Horatio Weisfeld

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Horatio (Ray) Weisfeld is an American writer and editor who was instrumental in the founding of two mass-market magazine-sized comic books and created other media properties.

Contents 1 Penthouse Comix 2 Bad Magazine 3 Forbidden Zone Magazine 4 Industry Of War 5 Heavy Metal Magazine / Joe In The Future

[edit] Penthouse Comix

In 1993, after serving as newsroom manager for Her New York newspaper, Weisfeld was hired as Managing Editor of Penthouse Comix, an ongoing section that ran in Penthouse Magazine.

Penthouse Comix sections featured artwork by top comic book talent (Kevin Nowlan, Arthur Suydam, etc) and some characters created by Weisfeld. After the initial sections appeared, publisher Bob Guccione requested Penthouse Comix become its own stand alone magazine. The first issue of the 96-page stand alone Penthouse Comix appeared in the spring of 1994 and was an immediate success. Issues appeared after that on a bi-monthly basis.

Penthouse Comix published through 1998, producing thiry-five issues.

[edit] Bad Magazine

In 1997 rap mogul Russell Simmons struck a deal to develop an “urban” spin off of Mad Magazine with Warner Publishing. Weisfeld was recruited to develop editorial for the project and eventually became Managing Editor. Film designer Floyd Hughes was named Art Director. Writers and artist on the project included Deborah Gregory, Arthur Suydam and others. Warner publishing eventually decided that BAD was too edgy for America’s newsstands, the project was re-conceived as an animation project for HBO and disappeared into development hell.

[edit] Forbidden Zone Magazine

In 1999 Weisfeld was named Managing Editor of another glossy comics magazine, Forbidden Zone, which was designed to present new trademark characters and compete with Heavy Metal Magazine on the newsstand. Forbidden Zone published only one issue stacked with top comic book and fantasy art talent, including: Simon Bisley,Richard Corben, Arthur Suydam, Joe Linsner, Larry Stroman, Simon Bisley and others.

Before publication of the first issue, Forbidden Zone parent company Galaxy Entertainment sank into financial trouble, which led to the short-lived nature of the project.

[edit] Industry Of War

In 2005, Industry Of War, a comic book property co-created by Jordan Raskin and Horatio Weisfeld, was optioned for film by Alien, Total Recall, Minority Report producer Ronald Shusett. The Deal received major coverage in Variety and Hollywood Reporter, among other media outlets. In the Variety article, Industry Of War was referred to as "… a high-concept Jerry Bruckheimer action-thriller, but with a sci-fi twist." Image Comics later published a comic book series based on the property.

[edit] Heavy Metal Magazine / Joe In The Future

In 2001 Heavy Metal Magazine began running Joe In The Future, an ongoing illustrated series written by Weisfeld with Peter Koch and illustrated by Trevor Von Eeden. The series features a subversive blend of genre and dark satire. The series has received good reviews and last appeared as the lead story in the December 2006 Heavy Metal Magazine.