Comic Book Jobs: Toxic Magazine

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent,

Toxic, the British humor magazine for boys 7-12-years-old is looking for a designer.

Toxic's subjects "range from games to movies to sports to loads of other random stuff in features, facts & stats, puzzles, jokes, comics, competitions etc. In short, anything and everything that’s in a boy’s life." And the comics can be really funny.

They're looking for a "creative and experienced magazine designer with the vision to help take Toxic to the next level of its development," whatever that means for a British boy's humor mag.

You'll be working "in close collaboration" with the Art Editor and the Toxic team.

All the usual computer design skills are needed, as is magazine experience. And if you have experience in children's entertainment, even better.

Egmont is a huge Scandanavian publisher with lots of opportunities inside so if you get in and impress, there's always the chance to move forward. Or you could just stay at Toxic and design pages of boogers and farts and Justin Biebers.

But do hurry. The job listing closes on April 26.

You can read a bit more about Toxic at Lew Stringer's excellent British comics-related blog.

[Artwork: Toxic, © Egmont]

Comic Book Jobs: British Comics

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

Toxic, one of the wacky British comics magazines (that competes with Dandy and The Beano) is looking for an "Experienced sub-editor/writer."

What's a sub-editor, you may ask? Well, in the US, it means copy editor, but here it means you'd be the acting assistant editor.

Toxic is published by Egmont, the huge Scandanavian publishing conglom. The mag is for boys aged 7-12, and in addition to articles and such on sports and movies and pop culture, they also feature jokes, comics and competitions. As they say, "anything and everything that’s in a boys life. Especially if it makes him laugh."

Egmont UK is seeking a "creative and experienced person with a proven track record in sub-editing & writing & general." Experience in digital and online "would be an advantage," but above all they want someone "enthusiastic about children’s publishing!"

If you're interested, then you'd better hurry. The listing closes on March 25.

Good luck, job seekers!

[Artwork: Toxic, © Egmont]

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Comic Book Jobs: Egmont UK

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

Do you love your children's books and licensed magazines?

Do you have any creative ideas to make them better?

Do you know the names of all the trains on the island of Sodor?

Egmont UK, the British division of the billion-dollar Scandanavian publishing powerhouse, needs an editor for 9 months while one of their editors is on maternity leave.

Egmont UK publishes tons of licensed-character books, usually based on popular TV shows, including Thomas the Tank Engine, Ben 10, Waybuloo, Guess with Jess, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam and Bob the Builder.
 
If you can multitask, have a cheery disposition and a love-love relationship with this type of subject matter, you might be able to roll this 9 month gig into something more longterm.

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Comic Book Jobs: Who’s Hiring? Egmont UK’s Toxic!

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

Toxic Magazine is one of those things I always pick up whenever I’m in England because it’s such a goofy kid-friendly mix of comics, pop culture and fart jokes for kids 7-12. They’re up to issue #167, so I’m probably not the only person picking it up (though maybe one of the few over 12).

Now, Egmont, the giant Scandinavian publishing behemoth, is looking for an editor for Toxic to join their London office. But not just any editor: they want “an experienced and visionary editor to take this brand-leading title to its next level of development, working in close collaboration with the commercial team.”

So if you’ve got that all-important track record “in editorial innovation and product development” and are “enthusiastic about children’s publishing,” you could make a nice life for yourself at Toxic. Probably helps if you already live in the UK, but no job listing is perfect.

Click to continue reading Comic Book Jobs: Who’s Hiring? Egmont UK’s Toxic!

Comic Book Jobs: Who’s Hiring? Egmont

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

I’ve always wanted to live and work in London, but I’m stuck stateside for the time being. You might not be, and if that’s the case, Egmont UK could have a job with your name on it. It’s not a comics-specific job, but Egmont UK is part of the giant Egmont empire and they do publish a lot of comic book material – like the Disney comics that Boom! Kids is currently publishing - so this could be an in for you and a chance to burrow into the organization.

So if you “know your Bieber from your Beaker and your Selena from your SpongeBob” and “have a passion for children’s publishing and enjoy communicating with kids,” then Egmont’s Go Girl magazine is looking for you. They need a Writer/Sub-Editor to join their team and be a, wait for it, team player.

You’ll need at least a year’s experience in magazine publishing or a similar area, and writing for websites would give you a leg up on the competition. All applicants will need to take a written test, so you’ll need to study up.

The application is at the Egmont website. Hurry, though, because this offer closes on July 29th.

[Artwork: cover to a recent issue of Go Girl]

BRITISH COMICS: TOXIC 143 Ice Age and Transformers!

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Reviews,

Continuing my sampling of British comic books, I picked up a copy of Toxic #143 (July 8-July 21, 2009). It’s another in a series of comic books disguised as a magazine, or is it a magazine disguised as a comic book? Either way, the editors at Toxic – and the publishers at Egmont - know their intended audience: the front cover boasts Ice Age 3 tie-ins, a Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen game guide, Lego Indy, and a Team Toxic comic. Plus, there’s a “Toxic Iceman” skeleton mold and ice pick in a blister pack that’s taped to the front cover. You can freeze him and then chip him out of the ice just like a real, well, a real guy who chips skeletons out of the ice.

There’s also an insert section of Ice Age 3 Battle Cards (on thicker stock) and directions on how to play the game. Inside are the usual magazine elements: photo features, pin-ups, games, puzzles, etc. Some of them tie-in to Ice Age 3, others into The Terminator, Transformers and Lego Indy. There’s a funny 2-page Team Toxic adventure where the gang takes on a Woolly Mammoth. It’s written and drawn by the great Lew Stringer. Jamie Smart contributes a poo-filled 1-pager featuring Super Von Poo and his sidekick Battleturd, and a silly Robin Hoodie 1-pager that’s uncredited.

For £2.50 (which works out to about $4.50US) it’s not a bad little package of silly stuff for the 7 or 8-year-old around the house. The layout is busy and every page is packed and it felt like money well-spent. Perhaps this is my gateway comic to Judge Dredd.

[Artwork: Cover to Toxic #143, ©Egmont Magazines UK]

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