I was surprised a couple days ago when I was at Barnes and Noble and saw on the shelves a new issue of, "Playboy." Publication of new issues had stopped five or so years ago and Playboy had become more of a clothing/lifestyle brand with a pay-cable channel than anything else. The magazine of, "Playboy," had been edgy and controversial when it first hit the scene in 1953. Over time, however, it changed into something quite tame compared to other magazines and the internet. With much more spicy adult content available elsewhere it became quite true that most folk still reading, "Playboy," actually were doing so for the shockingly good articles full of insightful journalism, great short fiction, interviews, and the like. Between print being a difficult business and COVID-19 complications, the last print issue of, "Playboy," ended up being the Spring 2020 issue...until now.
Against all odds, "Playboy," is back in 2025 with plans to publish an annual print edition. That is by no means as wild as coming out every month, every other month, or even quarterly, but it is something. I remarked back in 2022 how it was surprising to note that, "Penthouse," was still being published with content a bit edgier than, "Playboy," had (lots of zoomed-in spread-eagle poses) but still a lot tamer than much of the World Wide Web or the few competitors in the field like, "Hustler." Interestingly enough, "Penthouse," suddenly stopped publishing after a Summer 2023 issue. I've seen claims via the Penthouse website when I checked that news about print issues would come about in 2024...but now we're in 2025 with nary an update. When it comes to print erotica you've basically got the artsy option of, "StripLV," the raunchy choice of, "Hustler," and now a yearly, "Playboy," rising from the grave like zombie Jesus (a, "Futurama," joke for ya'll there)--it just took five years instead of three days. Is it any good, however?
The latest, "Playboy," magazine is a return to form! It has--to just name some of the content--an entertaining segment with comedian J.B. Smoove answering relationship questions, a piece examining the rise of the, "Beta Male," a piece about Nashville being a bachelorette party trip hotspot, an article on how technology has made cheating on a partner a lot more complex than the old days (hence, it is better to just be open and honest), interviews with Nikki Glazer and Lori Harvey (they stay clothed), plus pictorials with Gillian Nation (Playmate of the year, she is unclothed) and other women in case you were concerned some nipples and pubic hair wouldn't be on display--this isn't like that brief weird era where, "Playboy," dropped the nudity, after all.
There are tasteful pictures, solid writing, and it is a nice mix of modern topics with a nostalgic feeling to have a print erotica publication like, "Playboy," attempting newsprint again in 2025. As the cover declares proudly, "We're Back," and even if it is simply an annual thing, that is still an accomplishment in this day and age. I applaud, "Playboy," for putting forth this effort and hope we do indeed get an issue in 2026 and beyond--as long as this does well it will prove there is a place for, "Playboy," to some degree all these years later.
