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Magazine Morgue

Shock Vol.1, Issue 6
March 1970

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Stanley Publications was the more restrained cousin to Eerie Publications. Stanley's magazine covers were downright refined and tasteful compared to Eerie's, like this one for Shock, Chilling Tales of Horror and Suspense, Issue 6. While the stories were less gory and sensational, the art is to die for. Aside from one bloodless impalement in this issue, you will be terrorized by the usual werewolves, fiends, ghosts, oozing specters, and talkative victims. Enjoy. (Here's the comic reader version:  Download Shock v1-6)

Shock v1-6

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Shock Vol.1, Issue 6
March 1970Read More »

Photon Issue 27, 1977

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Another engrossing issue of Photon, number 27 provides extensive analysis of Horror of Dracula by Ronald V. Borst. More coverage on Dario Argento in More Flies on Grey Velvet, and Bernard Herrmann is remembered by Paul M. Sammon. Lane Roth also does a good comparison between Lugosi and Lee's Draculas in Some Thoughts About the Hammer and Universal Versions. Here's the comic reader version: Download Photon issue 27. 

Photon 27

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Photon Issue 26, 1975

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It's in the trees! This issue of Photon, number 26, is chock full of Curse of the Demon goodness, courtesy of Ron Borst and Scot Mac Queen. (Download the comic book reader file for Photon Issue 26 if you're so inclined–43MB.) This fantastique- movie fanzine of the 1970s went short on graphics and long on the written word. An impressive array of talent contributed informative articles every issue. Also in this issue, Bill Warren heaps praise on Phantom of the Paradise (and boy, he doesn't heap praise often), and Mario Bava's Illusion of Reality is explored by Alain Silver and Jame Ursini. Unlike many monster magazines of the day that would provide a quick read, Mark Franks' Photon required you set aside a week or so. So put the coffee on and enjoy.

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Monsters of the Movies Annual No. 1, 1975

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Highlights in this issue of Monsters of the Movies Super Annual Issue include an interview with Leonard Nimoy, Paul Blaisdell writes about The Last of the Martian Invasions (the ones he worked on, that is), and Eric L. Hoffman unleashes his Bombs from Outer Space. House of Frankenstein is discussed by Jim Harmon, providing the old school monster coverage, and Don Glut covers creatures in the cartoons in What's Up Doc Frankenstein Part II. Hammer Horror fans will enjoy the article on Freddie Francis, too.

(Comic reader version:  Download CBZ for Monsters of the Movies v1-9  .)

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Monsters of the Movies Annual No. 1, 1975Read More »

Shriek! Issue 1
May 1965

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Like Castle of Frankenstein, Shriek! The Monster Horror Magazine, went for more sophisticated coverage of horror movies than most of the other monster magazines were striving for. With ample photographs not marred by humorous captions and it's three-column format, Shriek! was easy to read and didn't feel padded with unused space (like large text sizes used to fill a page in some magazines). One wonders why it didn't last: maybe its content coming from London proved too difficult to maintain; maybe, with Castle of Frankenstein already established, the need for another similar magazine never materialized; or maybe the logo and cover arrangements didn't stand out enough on the newstand racks? 

In this first issue, the Sovereign of the Sinister interview with Vincent Price begins, Isobel Black tells Shriek! about A Day in the Life of a Vampire, and Tallulah Bankhead is interviewed. ( Download Comic Reader Version of Shriek Issue 1)


Shriek issue 1

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Shriek! Issue 1
May 1965Read More »

Shriek! Issue 2
October 1965

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Running to only four issues, Shriek! The Monster Horror Magazine, focused on the contemporary horror movies, and added interviews with the likes of Boris Karloff and Vincent Price. A little bland when it came to cover illustration, Shriek! nonetheless produced a quality publication in content and photographs (which appears to have come over from a British publisher as the address for translations is listed in London). In this Issue 2 you will find coverage on Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, The Skull, War-Gods of the Deep (aka City Under the Seas), Devil Doll, and an interview with Boris Karloff. This issue also has the second part to an interview with Vincent Price.

