Egmont UK will launch a monthly magazine based on Disney Infinity in February 2014 – another title tying in with a games brand which is part of the company’s strategy to get boys reading.
Launched in August, Disney Infinity is an all-new video game initiative starring characters from Walt Disney and Pixar Studios’ most popular franchises. Players can place real-world toy versions of favourite Disney characters onto a device called the Infinity Base and transport them into the virtual game worlds of Monsters University, The Incredibles, Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lone Ranger and Toy Story, as well as into a giant Toy Box.
Egmont’s title will focus on Disney and Pixar movies and characters starring in the game, with content including game news, upcoming product information, tips and secrets, as well as character information.
“The Disney Infinity magazine will allow us to extend our hugely successful boys portfolio, bringing our readers a snapshot of the Disney Infinity universe,” says Laura Adnitt, publisher at Egmont Publishing Group. “It will be full of story-driven adventures, perfect for fans looking for ways to become experts and extend their enjoyment of the game and their collection.”
“We’ve seen in our Reading Street research that gaming brands are a magnet for pre-teen boys,” notes Rob McMenemy, senior VP, Egmont English Language & Central Europe. “They are also proving an excellent way into reading and we’re noticing a huge appetite for digital brands amongst our own publishing, of which Disney Infinity is the latest acquisition.”
Along with new titles, Egmont is also fast-developing its Classic Comics line based on its own titles such as Roy of the Rovers, with new releases detailed on its dedicated web site (http://classiccomics.egmont.co.uk).
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Explorer (previously known as Star Trek Magazine) and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of "Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies" for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.