HM/Heaven's Metal Back-issues electronically?

[MetalFRO]

I've been pondering this question for some time now....why hasn't HM
staff thought of putting out a CD-ROM w/ PDF files for all sold-out/
OOP back-issues of HM and the earlier Heaven's Metal (or the newer
'zine if there are any issues sold-out)? Granted, this is something
that would grow over time, but if you could put out a CD-ROM once a
year or so, those of us who missed out early in the 'zine's run or who
didn't renew after they got married (guilty!) and poor could go back &
get all the reviews, interviews, etc. I still have all my old back-
issues from High School & college, but I've missed out for so many
years that it'd be nice to be able to go back & have some of that
stuff. Has this type of idea ever been considered?

[Matt]

I have to be honest - I love this idea. I would love to see it start
with year 1 and just do every year until you have and the entire thing
for purchase, and at the end of every year, you can purchase an
anthology if you like. It doesn't even have to be PDF - maybe even a
bound book through one of those print on demand publishers. The only
problem I see is that the older issues after a certain point probably
weren't ever in electronic format to begin with - so scanning them
might be a pain.

I would also put a vote in that these back issues contain everything -
including the ads! Those ads contain some cool historical
information. I own the National Geographic back issue box set, and
those ads are as cool as the articles.

Just my two cents.

[MetalFRO]

Absolutely include the ads! Historical context is important, and I
think that would be a fantastic way to preserve that history. But
yes, I'd rather get a CD-ROM full of PDF files rather than a hard-
bound print-on-demand book that I'll have to pay extra money for,
unless that's my only option. But I would definitely want scanned
copies of all the first issues & the whole bit.

[Genesis Winter]

This would be amazing. Dare I even say... possibly of historic
importance? Look, HM is the only place that has covered a lot of these
bands, and you could get a real feel for the evolution of the scene by
reading through back issues. (Ads and all -- man, HM was just about
the only mag where I would actually read the ads). As someone trying
to write a university essay on Christian death metal I curse the day I
threw out most of my old back issues, and long for the day that the
reappear... in PDF or book format.