MONSTERS UNLEASHED! NEW AND RECENTLY RELEASED

The third issue of SHADOWLAND is now being advertised for sale on their website. Link up to it on the sidebar cover image for more info and ordering.

CONTENTS OF THE WINTER 2012 ISSUE

Secret Origins of Batman
The real, true story of who the Bat-Man is, and how he came to be. Think Bob Kane created the Dark Knight? Think again!

Foreshadowing the Batman
Who was the real inspiration for Batman? The Shadow knows!

Remembering Batman Returns
A thorough analysis of Tim Burton's second Batman outing: the hype, the marketing, and the outcome.

In Defense of the Neon Knight: How Schumacher Succeeded
Sure to be our most controversial article yet! A gripping argument for why Joel Schumacher's bat-films are worthy entries in the Caped Crusader's cinematic career!

Interview with Steve Englehart
Thirteen questions with 'The Man Who Wrote the Definitive Bat!'

Bats Out of Hell
Which killer bat films should you see and which should be avoided? Find out here!

Gyaos: Bat Kaiju
Enemy to giant turtles everywhere! A primer on Japan's premiere bat-kaiju.

All Shall Listen When The Bat Whispers
Roland West's masterpiece, The Bat Whispers, analyzed! The history and enduring legacy of this memorable old dark house film.

Beyond Fantastique!
Reviews of Dracula: Sovereign of the Damned, Boy Wonder, The Bat People, and Batman: Arkham City.

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SHADOWLAND NO. 1 & 2

While it has become much easier to self publish a magazine within the last five to ten years, the distribution opportunities for these same magazines has diminished much as of late. The advent of short print run and print-on-demand services has lessened the need to invest a lot of money up front, but one still needs a market that will spend their hard-earned money on their product.

When it comes to monster ‘zines, all the logic described above seems to go out the window. In true “publish or perish” fashion, the self-made monster magazine makers defy all odds and continue to create their vision and unleash it on the world. I’m not a market analyst, but it sure seems to me that genre publications are enjoying a comparatively healthy existence at the moment. Check out the Entertainment section of any Barnes & Noble magazine rack these days and you will see that horror, science fiction, and fantasy are all well-represented.

One new title that you won’t see on the stands, but is worth checking into nevertheless, is Andrew Paretti’s SHADOWLAND MAGAZINE. Now in its second issue, SHADOWLAND is a nicely done small press ‘zine that is subtitled, “Covering the Best in Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Entertainment”. As a result, it is not pigeonholed into one subject, which might garner a wider readership. On the other hand, readers who want more on a specific topic may pass over something like this. I’m omnivorous in my magazine reading preference, so I don’t mind either approach, so long as there’s some monsters for my meat! A good example of this is CINEMA RETRO magazine. They don’t specialize in covering monster movies, but they will usually pepper a portion of each issue with a few tidbits – enough interesting material to buy the copy. VIDEO WATCHDOG can be like this, as well. While they focus on the horror/sci-fi/fantasy genres, they will add cult, crime, mystery and other subject matter in any given issue.

SHADOWLAND MAGAZINE #1 starts off with a knockout of a cover by artist Dwayne Pinkney, depicting his interpretation of Erik, The Phantom of the Opera. The work is reminiscent of Gogos in its hi-def color palette, but it falls short in detail.

There is plenty of material within its 54 black and white pages. There is a discussion of the Spielberg film, NIGHT SKIES, which ended up becoming E.T. THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL, a look at the CAPTAIN AMERICA films both past and present, coverage on GODZILLA comics from Marvel, a retrospective of the ROBOCOP movies, and my favorite, a 13-page piece on THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The article includes a discussion of the film and its making, then goes on to cover the series of later films, as well as the franchise that the character has become.

SHADOWLAND #2 follows close on the editorial heels of its inaugural issue. Another eye-catching cover is by Pinkney again, who may end up turning into SHADOWLAND’s regular cover artist by the looks of it. They have a winner on their hands here, as Pinkney uses bright color contrasts that, as I mentioned before, are from the Gogos school of illustration.

The focus this issue is on the Japanese cyborg superhero, THE GUYVER. Other material covers Bigfoot movies, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, and the TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD series. My favorite of this issue is Brett Taylor’s lengthy piece on the William Castle TV series, GHOST STORY.

Editor and Publisher Andrew Paretti is taking the formula that has been successfully used by commercial publications such as RUE MORGUE and HORRORHOUND and infused it with a fan’s enthusiasm. And that’s what makes up the soul of SHADOWLAND, a fan’s desire for creating a publication that reflects his passion. The print and photo quality are not spectacular as with, say, MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT or UNDYING MONSERS, but it is nevertheless quite professional looking.

These types of magazines have a tendency to wink out after a couple of issues, but, after 2 issues being released fairly quickly for a fan magazine, I suspect SHADOWLAND will have something to offer readers of imagi-movie magazines for some time to come.

Read More → SHADOWLAND NO. 1 & 2

SHADOWLAND NO. 2 SHIPPING NOW

Coming right back after their first issue release of only a few months ago, SHADOWLAND MAGAZINE #2 is hot off the press and ready to ship. Here's what's in store for lucky readers:

Out of Control: The Guyver: A thorough retrospective on Japan's bio-boosted hero, The Guyver, and his journey from manga, to anime, to live-action.

One Man Army: We stack up the Guyver's powers and abilities.

Interview with Nathan Long: Screenwriter and author Nathan Long talks with us about his screenplay for The Guyver 2: Dark Hero.

Dark Heroes: The Guyver manga is known for its graphic violence in Japan; here we explore several iconic American comics that pushed the boundaries in the '80s & '90s.

Two-Headed Beast: An examination of the 'True Horror' and 'Slasher' genres.

William Castle on TV: William Castle, the Master of the Macabre, has directed his share of memorable horror films - but what of his television venture, Ghost Story? We uncover the details of Castle's small-screen outing.

Legacy of Evil - The Amityville Horror: A critical review of The Amityville Horror franchise.

Retro Treasures: A look back at pop-culture characters who graced the cardboard covers of cereal boxes.

Tombs of the Blind Dead: The terrifying Templars rise once again in this retrospective on the legendary series of horror films from Spain.

Bob Mitchum meets Bigfoot: When it comes to cinematic appearances, even Robert Mitchum would agree that Bigfoot has more than a foot above the rest!

Beyond Fantastique! Reviews of Cyber Ninja, The House of the Devil. Eyes of the Mothman, A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series, and Romancing the Vampire.

Read More → SHADOWLAND NO. 2 SHIPPING NOW