FAMOUS MONSTERS ANNIVERSARY STINKER

Even the most die-hard fans of the legendary FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND  would agree that the magazine wasn't perfect by a long shot, and once in a while (some of us say more often than that) there was even a downright gawd-awful issue. For instance, some were nothing more than what amounted to a giant reprint, cobbled together from previous issues with the exception of a new cover and maybe a "Things to Come" film news feature and a department or two.

Flash forward about 30 years and, despite the claim of being a "retro" issue, I'm getting this negative deja vu all over again. I'm talking of course about the latest attempt at publisher Phil "Kim Kong" to entice a few extra bucks out of us baby-boomers with another "special issue", this time a "25th Anniversary Collector's Edition".

Now, regular readers of MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD know that my reviews of monster mags -- both old and new -- are generally even-tempered. That is to say that I give credit where credit is due and even effuse a bit to the extreme when I get particularly excited about a certain title. I will, however, go so far as to say it when something is so wince-inducing that it would defy any journalistic integrity left in me if I neglected to pronounce fair warning. I'm sorry to say, but this "special collector's edition" is one of 'em.

The issue is numbered as FAMOUS MONSTERS (the "of FILMLAND" part of the logo is mysteriously absent) #192 and the premise is as if Forrest J Ackerman had edited the magazine back in 1983.

The "Speaking of Monsters" intro, intended to read like it was written by FJA himself goes on and on into alliterative oblivion. By the time Dr. Ackula has signed off with "Beast Wishes", I was tearing my fur out. Next comes a "Fang Mail" section that has just enough content to pass for a letters section.

And, I guess that's the overall impression I got when reading this magazine -- there's just enough to allow it to pass for a retro issue. Despite my misgivings, there is a little to give the faded gem a little lustre. For instance, I enjoyed Joe Moe's coverage of Larry Cohen's Q THE WINGED SERPENT, and Max Cheney's overview of Sci-Fi monster movies was nicely done.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the issue with the not-so-retro price of $8.99 was the horrible printing. Whether by design or not, the levels and contrast of most of the photos was so dark that a lot of them were just too murky to see properly. Heck, I know I've got original issues of FM with better repro quality than that.

I do need to say that the cover image, a painting of the intergalactic cantina scene from STAR WARS by the talented Bill Selby, was superbly repro'd on nice, glossy stock.

That's about all the time I want to devote to -- what I am calling for now -- an anomaly from the folks at FM. I won't go so far as to say I was ripped off, but I do have to conclude that I was severly disappointed at this, by and large, lame effort. If there had been some spunk to the layouts even, I could have maybe mustered up an "okay". Ultimately, the magazine just doesn't seem to have any . . . enthusiasm to it. I look at the masthead and I see a litany of great talent. I think they should stick to producing the current incarnation of FAMOUS MONSTERS. Now, that's a a magazine that I give a howl about and believe, by the way, has fast-improved into one of the premiere monster 'zines on the rack.

Better luck next time, guys. There is better fare out there. Tomorrow, I'll share one with you.

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MONSTERS UNLEASHED! NEW AND RECENTLY RELEASED

Read More → MONSTERS UNLEASHED! NEW AND RECENTLY RELEASED

FAMOUS MONSTERS NO. 262 SNEAK PEEK

NEWS FLASH from the FAMOUS MONSTERS eNewsletter:

"They're back, bigger and badder than ever! After last year's monstrous success of the Kaiju Cagematch, August Ragone and his all-star Ota-Krew are back to bring you the best in Japanese giant monsters, robots, and more. From GAMERA and GODZILLA to VARAN and the newest from the SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO/STARBLAZERS series, FM is doing all it can to contain these beasts into our pages. With only one cover for this issue by mighty monster maestro Bob Eggleton, this issue is going to be one issue you just can't run from!"

[SOURCE: FAMOUS MONSTERS NEWSLETTER]

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MONSTERS UNLEASHED! NEW AND RECENTLY RELEASED

Read More → MONSTERS UNLEASHED! NEW AND RECENTLY RELEASED

FAMOUS FRID'S OF FILMLAND

"I am not a horror actor and I wouldn't want to be compared with a Lugosi or Christopher Lee."  Jonathan Frid, Horror Actor

There was no shortage of coverage for the DARK SHADOWS (1966 - 1971) franchise in FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. Numerous issues covered material from the daytime drama series (okay, it was a soap opera already!) as well as the two feature films, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS.

