Keys to the Kingdom

December 5, 2008 on 9:18 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Hey all!

So, I didn’t forget to post the last two weeks–I just totally forgot to mention I’d be on vacation, and then we had Thanksgiving. Weeeeee–organization!

Anyway, I do hope y’all had fabulous turkey-fests (at least for all the Americans out there…for any of our international friends reading…I hope you had a nice… Thursday, lol). But now–back to work!

That was definitely the story when I got back: I found out I was one of the select few here at Wizard who will be working double-duty through the Holidays. While I’ll be editing my good old magazine, I’ll also be helping our Wizard Universe store fulfill all our holiday orders. So if ya order something, I may have touched it! Hey–do I hear applause??…Oh, just the germaphobes fainting…thanks, guys…Honestly, I won’t lie that I was kind of upset about this news–I gotta break down boxes and lift and pack and sweat and–oy–!??

My reason for telling you this is to share a funny little story. Those of you who’ve been reading my blog know that I grew up a giant fan of Wizard–not even comic books as much as the fun, stylized journalism with which Wizard covers them. And although I’m definitely a WordGirl, I was a big fan of ArtMan Steve Blackwell.

Steve was, until he became “no longer with the company” a few weeks ago, the Art Director here at Wizard. What does that mean? Any time you’ve ever wigged out about a cool Wizard/ToyFare/Anime cover, or Postermania book, Steve’s been the one to bring it to you. He’s the guy who makes you judge any book by its cover, even though you’re not supposed to.

I won’t comment on why Steve’s ties were severed here, only to say that it had nothing to do with his professional performance. Getting the chance to actually work with him…the first time he told me I did a good job with something…I am a total nerd and will admit there were goosebumps and some witless stuttering.

I’m lame…anyway…

Fast forward to my new warehouse duties (about which I am inner-wincing), and a Steve-less Wizard. I’m in a leadership capacity in the warehouse, and as such, upper management wants me to get a key to the Wizard offices.

“How will we you that key?”

Suddenly, in the doorway appears Dan Reilly, Research Editor and other hero of mine, and he says, “I’ll give her Steve’s key.”

STEVE’S KEY???

Huzzah for happenstance of Kaiser Zose proportions!

When Dan put it in my hand…I won’t risk sounding cheesy trying to describe it. Just picture someone who either made or is in a poster on your wall, and imagine them handing you a key to something…anything…

So, I guess the moral here, kids, is this: I know there’s a whole gamut of opinions out there about Wizard right now…but whatever yours is, I can tell you that, to me, it feels like Wizard’s going through a phase…the second generation of writers and editors are officially arriving, and like me, we all love the history and shenanigans that came before…the magazines you love may be changing here and there, but I promise we’re trying to be the Captain Picard kind of second generation, not the New Monkees. I’ve been given a key, and I’m gonna try to hold it sacred (though by now I’m sure Steve is having his restraining order signed, lol). I promise to edit hardcore, and to pack all your holiday shopping orders with the same zeal I try to give editing, as I get over my silly, feverish bout of blue collar blues. A hard day’s work is all that matters.

::Sigh:: Steve’s Key…::stares at it in her hand:: Oh, and the gender part of today? Steve’s a boy and I’m a girl. Done.

The End.