PiQ (magazine)

PiQ /ˈpiːk/ was a short-lived American popular culture magazine that was published by PiQ, LLC, a subsidiary of A.D. Vision, from March through July 2008.[1] Launched as a replacement for the magazine Newtype USA, which was discontinued in February 2008, PiQ went beyond anime and manga to include coverage on video games, popular American comics, and television series.

PiQ
PiQ, April 2008 (premiere issue)
Executive EditorKevin Gifford
CategoriesAnime, comics, gadgets, lifestyle, manga, video games
FrequencyMonthly
First issueApril 2008
Final issue
Number		July 2008
4
CompanyPiQ, LLC
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1941-0522

PiQ started with the Newtype USA staff and its 15,000 subscribers, who received two PiQ issues for every one of Newtype USA remaining on their accounts. The first issue was received with mixed reviews by readers and critics. After only four issues, the magazine was abruptly discontinued in July 2008, which the editorial staff blamed on low revenue, bad management, and lack of marketing.[2]

History

The magazine premiered in March 2008, as a replacement for the A.D. Vision magazine Newtype USA, which ceased publication in February 2008.[3][4]

In addition to covering anime and manga, the magazine had expanded coverage of other subjects beyond those covered by Newtype USA, including American comics, high tech gadgetry, U.S. television series and films, and video games.[5][6]

At its formation, PiQ retained many of the editorial staff and freelance writers that worked on Newtype USA, as well as the magazines 15,000 subscribers.[5][6] In June 2008, after only four issues had been released, PiQ freelancers received word from Kevin Gifford, the editor of PiQ, that the magazine was being canceled and the PiQ offices had been closed down. The July 2008 issue, which had already been released when the announcement was made, was the magazine's last issue.[2][7]

As part of the announcement, PiQ promised to compensate freelance writers for the work already done for the unpublished August issue.[7] The editorial staff confirmed the news on the PiQ website, while also venting their own frustrations over the closure.[2]

It's unfortunate that we'll never get a chance to see how successful PiQ could have been, but a combination of low advertising revenue, poor business management and a lack of proper marketing and promotion all hamstrung the magazine from the start. We, the editorial/creative/production staff, did the best we could to put together a quality publication, but as we've discovered, without a good financial backing, it's all an exercise in futility

— PiQ Editorial Staff, PiQ website[2]

The magazine's website was also later shut down.

Circulation and reception

Targeted at males 18–25 years of age, the first issue of PiQ had a planned circulation of 100,000.[5][6] The publishers hoped to reach a circulation of 150,000 by the fourth quarter of the year.[8]

Readers of the magazine had mixed reactions to it. Some enjoyed the greater coverage, while others strongly disliked it, to the point one group of fans organized monthly gatherings to burn their copies in effigy.[9] Reviewers criticized the editorial tone of the magazine and its use of derogatory terms to refer to its readers. In the first issue, readers are called "nerds, dorks, geeks, freaks, maniacs, and pervos."[10] Mania.com's Nadia Oxford felt the terms negatively impacted the magazine's otherwise high energy writing.[9]

Christopher Butcher, of Comics212, referred to it as "weak all-around", feeling the editorial staff had a poor understanding of its demographic and had produced a substandard work. In looking at the first issue, he criticized its lack of focus, poor editorial mandate, and persistent mistakes in the prose that affected readability. Butcher did feel that with work, the magazine had the potential to be successful, praising its design and several articles as being a sign of what the magazine could be.[10]

gollark: They can boot off USB as well as SD cards now, which is nice.
gollark: It doesn't allow my usual ridiculous subnet hackery.
gollark: It's easier but less interesting.
gollark: Idea: SolarFlame5 acquisition of AE2.
gollark: Nanobots.

See also

References
  1. "Franchise Tax Certification of Account Status for PIQ LLC". State of Texas. January 28, 2008. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015. Click Officers and Directors Information to see PIQ LLC
  2. "The last issue". PiQ. June 14, 2008. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2008.
  3. "PiQ". Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008. PiQ Magazine will be available on newsstands and sent to subscribers in mid-March 2008.
  4. "Newtype USA to Cease Publication". Anime News Network. January 9, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  5. "A.D. Vision's PiQ Mag to Cover More than Anime, Manga". Anime News Network. January 20, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  6. Christopher Butcher (January 18, 2008). "First Look: ADV's new PiQ Magazine Media/Vendor Kit". Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  7. "Freelancers Report that PiQ's July Issue Is Its Last". Anime News Network. June 14, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2008.
  8. "'Newtype' Successor Broadens Focus". ICv2. January 23, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
  9. Oxford, Nadia (April 4, 2008). "PiQ Magazine: Anime Fans' Reactions". The Mumbling Kitsune. Mania.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012.
  10. Butcher, Christopher (March 17, 2008). "PiQ Issue #1: Post-Mortem". Comics212. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
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