PiQ: A Brief Analysis of ADV's Newtype Replacement

Coming in on the heels of Newtype USA's cancellation arrives PiQ, ADV's new entry into the magazine industry. Boosting content that reaches out to a broader audience, PiQ leaves the anime-focused style of Newtype for a wider spectrum of content including video games, comic books and popular television series.

"The primary goals of PiQ are to share and celebrate the love we have for these particular forms of entertainment with our readers, as well as shine a light on those often-overlooked projects, artists, creators and studios throughout the entertainment world." - PiQmag.com

The first issue of PiQ hit newsstands across North America in early March, sporting an image from the recently released Appleseed: Ex Machina, at a cover price of $6.99/US ($7.99/CAN). The price tag, lower than its predecessor, can partially be accounted for by the absence of bonus content, such as DVDs or posters. PiQ has formally stated there will also no be such inserts in future issues.

Those previously subscribed to Newtype USA are slated to receive two issues of PiQ for each remaining issue of Newtype they had remaining in their accounts. PiQ will be released on a monthly basis.

PiQ: Entertainment for the Rest of Us
Issue 01 April 2008

From the Editor:

"Good God, why are we launching something like PiQ, in 2008, and having the gall to charge cash money for it, even? I'll ignore the real answer for a moment - that writing a magazine beats frying up mac-and-cheese at T.G.I. Fri's all night - and shift the question over to you instead. What do you want out of a mag... and out of what you watch, play, listen to, whatever every day?

You know who you are by now. The sight of your parents sitting there every night, disinterestedly watching CSI or Are You Smarter Then a 5th Grader?, is a bit scary to you. You're more likely to spend a Sunday afternoon bumping around YouTube, reading about old computers, or acting like an idiot on Team Fortress 2. You also like the road less traveled, the more hidden bits of modern life. It's not that you hate popular things (South Park is still good, sorry guys), but you get a thrill out of discovering amazing things in the unlikeliest of places - the one Planetes foundering in a sea of Love Hinas.

To you, leisure is something you define - the time, the place, what it runs on. You're the future of consumerism, really... but in the eyes of most companies, you still aren't "normal." That's why PiQ is entertainment for the rest of us. Video games, movies, TV, anime, comics, tantric sex - whatever it is you have fun doing, we'll cover it (except that last one, unless I can find someone to demonstrate it for me at the office). And "you" is the operative term here. We're dying to hear what you think and what you ant, so stop by piqmag.com and tell us. See you next month."

- Kevin Gifford

General Content Breakdown:

Pages: 128

• Anime: 20 pages (approx. 15%)
• Movies: 10 pages (approx. 8%)
• Video Games: 13 pages (approx. 10%)
• Comics: 8 pages (approx. 6%)
• Television Series: 12 pages (approx. 9%)
• Interview/Profiles: 12 pages (approx. 9%)
• Other: 17 pages (approx. 16%)
• Manga Insert: 14 pages (approx. 11%)
• Advertisements: 22 pages (approx. 16%)

Below is a brief list of some PiQ reviews and discussions:

• Kuri-ousity - "PiQ: Premiere Issue"
• comics212 - "PiQ Issue #1: Post-Mortem"
• Mecha Mecha Media - "The First Issue of PiQ Hits Magazine Racks. Should You Care?"
• Josh's Anime Blog - "Received my first issue of PiQ"
• Comics Worth Reading - "PiQ Magazine Debuts"

Written by Kuri