Loaded Issue 1
Inaugural issue · May 1994 · Gary Oldman · “Super Lads” · first-issue 95p launch-price cover
The inaugural issue of Loaded, cover-dated May 1994, with Gary Oldman smoking on the cover under the 'Super Lads' headline and the founding strapline 'for men who should know better.' The issue combines film, music, football, humour, travel and sexual/lifestyle material, with major features on Oldman, Paul Weller and Eric Cantona and a Withnail & I piece.
Read the catalogue note →- Publication
- Loaded
- Condition
- Good+
- Completeness
- Assumed complete under the standing TMR magazine workflow unless later evidence indicates otherwise; front and rear covers are present. No separate free gift or detachable supplement has been identified for the launch issue.
- Date
- May 1994
Catalogue note
The inaugural issue of Loaded, cover-dated May 1994, with Gary Oldman smoking on the cover under the 'Super Lads' headline and the founding strapline 'for men who should know better.' The issue combines film, music, football, humour, travel and sexual/lifestyle material, with major features on Oldman, Paul Weller and Eric Cantona and a Withnail & I piece. Its printed 95p first-issue price roundel and rear Pink Floyd 'The Division Bell' / Earl's Court October 1994 advertisement strongly date the object to its launch moment.
Why this object matters
The original Loaded launch is foundational evidence of a consequential shift in British men’s publishing and its cultural framing. Retain Gold at 9.4, assessing its historical impact without endorsing the editorial outlook or assuming unphotographed contents were inspected.
Evidence limits: Assumed complete under the standing TMR magazine workflow unless later evidence indicates otherwise; front and rear covers are present. No separate free gift or detachable supplement has been identified for the launch issue.
Score and assessment method
Archive Importance: 9.4 / 10 · Gold Star.
This is a curatorial judgement, not a measurement accurate to one tenth or a market valuation. Read the explanation and its evidence limits together.
How Archive Importance is assessed →Inside this issue
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