Animation Periodicals - Newtype USA

Newtype USA

Newtype USA is the Rolls Royce of Anime magazines. The crème de la crème - the smiley face fruit gummies. I remember coming across Newtype at only two places, Blockbuster in the early aughts and visiting The Den in West Lafayette while in college. The Den was a baller little convenience store, mostly known for its .50¢ 64 ounce pop. At the front of the store was a slew of magazines from various well known esoteric publications. I distinctly remember High Times, Rider Magazine, Playboy, and today’s magazine, Newtype.

Newtype USA, the term Newtype given to pilots of Gundams, ran from 2002 to 2008. And they are packed with information. Not only did they contain anime reviews, features, interviews, manga reviews, features, news, interviews. They contained a three page foldout centerfold of the featured anime of the month. Manga samples. Anime airings on every network for the month including a brief episode synopsis of the episode. Music news and reviews. Figurine coverage. Cosplay. Anything in the realm of the anime fandom was predominately and intimately covered. The magazine itself was even oversized compared to other magazines and printed on high quality paper. 

But there was one more thing that set itself apart from the competition; each month’s issue contained a sample DVD with anime on it. Crazy, right? Like a throwback to the demo discs of yore, the DVD was the crown on top of an already thick package. 

But it all came at a cost. You don’t find Rolls Royces priced cheaply and Newtype came with a heavy sticker price; $12 - per issue. For the cost of half a year of issues for the other guys was a ticket price for just one issue. 

This was why I only had one issue when I was a kid. As an adult, I was fortunate enough to win a reasonably priced lot on ShopGoodwill. Though, most of them are taped shut in their packaging, missing their DVD additions, unfortunately. I’ve long debated whether to crack them open, or keep them in their packaging. Due to their size and the scarcity of magazine sleeves that would fit these behemoths, I continue to contemplate how to go about enjoying them. But, boy, is it cool to have them.