Starburst (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Starburst is a British
science fiction
online magazine
published by Starburst Magazine Limited. The magazine (columns and features) is published every month on the 14th, with news and reviews being published daily.
with his own company Starburst Publishing Ltd. The name Starburst was settled on after rejecting other names, including Starfall, as Skinn considered it too negative.
Issue 1 was launched just in time to cover the UK premiere of Star Wars
. At that time, Starburst was the only publication authorised by 20th Century Fox
to use images from Star Wars. Its original tag line read "Science Fantasy in Television, Cinema and Comix" and initially included comic strips. Skinn sold the title to Marvel Comics
from issue 4; according to an interview with him in Doctor Who Magazine
(issue 344), this was because Marvel wanted him to work for them and help expand their range (including becoming launching editor of DWM).
Marvel eventually put the title up for sale and it was bought by Visual Imagination
and published by them from issue 88 (1985).
Starbursts review sections were edited by notable writers and reviewers such as Alan Jones (films) and David J. Howe
(books), and, for several years, the magazine also carried a column by the late writer John Brosnan
. Its television review column, "TV Zone", was used as the title of its sister publication TV Zone
.
The magazine's publication was put on hold due to Visual Imagination folding in early 2009, having reached issue #365.
is the Honorary Editor-In-Chief. The first online issue (#366) was released on May 14th 2011, and carried an editorial by Dez Skinn
.
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
online magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
published by Starburst Magazine Limited. The magazine (columns and features) is published every month on the 14th, with news and reviews being published daily.
History
Starburst was formerly a printed magazine launched in January 1978 by editor Dez SkinnDez Skinn
Derek "Dez" Skinn is a British comic and magazine editor, and author of a number of books on comics. As head of Marvel Comics' operations in England in the late 1970s, Skinn reformatted existing titles, launched new ones, and acquired the BBC license for Doctor Who Weekly...
with his own company Starburst Publishing Ltd. The name Starburst was settled on after rejecting other names, including Starfall, as Skinn considered it too negative.
Issue 1 was launched just in time to cover the UK premiere of Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
. At that time, Starburst was the only publication authorised by 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
to use images from Star Wars. Its original tag line read "Science Fantasy in Television, Cinema and Comix" and initially included comic strips. Skinn sold the title to Marvel Comics
Marvel UK
Marvel UK was an imprint of Marvel Comics formed in 1972 to reprint US produced stories for the British weekly comic market, though it later did produce original material by British creators such as Alan Moore, John Wagner, Dave Gibbons, Steve Dillon and Grant Morrison.Panini Comics obtained the...
from issue 4; according to an interview with him in Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
(issue 344), this was because Marvel wanted him to work for them and help expand their range (including becoming launching editor of DWM).
Marvel eventually put the title up for sale and it was bought by Visual Imagination
Visual Imagination
Visual Imagination Ltd. was a British company that produced genre magazines. It was founded in 1985 by Stephen Payne and originally only published the science fiction magazine Fantasy Image....
and published by them from issue 88 (1985).
Starbursts review sections were edited by notable writers and reviewers such as Alan Jones (films) and David J. Howe
David J. Howe
David J. Howe is a British writer, journalist, publisher, and media historian.-Biography:David Howe was born in 1961 and established himself as an authoritative media historian through writing articles for fanzines and other publications...
(books), and, for several years, the magazine also carried a column by the late writer John Brosnan
John Brosnan
John Raymond Brosnan was an Australian writer of both fiction and non-fiction works based around the fantasy and science fiction genres. He was born in Perth, Western Australia, and died in South Harrow, London, from acute pancreatitis...
. Its television review column, "TV Zone", was used as the title of its sister publication TV Zone
TV Zone
TV Zone was a British magazine published every four weeks by Visual Imagination that covered cult television. Initially, it mostly covered science fiction, but branched out to cover other drama and comedy series.-History:...
.
The magazine's publication was put on hold due to Visual Imagination folding in early 2009, having reached issue #365.
Editors
Over its history, Starburst has been edited by the following people:- Dez SkinnDez SkinnDerek "Dez" Skinn is a British comic and magazine editor, and author of a number of books on comics. As head of Marvel Comics' operations in England in the late 1970s, Skinn reformatted existing titles, launched new ones, and acquired the BBC license for Doctor Who Weekly...
- 1978-1981 - Alan MckenzieAlan McKenzieAlan McKenzie is a British comics writer known for his work at 2000 AD.-Biography:McKenzie worked for Marvel UK during the early 1980s, editing Starburst, Cinema and Doctor Who Monthly magazines. After leaving the Marvel staff in 1985, he wrote several Doctor Who comic stories for the Monthly under...
- 1981-1985 - Stephen PayneStephen PayneStephen Payne is the name of:*Stephen Payne , British ship designer*Stephen Payne , American lobbyist...
- 1985-1999 - David RichardsonDavid RichardsonDavid John Richardson in Johannesburg played 42 Tests and 122 One Day Internationals for South Africa. He also represented Eastern Province in various domestic competitions....
- 1999-2001 - Andrew CartmelAndrew CartmelAndrew Cartmel is a British science fiction writer and journalist, and former script editor of Doctor Who. He has also worked as a script editor on other television series, as a magazine editor, a film studies lecturer and as a novelist.-Biography:...
- 2001 - Gary Gillatt - 2001-2002
- Stephen PayneStephen PayneStephen Payne is the name of:*Stephen Payne , British ship designer*Stephen Payne , American lobbyist...
- 2002 - Simon J Gerard - 2003-2005
- Stephen PayneStephen PayneStephen Payne is the name of:*Stephen Payne , British ship designer*Stephen Payne , American lobbyist...
- 2005-2009 - Jordan Royce - 2011-present
Relaunch
In early 2011 Starburst Magazine Ltd announced that Starburst would resume publication as an online magazine. The magazine has welcomed back some previous writers, most notably Paul Mount (TV Zone), as well as introducing a host of new columnists and features writers. Original creator Dez SkinnDez Skinn
Derek "Dez" Skinn is a British comic and magazine editor, and author of a number of books on comics. As head of Marvel Comics' operations in England in the late 1970s, Skinn reformatted existing titles, launched new ones, and acquired the BBC license for Doctor Who Weekly...
is the Honorary Editor-In-Chief. The first online issue (#366) was released on May 14th 2011, and carried an editorial by Dez Skinn
Dez Skinn
Derek "Dez" Skinn is a British comic and magazine editor, and author of a number of books on comics. As head of Marvel Comics' operations in England in the late 1970s, Skinn reformatted existing titles, launched new ones, and acquired the BBC license for Doctor Who Weekly...
.
Starburst Radio
On 19th March 2011 Starburst magazine presented its first weekly radio show on Manchester Radio Online. Presented by editor Jordan Royce and news editor Kris Heys on Sunday nights between 9pm and Midnight, Starburst Radio deals with current news and reviews as well as guest interviews and the weekly "Bone of Contention".Content
Starburst contains news, interviews, features and reviews of genre material in various media (including TV, film, soundtracks, multimedia, comics, books etc.). Paul Mount has resumed his "TV Zone" column and Jordan Royce has taken over the "It's Only a Movie" column previously penned by the late John BrosnanJohn Brosnan
John Raymond Brosnan was an Australian writer of both fiction and non-fiction works based around the fantasy and science fiction genres. He was born in Perth, Western Australia, and died in South Harrow, London, from acute pancreatitis...
.