The magazine did a lot for the industry, and many times it outsold some of the most popular comics on the shelves. The book was started back in 1991 by Gareb Shamus and Stephen Shamus and it was the place to go for breaking news in the comic book industry; however, with the popularization of the internet came news-websites that could get the info to the consumer a bit quicker than once a month.  
 == TEASER ==
In a Wizard press release from today, Wizard announced Gareb Shamis, one of the original creators of the magazine, the recently appointed President and CEO of Wizard World, Inc will launch a new online publication, most likely because of the death of the printed publication:

Wizard World plans to launch in February 2011 an all-new digital magazine called ‘Wizard World’ that will appeal to pop-culture fans, the same audience to which Mr. Shamus has catered to, for over 20 years. Wizard World digital magazine will provide coverage of the world of comic books, toys and superheroes, and the personalities behind them.

“This is a very exciting day for Wizard World and the industries it serves,” said Shamus. “Having the Tour produced by a public company provides additional opportunities to expand and grow the Tour. The new digital magazine Wizard World will give consumers the content they want in a magazine format with which they are familiar, but distributed in a form that is always available at any time on any device. It is a natural evolution for us in this market.”

20 years and over 200 issues later, Wizard has shut down, but don't worry, the Wizard website is still going strong, there's a new timely online publication to look forward to through Wizard World, and those of you who love the Wizard Conventions and Toyfare will still be able to enjoy those. Many thanks to Wizard for the years of great articles, hilarious one panel shots of action figures in compromising situations, and the price guide, which I spent hours upon hours looking at to see how much my copy of X-Men 2099 #1 was worth. What are your fond memories from Wizard? Did you have a favorite article? What do you think of the new online publication?
 

Update 

Wizard magazine used to be the greatest magazine ever....I got so many 1/2 issues from them...but they really went downhill a few years ago and add to the fact that you can get all of their information for free from the internet it's amazing that this didn't happen sooner

wow, now that's a sign of the times. 
Like watching history shut down there. 
 
Although it's cool there will be an online presence, just like the comic books, it's never gonna be the exact same as the one in your hands.

Why Digital? I don't read Wizard Mag but I don't understand the fascination with all things digital.

Wow. Wizard. Since I stopped actively collecting comics, I more or less forgot all about it. Guess I'll go check it out online. As for price checking, it was Uncanny X-Men 266 for me.

Soooo ... are they going to refund the renewal I JUST PAID LAST WEEK?  

" Wizard magazine used to be the greatest magazine ever....I got so many 1/2 issues from them...but they really went downhill a few years ago and add to the fact that you can get all of their information for free from the internet it's amazing that this didn't happen sooner "

" Soooo ... are they going to refund the renewal I JUST PAID LAST WEEK?   "

Hopefully this means their site is actually going to be halfway decent now

the enjoyment I had from holding the magazine in my hands gone!  god I'm old!  

End of an Era for  Wizard Magazine 

Great magazine and quite the rambunctious message board back in the day. The crew of psychopaths that got it shut down were a force of nature.

Man, I'm amazed this was still going anyway...  But I have Wizard to thank for ToyFare, which brought us Twisted Mego Theatre :)

" Soooo ... are they going to refund the renewal I JUST PAID LAST WEEK?   "

well crap i get these every month still that sucks

I've haven't subscribed since high school, but it's still sad to find out.

Used to love reading Wizard.  Articles were great, and it's where I got my start on the whole Hero X vs Hero Y matchup.  Good times.  Sad to see them go

good.loved wizard growing up in the early 90's. magz are a dying business. paperless is the way to go. news is to quick to be released in mag form now days. why buy a wizard when i can get all my comic news here on comicvine for free?

I just resubscribed!    
 
Will Comics Buyer's Guide still be published?  
 
I will subscribe to them if this is the case.  
 
Comic Magazines are a necessity. I'm not going to sit on the Internet all day. 
I'd rather have a magazine or comic in my hands.

When is the last issue coming out?
I used to get it for so many years, until recently when they changed the format of the magazine to be less pages and turned the whole magazine into a list of the top... say 20... comic related toys of the holiday or the top comic related movies or something.
But I wouldn't mind getting the last issue.

