SINISTER SIMULACRA NO. 1

The term "simulacrum", a noun, can be defined as, 1. a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance, or, 2. an effigy, image, or representation: a simulacrum of Aphrodite.

Here at MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD, I will be using it mostly to describe objects, illustrations and other visual media that have been recycled, reused, hijacked, lifted, and otherwise swiped from one source and used in another. This "artistic license" has been used for years in the comics industry, where an illustrator may have file drawers stuffed full of "reference material" that is more commonly known in the trade as a "swipe file".

To be honest, this occasional feature which I dub SINISTER SIMULACRA could even itself be called a sort of swipe, because, when I thought about it I believe I unconsciously got the idea from the UK's magazine of the occult and paranormal, FORTEAN TIMES. Regularly featured is a page where readers send in photos of rocks 'n stuff that take on the appearance, a simulacrum, if you will, of another, more familiar or recognizable object -- you know, like when somebody finds the image of Jesus on an Egg McMuffin or something of the sort. Here I'll be doing the monster version of that. Spooky, huh?


An example of the "simulacra corner" feature in
FORTEAN TIMES magazine. This page is from
the November, 2011 issue.

To kick off the series, I am offering up an observation that I made when I recently posted a preview of the upcoming issue of the Dark Horse Comics resuscitation of CREEPY. The Sanjulian cover is beautifully rendered as usual, but there was something about the depiction of one of the ghoulish critters that stayed with me for some reason.


Cover preview of Dark Horse's CREEPY #7.
Art by Sanjulian.

It didn't take too long for me to realize that the skeletal countenance staring back at me from the bottom foreground of the cover image was a face that I had seen before. After tracking down a photo for reference (there's that word again!), I determined that I had been correct in my assumption.

The simulacrum was none other than that of Vincent Price as the unmasked serial murderer Dr. Anton Phibes from the film THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES.

So there you have it -- the gist of this new MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD feature. Have YOU made any discoveries like this? If so, why not send it to me for a look. You never know, I just might include it in a future posting of SINISTER SIMULACRA!

As an extra bonus, I include below the "Filmbook" of THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES written by a 13-year-old Paul Clemens, as it appeared in FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #87 (Nov. 1971) and concluded in issue #89 (March 1972), not issue #88 as mentioned at the end of Part I.

Good night, Doctor. . .

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THIS WAS THE FEAR THAT WAS . . . VINCENT PRICE

This year (2011) marked the 100 Anniversary of Vincent Price's birth. The people of St. Louis, Missouri, the birthplace of Vincent Price, honored their favorite son's memory with a "Vincentennial" celebration.

A large size of the photo shown above (Vincent Price at Edgar Allan Poe's Grave) can be purchased from the newly-launched MONSTERPALOOZA magazine. Just click on the magazine cover on the sidebar to the right of this blogroll to order.

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LET'S MAKE MONSTER MODELS -- TRIO OF TERROR!

Last year the Bride of Frankenstein turned 75, but -- you know what? -- she still looks great! So great, in fact, that Steve Yagher couldn't keep his hands off her . . . sculpting her, that is, for his next Aurora Box Art Tribute Kit (#6 in a series). The buzz on this resin kit is that it's one of his best ever, and that's saying a lot, 'cause Mr. Yagher is extremely talented at what he does. The tribute kits are intended to give model makers what they really wanted in an Aurora monster model -- the finished figure to look like it did on the box! Complete with lab vial and electricity bolt set, the 40-part kit is still in development. Shown here are some prototype build-ups and a fully-painted mock-up. When released, the kit will retail for about 200 bucks.

It's looking like the latest incarnation of Elvira's Movie Macabre is headed for the dumper. If I may be allowed to editorialize for a moment, I could see it coming a mile away. I mean, how many times can you watch THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE or HORRORS OF SPIDER ISLAND? Broadcasting nothing but public domain films may have been good for the bottom line, but certainly not for the sophisticated monster movie viewer. And maybe it's just me but it seemed like Elvira's schick was either getting old, or it just wasn't that funny this time around. Anyway, she's a pretty resilient gal and I'm sure we haven't seen the last of her.

Speaking of bottom lines, a new two-piece (you get to guess which two) resin kit of the Mistress of the Macabre is on its way. After the 7" winking action figure and the plastic model kit releases earlier, model maniacs will not be satisfied until they get a life-sized Elvira to own. Until then, you'll have to be satisfied with this, almost 2 feet tall hunka' resin. The pre-order price is $200. Looks like a nice figure, but the face is certainly not Cassandra Peterson's, in my opinion.

Last, but not least in this trio of terror model kits coming down the line, is the Vincent Price THEATRE OF BLOOD model. A little rough looking, but a fairly good image of Mr. Price. This 16" high, 16-piece kit will be offered for the low price of $150.

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MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #30 SNEAK PEEK

Editor Jim Clatterbaugh informs MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD that his schedule has allowed an "extra" issue of MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT to be published in 2011. This is fabulous news, because, frankly speaking, I have a heckuva time waiting between issues!

MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #30 will feature a remembrance of Vincent Price. Personally, I can't think of a better way to close out this year's "Vincentennial", can you?




 

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