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Magazine Morgue

Castle of Frankenstein No. 5, 1964

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Peter Lorre receives attention from Richard Bojarski and William K. Everson in issue 5 of Castle of Frankenstein. This issue also marks the last of the illustrated covers. The Monsters of Edgar Rice Burroughs are revealed by Richard A. Lupoff and The Evil of Frankenstein is duly noted with lots of pictures. Directors Arthur Lubin and Jean Cocteau receive recognition, too. (This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema.) Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 5

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 5

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Fantastic Monsters of the Films Vol. 2 No.1

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One of the more visually exciting monsterkid magazines was Fantastic Monsters of the Films. With a simple use of basic colors sprinkled throughout, and wall-suitable (if your parents didn't mind the tape marks) mini posters to make any monster fan salivate, each issue was quite a treat. Great photo coverage of classic horror movies and their stars made for an enjoyable read. Don't forget, this was at a time without the ubiquitous availability of media and movies that the Internet now provides (or impedes, depending on your viewpoint).  Of note in this issue is coverage of Castle of the Monsters, a Spanish monsterfest production and Curse of the Faceless Man, one of my guilty pleasures. Here's the comic book reader version for you mobile monster types:  Download Fantastic Monsters of the Films V2-1 (This copy comes from the creepy archives of Professor Kinema, who has graciously shared a metric ton or so of cool monster stuff over the ZC years.)

Fantastic Monsters of the Films V2-1

More Fantastic Monsters in the Closet: Issues 1, 2, v2-1, 

 

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 4, 1964

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With issue 4 of Castle of Frankenstein, the layout is easy on the eyes and the articles abound. Freaks, The Haunting, Blood of the Vampire, Black Sunday, Nosferatu, and Kiss of the Vampire are covered. So is George Pal, the Mummy, our feathered friends, and Lon Chaney Jr (second part). This issue, it can be argued, is the first one to show COF's appeal to the mature horror and fantasy fan. Comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 4 (Thanks to Professor Kinema for this copy from his archive.)

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 4

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 3, 1963

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 3 has more coverage on Frankenstein's Monster, of course, but also a nice spread on Night Creatures, a scathing review of Something Wicked This Way Comes by someone named Erik (I wonder what novel he was reading), and a little serial hero highlighting. Frankenstein's creation runs amok in Kansas and the villagers love it, and young amateur monster makers get some notice. Sorry for the small hole in page 3: hey, it was a well-read copy, what can I say?). And of course, thanks to Professor Kinema (Jim Knusch) for providing his archive copies for my scanning monster to devour. Here's a comic book reader version for you to devour:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 3

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 3

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 2, 1962

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The second issue of Castle of Frankenstein kicks into gear with an improved layout, the dropping of the cartoons, and more substantial coverage of horror cinema with good use of photos. Larry Ivie provides an illustrated story and there are fun advertisements to bring back memories of sending cash in the mail and endlessly waiting for the goodies to arrive. Comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 2. (This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema.)

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 2

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Castle of Frankenstein No.1, 1962

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A few years after Journal of Frankenstein hit the magazine racks, Calvin Beck (with editing by Ken Beale) returned with Castle of Frankenstein in 1962. The magazine's hand-pasted layout had not improved (no digital publishing tools back then), and this first issue went for the pictures and humor approach. Still, Zacherley's Wife Contest and TeeVee Jeebies hint at the more varied coverage to come in later issues. This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema. Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 1

Castle of frankenstein 1

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Journal of Frankenstein No.1, 1959

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Rough layout start to a wonderful pro-zine would turn into a key monsterkid magazine for its time. In this issue, Boris Karloff and Zacherley get the love, and good articles discuss the horror and fantasy scene. I always confused the back cover for the front cover, but I keep wondering why go with the front cover when Zacherley was more of a draw. Perhaps to allow room for the titles? Still, seeing Zacherley on the cover would have made me buy this puppy back then. Just sayin'. Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Journal of Frankenstein Issue 1. (This copy of the magazine courtesy of Professor Kinema, long time contributor to FZC).

Journal of frankenstein 1

More Magazines in the Closet:

Journal of Frankenstein, Castle of Frankenstein: 1, 2, 3, 4, 15, 17, 1967 Fearbook

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Monster Times Issue 29
December 1973

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Lots of good reading in this 29th issue of The Monster Times. House of Frankenstein, From Hell It Came, TMT TV Cartoon Guide (anyone remember the glory days of Saturday morning animated shows?), and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, are covered. In Meet Ms Monster, author Ruth Martin shares her visit to Japan, and in Death is a Way of Life (part 2, I'll have part 1 in issue 28 up soon), a much needed look at death in horror movies is explored. And…David Stidworthy (an alias if I ever saw one!) gives us The Celluloid Snowman, a rundown on Yeti in movies.

Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Monster Times Issue 29

Monster Times 29-01

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December 1973Read More »

Chilling Tales of Horror Vol. 2, No. 4
June 1971

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More Chilling Tales of Horror for you: more monsters, dead things, and wicked happenings, all in bold black and white. Color would just spoil the gorgeous line art that's neatly paneled across the pages. Of course, this issue's bondage and torture cover is a lot more, umm, spicy and naughty than the actual stories themselves, but hey, monsters and near-naked women sell, sell, sell. Unless you rather see a near naked man on the cover, of course. Hell, I say we put both a near naked man and a near naked woman on the cover, with leering monsters (better make them near naked, too), and cover all the bases. That's marketing, baby. I wonder how many monster kids got a whoopin' from their moms back in 1971 when they saw this issue in the drawer. 

Here's the comic book reader version: just don't let your mom see it.   Download Chilling Tales of Horror v2-4

Chilling Tales of Terror 01

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Chilling Tales of Horror Vol. 2, No. 4
June 1971Read More »

Fantastic Monsters of the Films
Issue 2, 1962

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From the archives of Professor Kinema comes this colorful copy of Fantastic Monsters of the Films, Issue 2. Bob Burns contributes an article on the Day the She Creature Invaded TV, Ron Haydock goes into The Third Dimension, and Robby the Robot writes his Diary of a Tin Can Terror. Dick Lupoff shows us Movies Mightiest Mortal (Captain Marvel of course), and the television show World of Giants (a new one on me!) is explored. There's also Part 2 of Horrors in Hollywood, which goes behind the scenes of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. And still more. Another fun issue to savor.

FMOTF-01

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Issue 2, 1962Read More »