Starburst (magazine)

Starburst
Editor-in-ChiefMartin Unsworth
Former editorsDez Skinn (1977–81)
Alan McKenzie (1981-85)
Stephen Payne (1985–99, 2002, 2005–09)
Andrew Cartmel (2001)
CategoriesScience fiction, fantasy, horror
FrequencyQuarterly
PublisherStarburst Magazine Limited
FounderDez Skinn
First issue1 December 1977; 48 years ago (1977-12-01)
CompanyStarburst Magazine Limited
CountryUnited Kingdom
Based inManchester
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.starburstmagazine.com Edit this at Wikidata
ISSN0955-114X
OCLC79615651

Starburst is a British science fiction, fantasy, and horror entertainment magazine published by Starburst Magazine Limited. It contains news, interviews, features, and reviews of genre material in various media, including TV, film, soundtracks, multimedia, books, and comics books. Established in December 1977 by editor Dez Skinn, the magazine is published quarterly, with additional news and reviews being published daily on the website.

Originally launched by Starburst Publishing Ltd., the title was acquired by Marvel UK in 1978 before transitioning to Visual Imagination in 1985, under whose tenure it ran until a publication hiatus in 2008. The brand was subsequently revived under new ownership in 2011, initially transitioning to a digital webzine format before returning to print circulation the following year. Now headquartered in Manchester, England, the brand has also expanded to include active podcast syndication, weekly radio programming, and periodic independent film and fantasy conventions.

Publication history

Dez Skinn

Starburst was launched in December 1977 by editor Dez Skinn 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.

Starburst was taken over by Marvel UK with issue #4, as part of deal whereby Skinn was put in charge of the UK comic reprints division. Marvel put the title up for sale in 1985 and it was bought by Visual Imagination and published by them from issue #88. Having reached issue #365 in 2008, the magazine ceased publishing due to Visual Imagination folding.

In early 2011 Starburst Magazine Ltd announced that Starburst would resume publication as an online magazine. Founder Dez Skinn was named Honorary Editor-in-Chief. The first online issue (#366) was released on 14 May 2011, and carried an editorial by Skinn. Starburst was returned to print publication by Starburst Magazine Ltd in February 2012, with issue #374.

The magazine celebrated its 40-year anniversary with issue #443 (2017), which included an editorial by creator Dez Skinn. Starburst headquarters is now based in Manchester.

Editors-in-chief

Andrew Cartmel

Columns and features

David J. Howe

Starburst's review sections were edited by writers and reviewers such as Alan Jones, who covered upcoming cinema features, and David J. Howe, who oversaw the literary review section.

For several years, the magazine also carried a column by the writer John Brosnan, up until his passing. Its television review column, TV Zone, was used as the title of its sister publication, TV Zone.

Current columns

Columns include:

Multimedia

Starburst radio

On 19 March 2011 Starburst magazine presented its first weekly radio show on Manchester Radio Online. The show has since moved to Fab Radio International.

Starburst podcasts

Starburst produces the following podcasts:

Starburst festivals

1980: Marvel Comics Film & Fantasy Convention

On 18–19 October 1980, Starburst (at that point owned by Marvel UK) produced the inaugural Marvel Comics Film & Fantasy Convention at Lawrence Hall, London[citation needed]. The guest of honor was Ray Harryhausen; other guests include Barry Morse, Paul Darrow, Jacqueline Pearce, Ingrid Pitt, Caroline Munro, Dana Gillespie, David Prowse, Peter Mayhew, Milton Subotsky, Roy Ashton, Martin Bower, Harley Cokeliss, Brian Johnson, Terrance Dicks, David Maloney, Dick Mills, and Richard O'Brien. The convention included the presentation of the 1980 Starburst Awards as well as the 1980 Eagle Awards.

2016: Starburst International Film Festival

From 26–28 August 2016 the first Starburst International Film Festival was held at Manchester Metropolitan Students' Union Complex. Guests included Dez Skinn, Doug Naylor, Steve Pemberton, and Toby Whithouse. The festival culminated in the Starburst Fantasy Awards 2016 on Sunday 28 August 2016 in which Doug Naylor won the Hall of Fame Award.

2018: Starburst MediaCity Festival

With a sponsorship deal secured with MediaCityUK the second annual festival was slightly re-branded. Starburst MediaCity Festival was held 16–17 March 2018. Guests included Dez Skinn and Tom Paton. Winners of the STARBURST Fantasy Awards 2018 included Emma Dark for Best Director with Salient Minus Ten, and Michael Melski for Best Feature with The Child Remains.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Clute, John; Nicholls, Peter (2023). "Starburst". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (Online ed.). Orbit.
  2. ↑ "In Praise of Peter Beale". Starburst. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Skinn, Dez. "Dez Skinn Biography and Portfolio: The Marvel UK Era". DezSkinn.com.
  4. ↑ "Starburst". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Clute, John; Nicholls, Peter (2023). "Starburst". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (Online ed.). Orbit.
  6. ↑ Unsworth, Martin (August 2025). "Editorial Masthead". Starburst (495). Starburst Magazine Limited: 3.
  7. ↑ Howe, David J. (2014). Reflections: A Writer's Journey. Telos Publishing. pp. 45–48. ISBN 978-1845830915.
  8. 1 2 Langford, David (7 May 2005). "John Brosnan Obituary". The Guardian.
  9. ↑ "Editorial Masthead and Columnist Credits". Starburst. 41 (415). Starburst Magazine Limited: 6–7. August 2015.
  10. ↑ "TV Zone - By veteran Paul Mount". starburstmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "It's Only a Movie by Jordan Royce". Starburst. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  12. ↑ "Manchester Radio Online". Manchesterradioonline.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  13. ↑ "FAB Radio International". FAB Radio International. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "Multimedia Broadcast and Podcast Directory". Starburst Magazine. Starburst Magazine Limited.
  15. ↑ "Starburst". Starburst. No. 29. Marvel UK. January 1981. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Starburst International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  17. ↑ "The First Starburst International Film Festival Announcement". Starburst Magazine. Starburst Magazine Limited.
  18. 1 2 "STARBURST International Film Festival Details & Guests Revealed!". The podKast with a K. 28 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "Tom Paton". IMDb. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "Emma Dark". IMDb. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "Michael Melski". IMDb. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.