Mark Guest parts with Blocks
Posted by Huw,
It has been announced today that Blocks co-founder and Editor Mark Guest is to leave Blocks. Issue 5, (which comes out in February) will be the last issue with Mark at the helm.
Mark has been instrumental in creating Blocks from the start and it was his own obsession with LEGO that drove the one-off project to become a monthly publication. It is fair to say the product has been well received amongst the LEGO fan community and has progressively strengthened under his leadership.
Back in June 2014, Mark first revealed Blocks to the world as a one-off WH Smith exclusive 'Bookazine' This was a small insight of what was to come and in the following months a team of experts and respected contributors assembled adding a great impetus that allowed the vision to grow into something the community had longed for.
Mark today commented on this shocking news, saying: ‘It is with great sadness that I am departing from what was my baby, but unfortunately sometimes circumstance dictates a difficult decision must be made. For me this project was always about my love of LEGO and producing a level of quality the fans require. I am very proud of what myself and the team of contributors have created and cannot thank them and the readers enough for their support and encouragement throughout this project. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my immediate team of contributors, Huw Millington, Dr Dave Watford, Chris Pearce, Adam White, Tim Johnson, Simon Pickard and the BTTP crew, meeting and working with you guys has been a real pleasure and highlight of the project.’
Mark went on to explain ‘I cannot part company without thanking those who tirelessly worked behind the scenes, constantly going the extra mile for nothing more than good will, this includes the likes of Mark's wife Angela who has greatly enjoyed updating our builds and talking to fans via Facebook. Not to be forgotten is stalwart photographer Andrew Tipping, whose efforts and photography have played a great part in the high quality of the publication.’
Finishing up Mark commented ‘There have been many positives that can be taken from my involvement with Blocks and I wish it all the luck moving forward as it undergoes a transitional time. Hopefully my vision has given the project the foundation required to continue in the same vein. I have had a great time and been warmly welcomed in the LEGO community and fully intend to keep involved in the scene and remain in contact with all my new friends and associates.’
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If you want to keep in touch with Mark, you'll find him on Facebook.
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22 comments on this article
That's a shame, I really liked Mark's more informal style and I thought the magazine was evolving well under his captaincy. I briefly met Mark at STEAM and I thought he was a very pleasant personable chap and I wish him well for his future endeavours.
I have a one year subscription so the new editor has seven issues left to impress me enough to renew . . . . . .
It doesn't bode well that the founder and editor is leaving after only 5 issues :( I hope Blocks will continue and thrive.
What a shame - I wish him well.
Unless lego or a big major media publisher has taken it over , i sense doom .
That's too bad- do we know who will be taking over?
Blimey this is quite surprising news. Huw - can you tell us any more? Has he already been replaced? Does the magazine have a future or is this the beginning of the end already?
I really enjoy getting the magazine each month and will be very disappointed if it comes to an end already!
I suppose you could say he was but a impermanent Guest on the staff list
I met Mark at BRICK2014 and was taken by what a pleasant, committed chap he was. And of course he has produced a good magazine too. I was surprised to learn that he was basically self-publishing the magazine, as in he set up Blocks Media to publish it. So it seems unlikely he was pushed. Hope he's OK and not burn out to a frazzle.
It would be inappropriate for me to provide more details but suffice to say that the new owners, Mark's old partners, do foresee a future for it and I suspect further news will be forthcoming in due course.
I have yet to read the magazine. I don't plan on looking into it either since I still don't get the appeal of paying for something I can get for free online...
Either way, his exit sounds fishy. The way he worded things, it sounds like he was forced out. That's the worst way to go, especially if it was your creation. But it has happened before.
Sorry to hear that. Good luck on your next protects Mark, may they be Lego-based or otherwise! Thanks for starting up the magazine!
It really is a well done magazine. I don't buy nearly as many magazines as I used to anymore and there are so many Lego review sites online nowadays that it seems like an up hill battle for this publication. I do invest in book style magazines that show content that is impossible or difficult to display online, like original designs never before published, tutorials never published, inside information and pricing...again never published. I think all of these require significant investigation at a cost.
@Huw
'Inappropriate' be damned! Spill the beans!
I've just sat on the sofa, copy of Blocks by my side, and read this news! What a shock! Sorry to see you go, Mark, I love your baby!
@ BooTheMightyHamster.
That's not very considerate, is it? What if it was something in Mark's life that he told Huw, but doesn't want thousands of people knowing?
My gut feeling is that it's something else, but fair point well made!
New owners ? Former partners ? Does not sound good.
But then, they can't seem to get it stocked anywhere I've been Up North, and refuse to offer it online (even delayed like magazine's like Linux Voice are doing successfully). So some falling out somewhere ? If it wasn't sudden, wouldn't the news be better orchestrated, with a proper press release from the magazine ?
Given the lineup of the rest of the editorial team, how long before it's rebranded as 'Brickset Monthly'?
;o)
have I missed issue 4?
There are some very 'inappropriate' comments being posted here. I thought our community was a more humble bunch.
All the best for the future, Mark.
And let's hope the rest of the team keep up the great work of your baby. You have assembled a fine line-up.
@kashmir4 - No, issue four is out right now.
If you can find it.