FAMOUS MONSTERS #59 (November 1969) featured not only a nice Basil Gogos depiction of Barnabas Collins on the front cover and a photo of Barnabas as the aging vampire on the inside front cover, there was also an article with Jonathan Frid chatting about his role in both DARK SHADOWS as well as his other film and stage work. Frid was the show's leading celebrity (although I have no problem admiting that first Alexandra Moltke, then Lara Parker had my eye more than Frid whenever they were onscreen!) and he did not seem to shy away from any opportunity to promote the show, especially emphasizing his acting career B.B. (Before Barnabas). Why is it that fine actors, when they finally hit the gravy train in the lucrative horror biz, that they almost seem apologetic? While Frid seemed to enjoy playing a vampire, he still made it a point to let everybody know that he was also a serious Shakespearean actor, almost like he was saying, "Okay, you guys, see how popular I am? Can I come back now and play some real roles?" It's not like the Great Acting Muse twists anybody's arm to sign on in a horror show or film. I have my suspicions that it probably has more to do with the Great Almighty Greenback.

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DICK SMITH, MAESTRO OF MONSTER MAKE-UP

Last November, the 89-year old Dick Smith received the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences "for his unparalleled mastery of texture, shade, form and illusion."

Mr. Smith is perhaps best known to horror fans as the man who created the make-up for the Regan/Demon in William Friedkin's THE EXORCIST (with a little help from then-acolyte Rick Baker). On the other hand, Monster Kids from the era of the 60's monster craze will forever be indebted to him for giving us the FAMOUS MONSTERS DO-IT-YOURSELF MONSTER MAKE-UP HANDBOOK (Warren Publishing, 1965).

Thanks for helping us create our dreams . . . and nightmares, Dick!



Click HERE for an article on this story at the MAKE-UP ARTIST
magazine website.

 

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WHAT SCARED ME



The "mummy" in THE PHARAOH'S CURSE (1957)
Photo from FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND
#29, July 1964.

While we mostly look upon those times now with a sort of humorous terror, a lot of us have commented about being "scared out of our wits" while watching our favorite fright flicks back in the halcyon days of the classic monster craze daze. I just don't come across a lot of detail about exactly what it was that did the scaring.

Let me tell you, I don't wake up screaming anymore from something I watched 40 or so years ago (I'll leave that to gas prices and figuring out my new "smartphone", thank you very much), but once in a while I remember a scene from a movie or an image from a monster 'zine that made my skin crawl in a bewildering sense of horrified fright. In past posts, I've shared with you my run-ins with two other personal horrors, certain scenes from Robert Wise's THE HAUNTING, and a pic of a body snatchin' "Mexi-creature" from an early issue of FAMOUS MONSTERS.

Another such unsettling memory is the image of a withered visage from the B-movie, THE PHARAOH'S CURSE. I remember seeing this on Sunday afternoon TV when we went to visit some neighborhood friends who had moved away. It was a sweletering day in the middle of summer, but I guess since the movie took place in the desert, it only added to the verisimiltude.

The "mummy" in this movie was a dried-up lump of flesh that crept around his crypt, terrorizing the hapless explorers (sound familiar?). Despite the momentary frisson of the creepy memory, I can't help but to also chuckle a bit at the make-up department's low-budget move to dress him up in a pair of striped pajamas that looked more south-of-the-border than the usual mummy wrappings. Maybe a more fitting title might have been, THE CURSE OF THE SINISTER SERAPE?

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EL MUNDO DE FRANKENSTEIN

The longest feature in Issue #5 of the Spanish/Warren collaboration published in Barcelona as FAMOSOS MONSTERS DEL CINE was a filmbook of Chaney Sr.'s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

Another lengthy article, Mary's Monster, was about the enduring legacy of Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN and its long history with the movies. The article asks, "The fascination with Mary Shelley's creation endures to this day -- where?" The answer: "The entire world!"

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LOS MAQUILLADORES -- MONSTER MAKE-UP EN ESPANOL

Yesterday I introduced you to samples from Issue #5 of the Spanish/Warren monster magazine, FAMOSOS MONSTERS DEL CINE.

Included in the issue is a two-page spread entitled, Los Maquilladores (make-up artists). Subtitled as a "gallery of weird and terryifying creations by make-up men", the short article shows pictures of Mike Westmore, "a young member of the Westmore family of make-up artists", creating "cicatrice" (scar) appliances, as well as a shot of Ben Lane (who incidentally passed away in 2007 at the age of 95) at work turning Lon Chaney, Jr. into un Hombre Lobo for the 1962 Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing episode of ROUTE 66.

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FAMOSOS MONSTERS DEL CINE

A short while ago I posted an offering from David Horne, author of the Warren Publishing catalogue GATHERING HORROR, where he put to rest the question as to whether or not there was ever a Mexican version of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. In his book he mentions a Spanish version, FAMOSOS MONSTERS DEL CINE. For those Monsteologists curious enough, today, and for the next few days, I will be covering an example of this Spanish/Warren publication

FAMOSOS MONSTERS DEL CINE was a Warren-authorized reprint of contents collected from various issues of the U.S. version of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. It ran for 24 issues during the 1970's. Published in Spain by Garbo Editorial and distributed by Edipress (both in Barcelona) it was helmed first by Luis "Monster Man" Vigil, then later by a new "Monster Man" Manuel Dominguez. The masthead lists no editorial staff, but the articles translated from English into Spanish are credited to Dominguez.

