From Zombos' Closet

Tales of Voodoo, Vol. 6 Issue 2 March 1973

I want a poster-sized image of this cover. Definitely. The stories aren't too shabby, either. Enjoy.

The Monster Times Issue 24 July 1973

Jumping ahead this time to issue 24 of The Monster Times. Of course publishing is no longer bi-weekly but monthly, and the cover price is now 60 cents. Steranko's History of the Comics Volume Two is reviewed, Rodan spreads his wings, and monster towels clean up for $1.50 each. Caesar takes a stand with the Battle for the Planet of the Apes and the plot sickens in Blood Feast with a "bad movie roasting." Of particular note (aside from the cool monster towels, that is) are coverage of Basil Wolverton's weird-tastic art, the nifty Create Your Own Monster Kits ad on page 31, and Lon Chaney Jr's life and times howls. (Read issue 24 of The Monster Times)

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The Monster Times Issue 13 July 19, 1972

An amazing Spider-Man centerfold poster caps this 13th issue of TMT. The Amazing Colossal Goof? points out some blunders in the movies we love, and an interview with John Romita, conducted by Gerry Conway, makes this a fun, mostly comics, issue. The blood lust also continues with Brides of Blood and Brain of Blood. Oh, and horror host Seymour dares to keep Captive Wild Women.

(Read The Monster Times issue 13)

The Monster Times Issue 12 June 28, 1972

In this issue more Apes coverage with a behind the scenes look at  Planet of the Apes, Gorgo discovers The Monster Times, The Steranko History of Comics is reviewed, TMT apologizes for screwing up ownership of the naughty I Drink Your Blood and I Eat Your Skin (while continuing to go rabid over both movies), and horror host Seymour appears again.

(Read The Monster Times issue 12)

Terror Tales Vol.1, No. 4 August 1973

With Eerie Publications not one to waste artwork dollars, the cover for volume 5, issue 4, of Terror Tales combines covers from Tales from the Tomb, August and October issues from 1970. So if you think it's a bit incoherent you're thinking right. In this issue, splendidly murky and swirling panels from Reynoso makes Ghoulish Feast a moody read. Pool of Horror, which leads off this issue, is also good, albeit with word balloons like "There's something evil in the air, I can feel it!" it is a tad contrived. The Swamp Devils hunger for revenge as the Harrabys can't escape their doom, and creatures that look like human moles in Doom Creatures are oblivious to fire and bullets, but not barium! (Say, wasn't barium salts the poison used on Frank Bigelow in the 1950 noir classic, D.O.A?)

The Monster Times Issue 11 June 14, 1972

Issue 11 of The Monster Times, dated June 14, 1972, monkeys around with Planet of the Apes, Marvel's Conan the Barbarian gets a spear tossed his way, and Fritz the Cat struts his stuff. By now, you get the feeling TMT is more at home with comic book related material than movies. Unless the movie is animated, that is. Phil Seuling gets a nod for doing the voice of a rookie cop in the Fritz the Cat animated feature. I knew Phil, often visiting him and his wife's comic book shop in Brooklyn, and attending his comic conventions in New York City. I was at the convention when he was handcuffed and arrested for peddling underground comics to a minor. It was a set up, so the charges didn't stick. When he started seeing a younger girl, a student in one of his English classes, his marriage didn't stick, either. I miss his comic book shop. I met a lot of notables there, even getting some autographs for my Warren magazines. In this issue you sense his English teacher influence starting to affect the "creative writing" styled articles. Already the bi-weekly publishing schedule appears to be wearing thin. But the coverage on the Blood series from Hemisphere helps, for now. Or was it Hemisphere? (Read The Monster Times issue 11)

More stuff in the Closet

The Monster Times Issue 9

The Monster Times Issue 2

The Monster Times Issue 3

The Monster Times Issue 4

The Monster Times Issue 5

Castle of Frankenstein 1967 Fearbook

Boris Karloff, Frankenstein's Monster, CoF goes to a Super Hero Convention, and the TV Movieguide make this a steal at 50 cents. Check out the Frankenstein Society fan club ad, too. Boy, I wish I had joined it back then. ( Download CBZ formatted Castle of Frankenstein 1967 Fearbook for Your Comic Book Reader)

The Monster Times Issue 10 May 31, 1972

Issue 10 of The Monster Times, May 31, 1972,  is devoted to EC Comics. So, of course, the Gruesome Threesome EC horror hosts are "interviewed" by Mark Evanier, Don Thompson scrutinizes the spawn of Dr. Wertham, and Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein reveal how the horror comics started. Fright Night's Horror Host, Seymour, puts in an appearance, too. (Read issue 10.)

Castle of Frankenstein No. 15, 1970

The first monster magazine to acknowledge the growing tastes of the genre fans sprouting from little monsterkid acorns was Castle of Frankenstein. CoF provided a more erudite approach to its movie coverage, showcased influential comic book artists, struck a good balance between the old and the new in horror, and realized its readers were--ummm--readers by including book and comic reviews. In this issue, Peter Jon Dyer's All Manner of Fantasies investigates the causes and effects of fantasy and horror films, and Dan Bates sets his sight on Boris Karloff's swan song, Targets.

The Monster Times Issue 9 May 17, 1972

Science Fiction takes over the magazine for issue 9 of The Monster Times, leading off with This Island Earth. Disappointingly, the coverage for this memorable movie is not an insightful review or revealing production history; just a novelization-styled story article. TMT would do this too often. Perhaps it helped save time and money by being easier to do than researching material? Perhaps TMT felt newbies would be enthralled by a detailed literary take on the movie? Whatever the reason, its use was already worn thin by issue 9. Saving this issue from total annihilation is Science Fiction in the Comix, The Making of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the continuation of Mushroom Monsters or: The Day the World Ended & Ended, Part 5. The Monster Market also tests The Monster Fan Club, another one of those cheap items from the magazine ad pages monsterkids wish they still had. (Read issue 9.)

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The Monster Times Issue 8 May 10, 1972

Seems my copy of issue 7 crawled off somewhere. While I hunt it down here's issue 8. This issue is fangtastic, with coverage on Horror of Dracula and Hammer horror. Even the beautiful and bountiful ladies of Hammer are noted. This issue is also the first time the cover is not printed on better quality paper, so it provides a hint that the magazine is already running in the red (but not the red kind that Dracula would like). (Read TMT issue 8)

The Monster Times Issue 6 April 12, 1972

This all-zombie issue is to die for. Excellent coverage on White Zombie and 1950s horror comics. Of special interest is the commentary on Night of the Living Dead. "Night of the Living Dead is a classic film...but nobody seems to realize it yet." And this issue is dated April, 1972. (Read issue 6.)