Marvel and DC may break their previously mutually agreeable partnership? Until that week, that was not a possibility. This week, it's been raised internally at both publishers.
WizardWorld is also looking at serious damage minimisation on this one.
I think LiTG would be great if every article was like this. Just a title and then an "article removed at the request of".
Let's try:
"More Than Meets the... Pie?
(Article removed at the request of Kurt Busiek, several kittens and the Estate of Ed Wood)"
C'mon kids! Make your own today!
CBR didn't fold. I did.
"Atlanta Attacks!
Article removed at the request of Liam, Emperor of Atlanta and the Committee to Reelect the President."
"John Byrne, Hero of Our Times
Article removed at the request of the Christopher Reeve Foundation and Blonde Latina Hookers of America."
"House of Mmm?
Article removed by the severance of the internet into two pieces."
"Joe Quesada naked with Pandas
Article removed. You don't wanna know.
Wait a minute! I thought rumors had won the vote. Now you're wimping out? Come on, Rich! Give us the goods! Who is sleeping with whom? give us rumors!
I think you should change it to "Censored by EthiCorp. We Get the Bad Out."
Problem is, nobody's gonna *get* that reference, Stefan...
Why did you fold, Rich?!?
Because Rob asked, Nik.
Rich is fearless with rumours. "Wizard are a bunch of assholes" is fact, and therefore outwith his jurisdiction.
Rich, do you still stand behind the content or was it taken down because of inaccuracies and/or legal threat? Considering the story has been reported so many other places, it seems odd that you would concede to just being asked to remove it.
...or did they just buy you a plane ticket?
Black Bull comics presents: Holed Up #3.
Perhaps someone tossed a polybagged bundle of old Valiant comics though his window?
OK, so the big difference between what Rich posted and then removed and what was already public knowledge via Newsarama et al is the detail about DC and Marvel both reevaluating their semi-exclusive deals with Wizard World re: Con presence over their Wal-Mart-like tactics as a means to taking over the Comic Convention "industry." One guesses that was a green light, after all, if Wizard are that sensitive about it.
And come to think of it, it may also explain why San Diego was so lackluster with regard to news from the big two -- they were contractually obligated to save their big announcements for Wizard World.
Black Bull comics presents: Holed Up #3.
LOL! I wish, I'd finally get my money back on the order Avatar refuses to cancel.
I think the deal is this; Rich is claiming Wizard's big kahunas are considering pulling their support. Just the rumor of that could hurt Wizard's bottom line, thus putting Rich in a potentially actionable position by a company that has shown itself to be quite vindictive and ruthless. I don't blame him for taking it down.
Of course, I don't blame other people from pulling it from their browser cache and putting it up elsewhere 
There's got to be some publisher out there with the money and balls to realize Wizard is vulnerable right now, and willing to give them a taste of their own medicine! Unfortunately, despite being a superior magazine, CBG can't do it.
C'mon Reed Business Information! C'mon Primedia! Hell, maybe Hudlin can get BET to branch out into publishing? If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd f***king do it!
Sounds like the perfect time for Gary Groth to unveil the new JOURNALWORLD conventions... coming soon to a Motel 6 near Cleveland...
Rob asked. I complied. That's it. Hardly a change in policy as any long term LITG reader will know.
Rich, that's lame.
I prefer to think of it as polite.
I prefer to think of it naked.
So, if anyone asked for a deletion of your column it will get cutoff?
You announced the "52" series before the official presss release by DC, in fact posted in the Newsarama thread about it that it was "so last week". So if DC politely asked that you stopped their scoops about their events until they did their press releases would you comply? After all you are affecting the deals for exclusivity from several newsites.
It would have made sense if after the column you added something like "Wizard reacts" and wrote whatever it is that the Wizard people want to say about the article. Let Wizard have their say and all that jazz.
This is a bad precedent both for Wizard and for your column Rich.
Can't wait for the next exciting installment of the WIZARD APPROVED Lying In The Gutters!!
Am I the onyl one who thinks the "article removed at the request of Wizard, ect" is actually more damaging from a PR perspective than anything Johnston actually wrote?
But, yeah, that fold is pretty lame.
I guess he's not a journalist nor is he a rumor monger any more. He's just
. . . . infotainment.
I don't have a problem with Rich removing the piece. He's allways stated that if the subject of the piece have a problem all they have to do is contact him.
He hasn't withdrawn a scoop and again he's shown the naysayers that their participation is encouraged in improving his rumours.
He's stated time and time again, it's a rumour coloumn. The Wizard piece was more an Op Ed piece than anything, interesting yes but nothing new; it certainly wasn't the case of a journalist bowing to outside pressure.