I knew it !!!! I called it this time last year, I'm shocked they made it to feb 2011 though, I thought for sure it was going to die by the end of 2010.
 
I used to have every single issue and all the specials but sold almost all of them for $0.50 each :P

Wizard you will be missed. I grew up reading you when I was young its helped me keep up to date with what was going on on the comic book universe cause i could afford to buy all the comics I wanted. Thanks for the many years of good times!

Wow. End of an era.

My first Wizars was the Year-End Spectacular of December 2001, awesome article about the top 10 reasons Why Marvel ruled that year, and another one about comic book continuity... awesome, really awesome! I bought it from time to time, when the money resource could be available. Unfortunately it is more expensive here in my home country Costa Rica (well, was expensive). The last one I boughtt was Wizard 228, August 2010, with the Green Hornet movie on the cover..... so long Wizard, i'll miss your funny articles, fan mail and other awesome stuff..... =( Bad news like these are not cool on a Monday.....

That's ok, its kind of sad but it had really been going downhill for the past few years

I used to love it, but I stopped getting it about 6 months ago because it had really gone down hill. Wizard stopped being a cool comic book magazine for me a few years ago. I miss the old Wizard. I have lots of great memories of the Wizard that was.

I'm going to miss their Casting Call segments.

RIP Twisted Toyfare Theater. It was good while it lasted. 

Haven't brought and issue or subscribed in over a year, although I have been keeping up with the Twisted Toyfare Theater collected issues. Sure hope that they don't stop publishing those. Will probably check-out the new website someday, but not sure if I'll go there regularly since I'm already on here and haven't even gone to the Wizard website as it is in over a year either.

It's fitting that Wizard, a teenage staple of mine, shuts down on the Monday following the burning of my father's house, which contained all 11 of my comic long boxes in it. 
 
The times, they are a changin'.

They still did them once is a rare while but since the Marvel movies started coming out wasn't nearly as frequently. It was every other issue for a while there a couple years ago.

but but but but but but.....

Wizard was my only source of good comic news in the 90's early oo's 
have felt it was not the same recently has it has lost a lot of weight through the years but strangely grew taller. Wonder what will be next..comic books themselves da da daaaaaa. 
 
Total stoner sidebar: what'll happen if we have a Skyne moment down the line and all digital goes whack? something to munch on about... 
 
PPS: The trees are going to be happy tho:)

" Wow. End of an era. "

Aww dude. I was reading Toyfare back when it was brand new. I hope Twisted Mego lives on in the interwebs. 

" I'm going to miss their Casting Call segments. "

Amazing Heroes & Comics interview were real losses.  Wizard was the yes man of comic industry periodicals.  A slick hype rag that  served as little more than advertising for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, & the rest. I stopped buying it years ago, & am in no way surprised that it's going under.  I do feel badly for those individuals who have lost their jobs, but it's the only thing I regret in Wizard's passing.

I wanted a subscription to that magazine so bad. I never could afford it though. Then I figured I could read them from the library. Now I'm sad to see it disappear from the shelves.

Farewell my printed friend.

" Soooo ... are they going to refund the renewal I JUST PAID LAST WEEK?   "

I've never read a single issue of Wizard, so I'm obviously not as saddened as some people here, but this news still has that "end of an era" feel to it, which is sad :(

" I've never read a single issue of Wizard, so I'm obviously not as saddened as some people here, but this news still has that "end of an era" feel to it, which is sad :( "

Good Riddance! This mag and everything that went into it was initially a good, no GREAT thing for the industry, but like so many things in life with all that power came much responsibility. Wizard and the Shamus bros. mis handled that responsibility greatly. The downfall of Wizard is no secret from anyone in the industry. Last year in Chicago as Blaggo was let in as a late addition to the Wizard Con roster it became apparent to the regular Joe that Wizard, possibly never was about comics but was all about money and finding new ways to exploit a now huge comic market. I for one am glad this garbage is no longer in print and like Frank Miller before me I'd like to rip a few issues and let it fuel my fireplace! 

" Why Digital? I don't read Wizard Mag but I don't understand the fascination with all things digital. "