Gareb Shamus

Gareb Shamus
BornGareb Seth Shamus
(1968-12-23) December 23, 1968 (age 56)
New York City, U.S.
Area(s)Painter, entrepreneur
Notable works
Wizard,[1] Wizard Entertainment, ToyFare

Gareb Seth Shamus (/ˈʃeɪməs/ SHAY-məs;[2] born December 23, 1968) is an American publisher. He is the founder, former chairman and CEO of Wizard Entertainment. He is also a co-founder and CEO of ACE Comic Con.[3][4][5]

Shamus published Wizard: The Comics Magazine; InQuest Gamer: The Gaming Magazine;[6] ToyFare: The Toy Magazine; Anime Insider; FunFare; "In" Power!, a kids' entertainment magazine; Wizard Specials; Toy Wishes, a holiday toy shopping guide; Bean Power, a Beanie Babies magazine; and Sportslook, a sports card magazine.[7][8][9][10] He also co-founded and was CEO of International Fight League Inc (IFLI).[11][12][13] He produced several televised MMA fights with partners Fox Sports Networks and MyNetworkTV.[14]

In April 2023, KuuHubb, Inc. announced that Gareb Shamus was its new CEO.[15]

Personal life

Gareb is the second oldest of four brothers: Ilan, Kenny, and Stephen Shamus, respectively.[16] As a child, he collected comic books and sports cards. His early loves were Spider-Man, Batman, and Mad magazine.[17] As a teenager, he gravitated to more mature comics created by artists like Todd McFarlane and Frank Miller. Shamus studied economics at the University at Albany, SUNY and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, with a minor in art, in 1990.[16]

Gareb has an art studio and gallery where he produces and displays his art. He participates in gallery shows and art fairs across the US.[18]

Wizard Entertainment

Main article: Wizard Entertainment

In the 1980s, Shamus's parents owned a sports card and comic book store called The Wizard of Cards and Comics in Nanuet, New York, where Shamus worked.[19] When he graduated from college, he started a comic book newsletter, Wizard: The Guide to Comics, for the store’s customers. It became popular enough to be turned into a monthly magazine in 1991. After only one year, Wizard was being published in over 50 countries and in multiple languages,[20] making Shamus well-known in the comic book world.[7] Over the next few years, he launched more magazines covering toys, games, animation, and other "superhero" related media (movies, TV shows, video games, and toys).

Wizard Entertainment acquired the Chicago Comicon in 1997, expanded its scope, and within a year, boosted attendance from a few thousand to 25,000.[1] There were at their peak 25 Wizard World comic conventions and pop-culture conventions hosted in the United States.[16][21]

Ace Universe

ACE Universe is a New York-based media and experiential events company founded by Gareb Shamus and his brother, Stephen Shamus.

Selected exhibitions

  • "Squeezed," Coldstream Fine Art, Toronto, July 8 – August 2, 2017
  • "Rungs of Life," Art Exchange London, September 23, 2016
  • "Early Days," Art Helix, Brooklyn, September 16, 2016
  • "The Pivot Collection," MRG Fine Art, Sherman Oaks, California, July 16, 2016
  • "All Art Everything," Guy Hepner Gallery, New York, April 8, 2016[22]

References

  1. ^ a b Babka, Allison (2014-04-03). "Wizard World Inc.: A roving comic con looks to corner the geek market". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  2. ^ Who Took The Image Comics Founders Photo? (podcast). Wizards Podcast. 2024-01-10. Event occurs at 00:18 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Rogers, Vaneta (12 December 2023). "Gareb Shamus On His New Comic Con Business, Ace Universe". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  4. ^ Leatherman, Benjamin (2018-01-12). "Everything You Need to Know About Ace Comic Con 2018". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  5. ^ "ACE Comic Con Descends on Nassau Coliseum". Long Island Press. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  6. ^ Olmsted, Larry (2006-04-01). "A Market Worth Fighting For". Inc. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  7. ^ a b Bindrim, Kira (2009-10-16). "Publisher profits from pop culture". Crain's New York Business. Archived from the original on 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  8. ^ Smith, Andy (2010-08-24). "Pressing Issues: Wizard Press and the Trapeze of '90s Fan Culture". PopMatters. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  9. ^ "11th Annual Holiday HOT DOZEN Toy List Released Today". Businesswire (Press release). 2009-09-29. Archived from the original on 2019-01-03. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  10. ^ D'Orazio, Valerie (2011-02-04). "MTV Geek Exclusive: A Talk With Wizard World Inc.'s Gareb Shamus". MTV News (Interview). Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  11. ^ "Fight Club: Catching Up With IFL CEO Gareb Shamus". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com (Interview). 2007-10-05. Archived from the original on 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  12. ^ "Sherdog Exclusive: IFL CEO Gareb Shamus". Sherdog (Interview). 2006-05-01. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  13. ^ Martin, Ken; Pishna, Damon (20 November 2007). "Gareb Shamus Resigns from IFL; More Changes". MMA Weekly. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  14. ^ "IFL Inks Broadcast Deal with Fox Sports Net". Sherdog. 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  15. ^ "Recolor, The Leading Coloring App, Announces Comic Con Pioneer Gareb Shamus as New CEO". Newsfile (Press release). 24 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  16. ^ a b c "Tenafly Resident Brings Comic-Con Phenomenon to New York". NorthJersey.com.[permanent dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Wizard Entertainment Founder Gareb Shamus Talks About Childhood, Pop Stars and Wizard World Chicago Comic Con" (PDF). Associated Content (Interview).
  18. ^ Taub, Alexander (2016-05-19). "An Entrepreneurial Journey: From Comic Book Mogul To Breakout Painter". Forbes.
  19. ^ Jager; Mr. Stinkhead (2003). "Comics: Gareb Shamus". Millionaire Playboy (Interview). Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  20. ^ Griffin, Keith (2001-05-24). "Gareb Shamus Interview". CBR (Interview). Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  21. ^ Salkowitz, Rob (2016-04-28). "Do Changes At Wizard World Signal Trouble For The Fan Convention Business?". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  22. ^ "Exhibition "All Art Everything" – Guy Hepner Gallery". Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-14.