Maxim-um Entertainment (Maxim)

Member Name: blackjane

Product:	Maxim
Date:	20/08/00 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good magazine for 20-something men

Disadvantages: Cut down on the half-naked babes on the cover

Maxim

In the now crowded market for 'Mens' magazines, excluding those that are of a true top shelf variety, Maxim magazine is considered by many to be the poorer relative of its more successful counterpart FHM.

I don't buy this magazine every month, maybe one in two, and perhaps the same for FHM. I am of the opinion that both magazines are comparable in content and in information value, and both usually prove to be a good value read for less than three quid.

Obviously, both magazines are aiming mainly for the twenty-something audience, although they undoubtedly attract a number of older readers (trying to recapture their youth) plus many younger ones (who want to appear to be more mature).

The now familiar tactic of placing a half naked female celebrity on the front cover is wearing a little thin, although I suspect that I, like many other readers, see past this to the content of the magazine (if we wanted to buy something more risque we would be reaching for the top shelf instead - right?).

Where else can we men obtain information on music, film, TV, sport, fashion, news, celebrities, jokes, new products, and advice all in one magazine. Sure, there are other publications that cover one or more of these topics in much more detail, but Maxim's great strength is that is an all-encompassing read, but manages to be fun at the same time, unlike some of the other magazines on the market - GQ, Esquire etc. that tend to aim for a slightly older audience.

Without wanting to harp back too much to the success of FHM, Maxim is undoubtedly following in the footsteps of its more successful competitor, although it usually manages to appear different enough to warrant its place in the market.

In conclusion, I would recommend Maxim to any man between the ages of 18 to 30, as a general magazine to pass the time for a long train or coach journey, or just to read in your quieter moments at home.

In
fact, we should think ourselves very lucky today to have magazines of this ilk, as our fathers in the 1960s or 1970s did not have anything like this to read.

Summary: