Things are about to get BIG… and HAIRY! For those of us who came into our sexual awakenings in the ’80’s and ’90’s, one thing was clear: BEAR Magazine knew its audience! In fact, it wasn’t just that Bears and the men who love them found the magazine; The magazine found THEM! Now, as we approach the dawn of 2027, BEAR has returned in all its glorious, printed form. This will mark the magazine’s first issue after 15 years away. The new quarterly will be available to buy online, at major Bear events, and in certain lucky stores.
Founded in 1987, the original iteration of BEAR was launched by Richard Bulger and Chris Nelson. Ending in 2002, a revival was launched in 2008 lasting two years in print before moving completely online in the 2010s. The publication site ultimately went defunct. In 2024, Richard Jones, LGBTQ+ media publisher and founder of Bear World Magazine, was named the new owner of BEAR. The new BEAR is a reimagined vision of the classic magazine, with erotic photo layouts, editorial content, and even a personal ads section designed for a new era of Bear culture. The magazine celebrated its launch in September with a party at New York City’s iconic bar Ty’s.
Bear mover-and-shaker Richard Jones spoke with Lavender After Dark’s Jed Ryan about the revival of BEAR Magazine!
JR: Hi Richard! Thank you so much for speaking with me. Congratulations on the rebirth of BEAR Magazine!
RJ: Thanks Jed, it’s such a pleasure to be chatting with you. Thanks so much for having me.
JR: I had the privilege of seeing a preview copy of BEAR at the official launch event in Ty’s in New York City. All I can say is… “WOOF!” But I know it’s been a long journey for you to revive a magazine that has been away for 15 years. What made this just the right time to do this?
RJ: That’s a great question, and I think it’s a number of factors that have all come together at the right time. It started with me taking ownership of the brand, combined with the high level of LGBTQ+ censorship and suppression across social media– for no reason! We’re seeing all kinds of people and communities yearning for a simpler time, which has driven a huge rise in physical media ownership. A print magazine cannot be censored, deplatformed, or curtailed in any way– and people are responding to that.
JR: Oh wow, that’s so true! You have mentioned that BEAR the Magazine will be at major Bear events across the country over the next year– along with some of the magazine’s cover stars! What are some of these events? The guys need to get their plane tickets!
RJ: Well, the final details are all still in the planning, but we are confirmed to be at International Bear Convergence (IBC) in Palm Springs in February 2027 and I just sent in my application to be at International Mr. Leather/International Mr. Bootblack (IMLBB) in 2027– plus there’s lots of smaller events we’ll be at too. If you sign up for the newsletter (thebearmag.com/newsletter) and follow us on socials, you will be the first to get details of all the places where we will be live and selling the magazine as well as cool merch!
JR: You got it! I am Generation X, so I pretty much grew up with printed news… and printed EROTICA too, thankfully! But some of the younger guys may wonder if there is still a place for a print magazine as we near the end of 2026. What would you tell them?
RJ: We’re talking about a generation that has actively contributed to a RISE in brick-and-mortar bookshops, that has brought back record shops, and are on the frontline of fighting back against the billionaire-owned social media companies. I think they get it completely! But two things I would point out to everyone: Firstly, buying and owning magazines like BEAR is a great way to support your own community. BEAR is 100% Bear owned, made, and run. It’s even shipped by a Bear-owned company in Utah! Second, this is no ordinary magazine. This is a true collectible: 100+ pages, full color, Vogue-like standards. This will live on your bookshelf, coffee table, or nightstand (next to a box of tissues!)– and look damn good! No amount of throwaway internet erotica can match it.
JR: Dayuhm! That sounds amazing! When the original BEAR magazine came out in 1987, the whole Bear subculture was kind of a new phenomenon– or, to clarify a bit, there was now a NAME for the community! I remember the original magazine VERY well, black-and-white pages and all! What is going to make the new reincarnation stand out in its own right?
RJ: I love magazines basically, so to me it was about honoring the best of the past– the sexy images, the rawness of the shoots, and the fun aspect of community and connection through the personals– as a base, but pushing it into the modern age. So when Steven Harwick, our Creative Director, and I talked about the vision for the new version, we imagined that it had never stopped printing and what that would mean for today’s editions. So, there will of course be naked Bears of all shapes and sizes at the core, as well as those personals… and we have added in more interviews, an agony uncle column, fashion shoots, and features on other physical media recommendations including music, TV/film, and three other print magazines we love and want to celebrate.
JR: Speaking of “naked Bears”… It’s safe to say that a lot of guys have read and will continue to read BEAR Magazine for the hairy guys in between the covers! Was it difficult to find guys eager to let it ALL hang out for the photo spreads?
RJ: Well, yes of course it wouldn’t be BEAR without some naked hot hairy men. And to be honest, my time with Bear World Magazine has meant I had instant access to some amazing photographers like Mack Sturgis, Jeremiah Damian and John Orbit of Real Men Real Life, who I contacted first and were all on board immediately. Together, they have kicked off Issue One so amazingly with some very, very hot guys– who, as you will see, were very happy to get naked! Plus, we’re already locking in even more shoots and naked bears lining up for future issues.
JR: Sounds HOT! Two of the guys who modeled those fabulous official BEAR T-shirts are XXX faves Alex Tikas and Jason Tazarian. What made you choose these two gents?
RJ: I have gotten to know the adorable Jason through working with him on our April event in Key West, WOOF Week, and last April he brought the very handsome Alex with him! My photographer for that event is the truly talented Tristan Sutphin, so it just all came together naturally, and we shot in and around the gorgeous clothing optional Island House Hotel & Resort, the gay owned and operated Key West legend!
JR: Ah yes. I know that place well. So… what feature of the new magazine should we be most surprised– or maybe, most EXCITED about?
RJ: Oh, that’s like trying to pick a favorite child, but I am so very proud of our agony uncle column, Daddy Knows Best, with the super amazing Cody Daigle-Orians, also known as the Ace Dad, who has a wealth of experience guiding folks, and is just a lovely caring man. I love Bryce Quartz’s column where he recommends music to fuck to, and we are only recommending music that can be physically bought– so we are hopefully supporting the musicians directly too. Also, it’s a great honor to have the Bear Historian and academic Les K.Wright giving us a regular column, echoing his work with the original magazine. Really, you need to go buy Issue One and discover its joys and content in a truly magical way with a beer, coffee, or something else in hand; Well, you get the idea! We just know there’s something for everyone, and there’s more to come with each edition.
JR: The BEAR community has always been about body positivity and about embracing one’s own size. But it seems that lately, body positivity is becoming less of a “thing” in pop culture with the rise of GPL1’s. Obviously, our own body image and own sexual preferences should never be dictated by “trends”– but should we, the Bear community, be “worried” that these new drugs may affect our culture?
RJ: Jed, you are asking a great question here, and with the community’s reaction to the annoying articles in so-called high-end newspapers about the Bear community disappearing combined with the Advocate wonderfully debunking it (thanks to lots of us in the Bear space actually being interviewed and not getting misquoted!), I think it’s safe to say that we are not disappearing at all. I think we are getting healthier, and I am happy to say that GLP1s are making me healthier but I’m still a chunky man. They have not suddenly made me a muscle bro, I am a little less heavy, a lot healthier, and thankfully still me. All you have to do is go to amazing parties like Cake or Thicc in New York City, and see that body diversity is still wonderfully with us– and of course we will be showcasing all that diversity in the pages of BEAR for many editions to come.
JR: That’s grrr-eat to here! Anything else you want to tell the masses?
RJ: Yes, obviously please support BEAR in print, follow us online, and wear our merch– but also support other print media, especially your local zines, LGBTQ2+ newspapers, and magazines– because when we all get kicked off the social platforms, our community’s media will be here for you. Besides, it’s also fun to get these sexy zines from all over the world – shout out to BEAR IT Zine, Elska, and Hairy Mag!
JR: Thank you so much for speaking with me, Richard! See you soon!
Visit BEAR Magazine at www.TheBearMag.com, on Instagram @BearMag_, and x @BearMag_.
(Cover photo of Jason Evermore by Mack Sturgis. Magazine design by Steven Harwick. Photo of Alex and Jason by Tristan Sutphin.)
