Comics Buyer’s Guide, which began in 1971 as The Buyer’s Guide for Comic Fandom, will end with #1699, the March 2013 issue, its publisher, Krause Publications, announced this week.

“The company cited general poor market conditions and forces working against the title’s sustainability including the downturn in print advertising and the proliferation of free content available online for this highly specialized industry,” the company said in a press release.

“Since we heard the sad news about the end of CBG, I’ve read a lot of great comments online about the publication and what it meant to the world of comic books. I started advertising in it early on as a retailer, and like many others I saw the power of a good ad in its pages. While I certainly wish it was continuing, its 42-year run is a great testimony to what Alan Light, Murray Bishoff, Don and Maggie Thompson, Cat Yronwode, and so many other contributors achieved on behalf of all of us,” said Steve Geppi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Comic Distributors.

“It is difficult for newer readers to understand just what CBG meant to the development of the comic book industry, but veteran observers know that it was one of the key institutions that fostered the secondary market. Long before the internet and even before so many of the long-running conventions started, it was a lifeline that connected collectors with each other,” said J.C. Vaughn, Associate Publisher of Gemstone Publishing.

“Quite a lot about the history of comics, both as a hobby and as an entertainment medium, can be seen in the pages from its 42-year history. It was a history that was filled with highs and lows and quite a few changes. Some changes were caused from external events; others, from moves by its owners,” John Jackson Miller, a CBG veteran himself, wrote on his website, Comichron.com.

There have been many outstanding comments posted online on this subject. We recommend Miller’s entire feature on the subject.

We wish Senior Editor Maggie Thompson, Editor Brent Frankenhoff and all connected with CBG only the best of luck and smooth sailing. Our thanks go to all who worked on this great publication over its 42-year history.