Meet the Staff: Justin Aclin

There are five members of the ToyFare staff and we’ve met four of them so far (Managing Editor Kate Napolitano, Associate Editor TJ Dietsch, Designer Jairo Leon and Price Guide Editor Jon Gutierrez), so that must mean I’m late again.

My name is Justin Aclin, and I’m the Editor of ToyFare.

What does the Editor do? How does one get to be an Editor? Why did my old title used to sound better than my current title even though my new position is higher? Strap yourselves in, because I’m going to answer at least two of those questions. And I’m extremely long-winded.

As Editor, I’m basically in charge of the whole shebang here. I’m blessed with an extremely talented staff who make my job a whole lot easier, but basically it’s my responsibility to make sure that everything that goes in the magazine meets ToyFare’s high standards of entertainment, readability and juvenile humor. Not a page gets printed unless I give it the okay, which means that, ultimately, all the typos are my fault.

Aside from the actual editing, I’m in charge of determining the content for the magazine, meeting with Jon and TJ to brainstorm all the feature articles and come up with ideas for covers. I’ll also write the occasional article for the magazine, and I remain one of the head writers for Twisted ToyFare Theatre, as well as the goofy word balloons scattered throughout the issues (and, in case I haven’t mentioned it in a couple of days, the newly returned Big Shots, which you can find starting in next month’s issue #134).

I started as a Wizard intern during college, was hired as an Associate Editor for ToyFare right out of college, then slowly worked my way up to Senior Editor under Zach Oat’s Editorship. For reasons no one can adequately explain, Senior Editor is less good than Editor. Then I left for a couple of months. Then Zach left. Then I came back and took his job. And now I’ve got a desk that faces the window.

My all-time favorite toy lines are Masters of the Universe (in all its incarnations), Xevoz, Marvel Legends, DC Universe Classics and MiniMates. And because it’s part of my job and I also enjoy the hell out of it, you can frequently find me over on the Wizard Universe Message Board, answering fans’ questions and listening to your suggestions for how to make the magazine better. Stop in and let us know how we’re doing.

Well, that wasn’t too ridiculously long, was it? If you find yourself yearning for even more of my ramblings, you can check out this interview with Zach and I from a few years back on the radio program Fanboy Radio. It gets into some of the details about the making of Twisted ToyFare and the magazine, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Meet the Staff: Jon Gutierrez

[Editor’s Note: We’re continuing our series introducing you to the unsung staff of ToyFare. Today’s entry comes from ToyFare price guide editor Jon Gutierrez!]

Hey, ToyFare readers! If you’re like everyone I’ve ever introduced myself to, you’re wondering – Just what the heck is a “price guide editor” anyway?

Well, apart from regular editing duties, I’m the guy that researches all the price guide listings (and prices) and keeps track of the toy market to find out about all the variants, chases and unexpected figures that pop up. A lot of my research is online, where I check out store prices and eBay sales. I have a huge database where I compile all the info and factor in retail prices to determine what a figure’s average price is. I also check in on brick and mortar stores, chat with retailers and call on special experts to compile and check guides. (Phew!)

In addition to all that, I help out a lot on ToyFare’s humor –writing some of the word balloons and Big Shots and co-writing and storyboarding Twisted ToyFare Theatre and back page ads. (So, basically I spend a lot time drawing out comic strips that no one will ever see. Sigh!)

With the departure of our dearly missed former Editor Zach Oat, I’m actually the staffer that’s been at ToyFare the longest at six years –only a couple months longer than current Editor Justin Aclin. (Although, he was an Wizard intern before I got here. So, he’s got me there.)

And if I can be allowed a personal plug… in my spare time, I’m a writer/performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. So, if you’re ever in New York City, feel free to drop in and say hi!

Meet the Staff: Jairo Leon

[Editor's Note: This week and next we're going to be introducing you to the ToyFare staff, one by one. Today's entry comes from ToyFare designer Jairo Leon. Take it away, Jairo!]

I don’t know about the rest of you Toyfare readers, but the thing that got me hooked on the magazine was Twisted Toyfare Theatre. I read every monthly issue the same way every time. I race straight for the TTT. I find myself laughing out loud from the wackiness that is Mego Spidey, Hulk’s crazy hijinks, Iron Man’s drunken lisp and the rest of the colorful cast of characters that have been brought to life by these talented staff writers.

Somewhere between buying and reading the magazine, I ended up working for Toyfare, designing the same features and departments that I’ve enjoyed since issue one.
The best thing about laying out the magazine is that I get to be one of the few that gets a sneak-peek at upcoming toys, statues and prototypes. I have a few favorite toy lines I like to collect. Right now, I’m enjoying some of the awesome videogame toys that are being put out by NECA. I’m an avid gamer and toy collector, so this is a great amalgamation of my two favorite pastimes.

Being a part of team Toyfare is a great experience and looking at a brand new issue these days has such great value for me because I can peruse through the magazine and say: “Hey, I did that.”

Discuss this article on the Wizard Universe Message Board.

Allow Me To Introduce Myself, My Name Is TJ Dietsch

Hey gang, ToyFare Associate Editor TJ Dietsch here. I just wanted to take a second to introduce myself to you fine folks. Hopefully you’ve seen me pop up over the last few issues. I actually took over for Justin when he moved away from us for a few months (I like to think of it as a sabbatical), but I’ve been around the Wizard offices for about three-ish years now. And I was an intern the summer before that. Before moving over to ToyFare I was in the trenches with the hardest working department in this company, research (”Always Be Closing” is the department motto).

Since moving over to ToyFare, I’ve gotten a crash course in all things toys. I mean, I’ve been a fan of action figures from the time I was a youngin all the way through to today. I started with He-Man, G.I. Joe, and Transformers moved on to Silverhawks and Thundercats then hit up Spider-Man, X-Men, X-Force and the rest of the Marvel Toy Biz lines. Since then I’ve jumped around to different figures, but right now I’m really into the DC Universe Classics line (just wait until you see who’s in the 6th wave as seen in the upcoming ToyFare #134), Hasbro’s Indiana Jones figures, MiniMates and JLU. But I get really excited by just about every image and actual toy that comes through our offices. And there’s plenty.

So, basically, what I do here is read through text and make sure it all reads well and is factually accurate. Which means if there are any mistakes, they’re probably my fault. I’m still learning about this whole editor thing, but I’m having a lot of fun and learning as I go. I also help out with TTT, word balloons and captions and sometimes they let me write a thing or two, like the DCUC Poll in #133 (by the way, head on over and vote on that bad boy, see the link below).

Keep an eye out for all kinds of great content on this website and of course, keep reading the magazine. And, if you’re still looking for something else to read online, check out my Kickin’ It Old School blog just a few spaces below this one on the WU.com Blogs page.

Holla!

–TJ

A (Wo)Man Behind the Curtain: Meet Kate, ToyFare’s Managing Editor

To quote the first word I ever utter in an official ToyFare Monkeyhouse (in issue 133, folks, on comic shop shelves Wednesday!):

Howdy!

I am most pleased to meet every fabulous fan of ToyFare (being a long-time one m’self) out there: I’m Kate Napolitano, ToyFare’s newest and femalest Managing Editor.

I’m posting right now for two reasons:

1) To announce that as part of our various shenanigans and goings-on this week, each member of ToyFare’s Editorial staff is going to officially introduce himself in an official Blog Bio to be officially posted here upon it’s official completion (officially).

and 2) Justin asked me to go first.

So here goes:

::gets out Julie Andrews’ guitar:: Let’s start at the very beginning…

So–what’s a Managing Editor, anyway?

Essentially, I’m a human calendar that makes sure all people, places and things related to ToyFare come together in a smooth (occasionally chunky, and but always honey-roasted), timely fashion each month to meet our publishing deadlines. If we need to write TTT, I schedule all meetings and handle certain coordinating email to get that accomplished. If it’s time to assign new features, I solicit the writers. I create schedules, remind others about deadlines, and help my fellow editors prioritize their work. Oh, and I also serve as resident copyeditor, which means when a new article comes in, I give it its first once-over for spelling, grammar, and overall voice (like, is it funny? Should it be? Does it sound like it would appear in ToyFare?).

Personally, this is my first big job out of college, and it’s a total dream—considering I grew up reading both ToyFare and Wizard and am a pretty diehard comics nut. I wasn’t always the biggest toy junkie, though–but that’s quickly being remedied. As we speak, there’s a DC ABC Tom Strong Deluxe Action Figure set journeying somewhere via UPS to my door. Any of you have it? It looks awesome, and my fingers are twitching to grab it! D’ya think I should let my boyfriend know I’m kicking him out of bed so Tom and Pneuman have a place to be comfortable after their long travels?

Anyway…anything else to know about me? Well, I suppose worth noting is that, as I mentioned above, I am the first female editor for ToyFare–but believe me, that won’t affect the magazine’s content in the least–I love this funny little mag, and want only great things for it! Of course, ToyFare-office-wise, the new curtains are looking marvelous, and TJ is fidgeting much less during his weekly manicures. A good Managing Editor stays organized; and that includes reigning in those renegade cuticles!

Okay, I think I’ve rambled on long enough…thanks for reading, and keep on comin’ back for more!