BUT Rich's retraction has served a very valuable illuminating purpose not revealed in any other news site due perhaps to their own internal rules/ethics!
Rich's action in posting the reason the piece was deleted revealed that Wizard are reading their coverage and instead of formulating any response or having any percievable PR plan are instead contacting folks asking them to remove the coverage!
It's likely thanks to Rich's addendum that Wizard have been in touch with Comicon, Newsarama, CBR and others seeking to censor or curb coverage!
Given unlike Rich these are 'news' sites reporting news they've likely refused but are professional enough not to report they've been asked.
Well done Rich, great edition.
Mike
This is always the way the column has been. This is always the way it continues to be.
And Mark? You may think that but I couldn't possibly comment.
I am scared by how many other people on this thread can't see context though...
Carlos, LITG goes to Marvel, DC, Image etc reps before going to print, as well as involved creatives.
On a number of occasions stories have been removed before or after going to print.
That's the way the column worked since Bryan Hitch asked me to remove the piece about a supposed series coming up off the back of Stormwatch.
Authority, I think it was called.
I agree with Mike. More was done in service to the article by posting that it was removed by request then actually reading it. We probably wouldn't even be talking about it if it wasn't removed. It's not like we can't find the article after all. It's pretty obvious Wizard didn't count on the public relations nightmare they're in right now when they planned this bushleague move.
Rich: when a story gets pulled, does there have to be a reason? Can DC or Marvel just say "I'd rather this not be reported" and you'll drop it or does there have to be something legitimate (other than bad publicity) behind it?
This is starting to get quite...unbelievable. Predictable...but almost supervillainy-evil. Ah well, I'm very interested to see how these Con Wars finish up.
As usual, Rich, another great column. I do wish you stuck with the more informative, long pieces but the gossip will do for now. Hopefully the long pieces will return in the future.
-Jim Harvey
I think you should change it to "Censored by EthiCorp. We Get the Bad Out."
Stefan
Gravatar Problem is, nobody's gonna *get* that reference, Stefan...
Matt M.
I got it... so, uh, that makes 2 :P
I got it... so, uh, that makes 2 :P
It's from Jason Hall's criminally cancelled VERTIGO series "Trigger." Excellent title...cut down way too early. That makes three.
-Jim Harvey
Thanks for your comments Rich.
Still, I don't think is fair to compare a news item about the release of the Authority with an article which for me and others was an Op Ed piece about why you think Wizard is doing these moves in the convention business and how will Marvel & DC react. I can live without knowing about knowing what will happen in Infinite Crisis, but to think that if Marvel, DC or Wizard have enough power to delete opinion articles that they don't agree in your column is sad indeed.
I don't have problems with witholding info before posting the column. But after the article is posted for me the correct thing to do is if there are things that need to be clarified, run a note under the article as you have done in the past.
As I'm sure you are aware the deleted part of the article has been posted to several message boards so if Wizard thought they had suceed in erasing that part of the column from the minds of the comics fans they failed. They really have a PR nightmare in their hands.
I wonder if Wizard tried the same with Matt Fraction's Call to Arms in CBR article, which for me was harsher and more prominently displayed in the website. Did Newsarama, Pulse and others received Wizard's call too? Probably we will never know.
Carlos -
Not a word or ounce of pressure, no.
Also: I'm assuming there are lines to be read between in what Rich has been saying here, and, if I'm right, I'd say hold on a bit.
Thanks for your comments Matt. Guess we will wait and see.
Started an online petition to implore DC to attend HeroesConm '06 :
http://www.petitiononline.com/he...6/
petition.html
Because, you know, online petitions are always so persuasive.
The online petition to get JBL fired for his actions in Germany resulted in him getting the WWE title for 10 months. I will never sign an online petition again.
Online petitions rule! I signed one awhile back protesting the Iraq War and Congress totally list...um, I mean the Senate tota...um, wait a second.
Hey!
Online petitions suck!
Carlos. I do not believe it was an opinion piece.
Sometimes I've run notes. Sometimes I've deleted the piece. Sometimes I've noted that. Sometimes I haven't. Context is key.
And I'm aware of everything...
(This comment was removed by request of Matthew Craig, Dan Coyle and HaloScan).
Huh?
Well Rich, if that part of the column is a collection of facts and not your opinion I think it looks worse that Wizard asked you to take it down and you agreed. Thanks for your comments and we will see how the story develops.
I have nothing to add about WIZARD, Rich Johnston or The War Against Terror, but I just needed to add that TRIGGER was dull, plodding and utterly uninspired and deserved to die.
Commenting by HaloScan
