Best Local Magazine

Planet

www.planet-mag.com

The Mission District-based Planet may be only 3 years old, but in that time it has carved out a distinctive niche that straddles the line between the modern urban cool of Black Bookor Fader and the sociopolitical academic leanings of Bomb. Whether subjecting pomo poster boy Beck to the comedic rage of Jack Black or unveiling the harrowing pastiche of collage artist Wangechi Mutu, Planet always seems to know which way the wind blows. And unlike much of its competition, it covers some of the world's most compelling indie artists without constantly flashing its hipster badge. The writing is incisive yet personable, often peeling back subjects' public personas to display more substance than the standard glossy. The design is distinguished by ample white space broken up by photographs and illustrations by some of today's hottest artists (the Spring 2005 issue featured icon manipulator Ryan McGinness). Planet's tag line is "Global Culture and Lifestyle," and it delivers.