They're keeping the Web site, but the ill-fated U.S. version of the magazine appears to be no longer. Memo to the staff from Hachette ("The Ripper") prez Jack Kliger:

From: "Janas, Anne"
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:57:17 -0500
To: "HFM (Corporation)"
Conversation: Kliger Announces Closing of Shock Magazine, Keeps Web Site
Subject: Kliger Announces Closing of Shock Magazine, Keeps Web Site

It is difficult to make a decision to close a title, but I am announcing today that we will no longer publish Shock magazine. The final issue will be the February publication on newsstands December 26, 2006. We wanted to test the French magazine's concept in the U.S.; however, after six months in the marketplace, Shock's performance at newsstands has not produced trends that indicate that we will get the returns that we are looking for. On the other hand, the web site has shown real energy and connection with this young demographic and the 41 page-views-per-visitor-session is one of the highest for web sites at Hachette. The company will maintain the web site ShockU.com and will work toward a redesign and relaunch of the web site in Spring 2007.

We are very appreciative of the dedication and hard work of Editor-in-Chief Mike Hammer and the editorial and business teams who have put so much into producing Shock.

Jack Kliger

To say the magazine was troubled from the beginning is an understatement. A military photographer accused Shock of stealing a photo he shot without permission for its cover, and successfully urged a pair of drugstores from banning the magazine from their shelves.

FishbowlNY's Coverage Of Shock: