Five years on, The Face's owners are considering reviving it online

The Face, an iconic pop culture magazine from Britain which closed in 2004 because nobody was interested in buying it, may be revived. According to a story in Brand Republic, Bauer Media has enlisted former FHM editor Anthony Noguera to oversee the proposals, including relaunching it as a digital-only proposition, a free magazine or a subscription-only title.

Bauer Media, owns the trademark because it bought The Face's former owner Emap Consumer Media. The Face was launched in 1980 and at its peak had an international circulation of nearly 80,000 copies. It had a great buzz for a time in the '80s and early '90s and was a particular favourite of art directors for its audacious look. It folded in 2004 when Emap decided it was no longer financially viable and a buyer could not be found.

In his blog, Gordon Macmillan, the editor of Brand Republic, expresses scepticism about the possible revival:

The Face when it was around was often a joy to read. It defined the times. It looked great and often had good writing. Is any of that going to do wonders online? I don't think so.