Shriek issue 2

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Shriek! Issue 2
October 1965Read More »

Hammer Horror Issue 1

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Started around the mid-1990s, Hammer Horror, which ran for seven issues, was a serious magazine for the British horror fan edited by Marcus Hearn. Published in the UK through Marvel, the magazine was going well…

"Until restructuring within the bigger Marvel empire shoved the Arundel House operations under the auspices of another Marvel subsidiary: the recently acquired Panini sticker business. The Italians had no interest in Marvel UK's ambitions to expand outside kids comics and swiftly shuttered all of M-UK's "older readers" titles including the entire magazines department except DWM.  The roll-call of casualties included BLAKE'S SEVEN, PLAYBACK, BIZARRE and CLIVE BARKER's HELLBREED (all of which I've covered in previous posts).  Neary's plans to re-enter the US comics market were also nixed by the new management. Hearn did at least get to sign-off in the seventh (and final) issue.  He expressed the hope that another publisher would take over the magazine… but that never happened." (Starlogged Blog)

For a newbie to the world of Hammer Studios Horrors, this first issue is a great introduction. (Note: The easiest way to read each page is to right-click and select 'open link in new tab'. You can enlarge it from there.)

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Hammer Horror Issue 1Read More »

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 17
October 1971

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Filmusic in the Fantasy Film kicks off this issue 17 of Castle of Frankenstein. A headitorial deriding President Nixon along with the political system points to a unique element that distances magazines like COF and The Monster Times from their more traditional competitors: political dissent. (My, how things never change.) While the monsterkids of the 1960s were content to just focus on creature features, the popculturekids of the 1970s were pretty noisy when it came to politics and authority. Luckily, more pertinent fare for horror lovers includes much needed recognition for Rondo Hatton, an interview with Robert Bloch, and the essential Frankenstein TV Movie Guide. The Noose Reel provides some tantalizing tidbits regarding Night Gallery and a section called Mad Ave and the Macabre (commercials on television that COF found interesting). I bet you didn't know that Wallace Wood storyboarded an Alka Seltzer commercial! As usual, this issue of COF is more erudition than humor and a rewarding read.

Castle of frankenstein 17

Read Castle of Frankenstein Issue 15

Read Castle of Frankenstein 1967 Fearbook

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Castle of Frankenstein Issue 17
October 1971Read More »

From the Tomb Issue 1
February 2000

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Read my interview with Peter Normanton here.

From the Tomb magazine provided extensive coverage on the history of horror comics. Later issues would be large format, with excellent cover reproductions in full color. If you're into horror comics, especially the ones from the 1950s on up, you should pick up back issues of From the Tomb. The blog appears in limbo, but you can find back issues on eBay. For now, here is the first issue from 2000.

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From the Tomb Issue 1
February 2000Read More »

Quasimodo’s Monster Magazine
Vol. 2 Issue 8
Part Two

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Go to Part One

A Star Trek Hall of Fame kicks off this second half of Quasimodo's Monster Magazine Issue 8 as the movie is "90% set," followed by a comic, Star Wrecked vs: Spaced-Out 19991/2 (a fan produced one, I'd say). Don Wigal explores Shark Fever with Jaws (a very informative article on the production, Steven Spielberg, and the movie's influence). Another good article by Ed Connor discusses silent serials, and a short look at 1931's The Spider with Edmund Lowe as a magician (he also played Chandu the Magician in the 1932 movie of the same name, being vexed by Bela Lugosi). Finishing off the issue is an interview with author Edward Edelson on his science fiction films book, Visions of Tomorrow. All told, this issue packs some punch with its articles.

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Quasimodo’s Monster Magazine
Vol. 2 Issue 8
Part TwoRead More »