What's Hot What's New

The good, the bad and the ugly. You'll find them all here. Each week you'll get my take on the intriguing, and sometimes peculiar, titles to recently hit the newsstand.

Proud American Cover Price: $5.99 www.proudamericanonline.com On the heels of the Fourth of July and just in time for Labor Day, Proud American is a magazine "celebrating freedom and the U.S.A." With a beleaguered war in Iraq, heightened tension in the middle east and North Korean woes, Proud American seems to have been launched at a time when Americans feel most ready to rally around their flag. This new launch is pure Americana: soldiers, barbeques and NASCAR. The content may be uber-patriotic but the layout elicits anything but pride. Often times I found myself lost, confused and just bored with the spreads. The pages held so many pictures and so much copy that I couldn't find time for a quick breath in between pages. I applaud the effort and the wonderfully planned launch, but a few more changes may help make this new launch a bit more successful.

WWE Magazine Cover Price: $5.99 www.wwe.com We know them by name, we've seen them get hit by ladders and folding chairs and now there is a magazine that gives you both. From the world's largest wrestling organization comes a new monthly title that follows the stars and events of WWE. From interviews to profiles to sex tips, WWE Magazine gives wrestling fans information on every topic that may (or may not) interest them. A quick flip through its pages and its not hard to deduce the design influences for WWE Magazine. The content is presented quickly, in short bites with plenty of sarcasm, color and art just as popular laddy mags such as Maxim, FHM and Stuff. So if you're into wrestling, this title may be right up your alley.

Vox www.voxmagonline.com From the outset Vox grabs your attention and never lets go. This regional title may focus on the East End but even East Enders are sure to find something of interest in its pages. And even if you can't find content that interests you, the artwork, layout and design should be a pleasure for anyone. The artistic feel of Vox's pages compliment the content and don't overpower it. The use of white space, color and typography create a magazine that feels more like a vacation than most magazines. All in all, this new launch is the total package of good, clean design and interesting, niche-based content.