ToyFarewas a monthlymagazinepublished byWizard Entertainmentthat focused on collectibleaction figures,busts,statues,andmaquettes.It previewed new and upcoming lines and figures each month, as well as providing a price guide for toy lines, both new and old.ToyFarewas also known for its satirical humor.
 Cover ofToyFare#80 (Feb. 2004) featuringTeen Titansaction figures | |
| Frequency | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| Final issue | 2011 |
| Company | Wizard Entertainment |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | New York City,New York |
| Language | English |
Publication history
editThe magazine began publication in 1997, initially borrowing many features that first appeared in its sister magazine,Wizard.[citation needed].Over the years,ToyFaregained a strong following due to its focus on collectible figures and its unique blend of humor. A report by highlights howToyFarebecame a staple in the collectible toy industry, particularly through its coverage of new action figures.
The magazine reached its 100th issue in December 2005, an achievement celebrated by both fans and critics. However, like many niche publications,ToyFarestruggled with market changes and eventually ceased publication in 2011.Wizard Entertainmentclosed bothToyFareandWizardfollowing a shift in the publishing landscape. Reviews the broader impact of these closures on the collectible magazine industry.
Twisted ToyFare Theatre
editThe most popular feature inToyFarewasTwisted ToyFare Theatre(TTT), a humorous comic strip done by photographing toys on sets designed by the magazine's staff. This feature gained a cult following, with discussing its influence on later comedic projects likeRobot Chicken.The strips often featured action figures produced by Mego Corporation, toys popular in the 1970s, during the childhoods of many staff members.
In addition to its toys,TTTexplored the absurd and the satirical. According to, the strips allowedToyFareto stand out as a pop culture commentary disguised as a toy magazine. Collections of the strips were released as trade paperbacks, a decision that reflected both the feature's popularity and the shifting market for toy-related media.
The Monthly Rag
editThe magazine added "The Monthly Rag", a feature similar tosupermarket tabloids,presenting parody articles using various toy andpop culturereferences.[citation needed](An example would be an article reporting on theintelligent designdebate on the planet Cybertron, home of the roboticTransformers). Originally, this feature's main articles were humorous exaggerations of actual toy-related stories (such as news of theHe-Man and the Masters of the Universeseries' release on DVD, reported as "ShockingHe-ManFootage Made Public! "), and a sidebar column would appear somewhere within the" Monthly Rag "section with short summaries of the real news behind the exaggerated articles.
Regular features
edit- Monthlyhoroscopeswith ridiculous or nonsensical predictions, supposedly written byCobra Commandhypnotist/interregator Crystal Ball (billed as "psychic to the famous toys" ).
- Anadvice columnheaded by a fictional character who, because of a specific situation or certain quirks in their personality, gives advice that ranges from useless to extremist to outrightnon-sequiturs.An example would be "AskAnakin Skywalker,Burning in Lava "(a reference to the character's horrific fate at the end ofStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith); all of Skywalker's responses were non-sequiturs, primarily cries of pain and lamentations about his fall from grace.
- Aclassifiedsection featuring ads supposedly placed by various fictional celebrities, such as movie or TV characters andsuperheroes.
- The "Page Sixteen Girl", a photo on said page of a "sexually appealing" female action figure, a parody of thePage Three Girl,a feature originating in theRupert Murdoch-ownedUnited KingdomtabloidThe Sun.
- Parodies of comic strips, primarily drawn byRyan Dunlavey,usually placing toy or other pop culture characters in the roles of an established comic strip, such as "Cringerfield", which placed the feline characterCringerfrom theMasters of the Universemythos into a setting similar to that of the comic strip characterGarfield(with He-Man in the role ofJon Arbuckle).
Exclusive offers
editToyFarefeatured mail-away offers for exclusive merchandise. At first it largely offeredToy Bizfigures that had been repainted or slightly modified into other characters, though the magazine later went on to offer exclusive figures that ran the industry gamut, including figures fromJakks Pacific,Minimates,andHeroClix.[citation needed]
Connection toRobot Chicken
editSeveral formerToyFarestaffers, such asDoug Goldstein,Tom Root,andMatthew Senreich,went on to help create theAdult SwimprogramRobot Chickenwith actorSeth Green,whose humor is in the same vein asTwisted ToyFare Theatre.