FAMOSOS MONSTERS was similar to Warren's stateside version, but had unique characteristics as well. For instance, there was a color comics insert that was Spanish in origin. The copy I am using as an example is Issue #5 (overall SUPERCOMICS series #9), dated August 1975. It contains a serialized "Dracula" strip drawn by Vampirella artist Jose Gonzalez. Entitled El Circo (The Circus), it was the type and style of comic strip that was found in Warren's 1972 mail-order only collection of Spanish strips. Titled, DRACULA, it oddly enough contained no strips with that name.

Issue #5 has a cover painted by Ron Cobb. It is from the U.S. FAMOUS MONSTERS #40 (August, 1966). Depicting poster art from the film HORROR HOTEL, and along with the accompanying article inside the issue, they are the only uses of content from the original issue.

Other material used that is similar with the U.S. version are a letters page, Cartas al "Monster Man", replete with Frazetta-illustrated title, and the Foto Misteriosa (Mystery Photo) department.

The issue contains what I believe to be non-stateside articles as well. There is a text story, Otono del 42 (The Autumn of '42), and a feature, El Malvado Intruso (The Intrusion of Evil), which, if my limited Spanish serves me well enough, discusses murder and death lurking in the shadows and dark places.

There is also coverage of the film, THE ALLLIGATOR PEOPLE.

[To be continued . . .]

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FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FORUMLAND

FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine's website has now included a forum. Readers are invited to join and ask questions or comment on all things monster. Here is the official notice from their e-newsletter:

"You asked, we answered. Our all new forum is officially open for business. Head on over to chat about all things monster. Ask questions of the FM staff. Give suggestions on what you'd like to see. And, as a special bonus, check out our FM EXCLUSIVES section for some surprises. First, take a behind-the-scenes look at MEZCO TOYS latest project. It's something that our classic monster lovers will drool over. And for our more "sophisticated" fans, check out an exclusive image from our art book-concept art from the film HELLRAISER, never before released. It's as epic as it comes. It's your turn to make your voice heard. Head on over to the forum today and remember, on our forum. . . everyone can hear you scream!"

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LIBROS CON MONSTRUOS!

Mr. David Horne, author of the seven-pound book of Warren Publishing history, GATHERING HORROR, has offered MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD information where he concludes his investigation with a solution of solving a hitherto ongoing question as to whether or not there was a Mexican version of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. Students of Monsterology may know (especially if they've read Horne's book) that there were international versions of Warren's FM, such as the Spanish FAMOSOS MONSTERS DEL CINE. There was knowledge of a Mexican monster 'zine (MONSTRUOS DEL CINE) with a presumably swiped cover image from FM #119 (September, 1975). The Ken Kelly-painted monster montage was also used as the cover for the 2nd Annual Famous Monsters Convention official program. The Mexican magazine had a subtitle that proclaimed "Photos and Interviews" within its pages.

Could MONSTRUOS DEL CINE have indeed been the south of the border version of FM?

Mr. Horne goes on to explain:

"I hadn't actually seen the magazine, just the image, but as you can see from the text [page 447 of GATHERING HORROR], it sparked my imagination, making me wonder whether there had been perhaps a Mexican version of Famous Monsters (to go along with the British and Spanish ones, the only foreign versions of FM that I'm aware of). I showed the cover image to Jim Warren, but he wasn't familiar with it, so if there WAS a Mexican version, it would have been unauthorized.

Well, I recently was lucky enough to find a couple of these rare things, and once I was able to see them in person, it became immediately evident that this series was in fact a reprint of Curtis's Monsters of the Movies magazine from the mid-1970s, not Famous Monsters (Curtis was an imprint/distributor of Marvel). The publisher was Macc Ediciones, and they produced a series called "Ciencia Ficcion" that included these plus other Marvel/Curtis reprints such as Planet of the Apes and Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction. I think the numbering on the issues was for the entire Ciencia Ficcion series, which is why you see the numbers 10 and 14 on these issues, although there were only eight or nine of the Monstruos Del Cine issues (to match the nine produced by Curtis). Most of these reused the Curtis cover art, but for some unknown reason they substituted Warren art on these two issues (note that one of them even has some Warren comic art on it, along with the Gogos image that first appeared on FM 16). But there's no Warren material in the interiors.

So, if anyone out there is dreaming about some lost Mexican version of Famous Monsters, like I was, they can give it up. If they're just interested in any monster magazines from any country, though, this is one to look out for to add to the collection."

As you can see, this conclusion appears to exhaust the research into this obscure corner of FM's history, and the history of monster magazines in general. Many thanks to David Horne, who continues to periodically supply MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD with these gems.

Read More → LIBROS CON MONSTRUOS!