Wizard Entertainment

Wizard Entertainment, formerly known as Wizard Press, is a producer of multigenre fan conventions across North America. Starting out in 1991 as the publisher of one monthly magazine (Wizard), the company evolved into a multi-title publishing company with diversified interests in branded products and related convention operations. In 2005 the Wizard World conventions attracted more than 70,000 attendees, making it the third largest pop-culture event series in the country, only behind New York Comic Con, and San Diego Comic-Con International. Since then they have expanded to producing more than 15 conventions around North America. By 2011 the company had discontinued its print division and now focuses exclusively on its convention business.

History

Gareb Shamus founded Wizard magazine in January 1991 shortly after he graduated from college. The company was originally based in Congers, New York.

Wizard purchased the Chicago Comicon in 1997 to expand from its core publishing business into trade/consumer conventions.