(Original text from Aaron Allston's Strike Force with edits by me.)
In January 1982 a new publication hit the stands—HeroTalk Magazine. HeroTalk was a magazine about superheroes past, present, and future, as well as the superhero community as a whole. Its creation was a remarkable success story in of itself: journalist Shari Taylor, who’d made her name with a breakthrough interview of Captain America II in 1981, borrowed money from her brother and launched into the risky enterprise of magazine publishing.
Each issue of HeroTalk had an interview with a superhero (or with someone who dealt with superheroes), a main feature article, a superhero-history article, a pictorial on a superhero, super group, or other superhero topic, and a host of short articles, mini-interviews, and news. The magazine was a smash success and reached the million-mark within a year. By 1987, the circulation was closer to eight million.
With the advent of the internet, Shari quickly saw the possibilities of the new markets created by the world wide web and drove the creation of HeroTalk.com, an internet site which covered much of the same topics as HeroTalk Magazine but also allowed readers to discuss superhero related topics on their discussion boards. Shari continued to drive HeroTalk's internet presence up until shortly before she retired when she launched the HeroTalk channel on YouTube. The physical magazine continues to be printed, albeit in smaller numbers than in the past, but still generates decent revenue for HeroTalk, Inc.
Other Super-related Magazines and Websites:
- Meta-line - (Magazine/Website) Meta-line focuses more on events, news, and articles on how superhumans affect the world. Considered the go-to source for balanced coverage of superhumans.
- Super World - (Magazine/Website) Started as a fan-based newsletter in 1972 it rocketed to popularity and became a professional magazine. Super World is generally considered a magazine for the superfans and tends to glorify and celebrate superheroes. They also quarterly publish a magazine titled Uncaped, a men's magazine style periodical featuring pin-ups of female superhumans.
- VU.net - (Website) Created by the publishers of Villainy Unbound magazine, the website focuses nearly entirely on supervillains.
Founding Date
January, 1982
Type
Broadcasting, Newspaper / Magazine
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