From Zombos' Closet

Monster World Issue 9, 1966

Their house is a museum, and one I'd certainly be at home with, but the Addams Family would have really been something else if done in color, as shown on this cover for Monster World issue 9. I fondly remember building the Aurora Addam's Haunted House kit and playing with the holy grail of monsterkid-dom: Famous Monsters Photo Printing Set. And I did send away for the Creepy Fan Club and just about most of everything else shown in these wonderful ads. Oh, wait, about the magazine itself...Sir Cedric Hardwicke finally gets some love in Memories of a 30 Year Veteran of Horror Films. The Fang Mail this issue is also especially interesting. Kind of a love/hate relationship going on with FM Issue 37, but check our FJA's response.

Comic reader version: Download Monster World Issue 9

There's more in the magazine morgue From Zombos' Closet.

Modern Monster Issue 1, 1966

Here's the first issue of Modern Monsters (they added the "s" with issue two). More monsters are always a party. Lots of great photos and coverage with That Other Werewolf (you know, the one with Henry Hull, who didn't want Jack Pierce's full makeup treatment); The Frankenstein Story (up to I was a Teenage Frankenstein); Humor in a Jugular Vein (Abbott and Costello mostly, with a nod to AIP); and a too-short nod to Don Post. From the why-is-this-ad-here dept. we have exclusive original Flamenco prints: send cash, check, or money order today! I'm guessing that 'they' (the magazine sales dept.) were going for your mom who, WE ALL EXPERIENCED, usually trashed your stash of horror mags while you were away at school. I figure they hoped she'd thumb through the magazine uttering epithets before tossing it, only to find the Flamenco prints and be compelled to want a set. Whose mom wouldn't? Back then, that is.

Comic reader version: Download Modern Monster Issue 1

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Castle of Frankenstein Issue 22, 1974

With issue twenty-two of Castle of Frankenstein, you will find The Mutations, Vincent Price's Madhouse, Peter Cushing's Frankenstein, and a positive take on Zardoz (yes, THAT odd movie with Sean Connery). An unusually revealing photo of Ingrid Pitt and the devil to pay in The Exorcist keep this issue naughty and nice. For those looking for the weird (yes, well, like all horror fans do, actually), there's The Curse that Hangs Over the Exorcist interview with William Friedkin. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Oh, and the Legend of Hell House rounds out the scares this issue.

Comic reader version: Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 22

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Modern Monsters Issue 4, 1966 Part 2

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Modern Monsters Issue 4, 1966 Part 1

A very good monster magazine for the 1960s, Modern Monsters was more adult with its coverage of horror. In this issue 4, Glenn Strange provides interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits from his horror jaunts, Miniatures-Kill or Cure? is pondered by Bob Villard, and Victor Morrison shows us The Invisible Man and His Friends, or something like that. There's a full color centerfold to pin up, and King Kong and Spy Smasher are examined. At over 80 pages, with pictures galore, and layout that's plain but easy-reading, it's a shame Modern Monsters didn't continue past four issues. (Go to part 2)

Comic reader version: Download Modern Monsters Issue 4

Monsters and Heroes First Issue, 1967

In this first issue of Larry Ivie's Monsters and Heroes you will find a very opinionated History of Frankenstein, a loving remembrance of Heroes of Radio, and a fond nod to Johnny Sheffield. There are also lots of photos to see in Darkest Africa (1936), Republic Pictures first serial (later cut into Bat Men of Africa (1966), and From Comix to Film. The magazine is a bit rough with typewritten paragraphs and unnecessary title pages, but lots of coverage here and no punny humor to sidetrack the coverage. 

Comic reader version: Download Monsters and Heroes First Issue

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Monster Madness Issue 3, 1973

By issue 3 of Marvel's Monster Madness, it looks like the editors realized a magazine solely comprised of funny photos was no longer enough. Monsterkids, nurtured on Famous Monsters of Filmland, were growing up: they needed more meat on those monster bones to gnaw on. In this issue, aside from the many two-page photo spreads, you'll find articles on movie reviews, the Creature from the Black Lagoon as the Monster of the Month, the Fear-Fables of Robert Block, and Marvel's Werewolf by Night. Unfortunately, this would be the last issue, but Marvel would soon bring forth Monsters of the Movies to the crowded newsstands and spinner racks. 

Comic reader version:  Download Monster Madness Issue 3

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 21, 1974

With a gorgeous wraparound cover and coverage on The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, television's Frankenstein: The True Story, and a slaymate of the month pinup with Caroline Munro, this issue is worth the cover price of 75 cents right there. Then there's the interview with Invasion of the Body Snatchers director Don Siegel, foreign movie coverage with Jonathan, and the indispensable Frankenstein TV Movieguide.  

Comic reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 21

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 24, 1974

An interview with Boris Karloff, part two of an interview with Roger Corman, The Evil of Frankenstein, and an interview with monster maker Roy Ashton keep this issue of CoF humming. And, of course, there's the Frankenstein TV Guide to help monsterkids plan ahead if they should stay up or not to catch the latest creature-feature on the boob tube. CoF jumps to 85 cents this issue, due to increasing printing costs. Yikes!

Comic reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 24

The Monster Times Issue 46, 1976

Issue 46 of The Monster Times is infused with the vampire count's lineage. With Dracula coverage in movies, television, comics, and a Christopher Lee interview, you can't go wrong for the then price of 75 cents. A pleasant tour of Transylvania and a primer on Vlad the Impaler puts the blush in your cheeks, too. For a dead guy, he sure gets a lot of lively coverage.

Comic reader version:  Download The Monster Times Issue 46

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The Monster Times Issue 45 (1976)

Issue 45 of The Monster Times has Horror Themes for the Taping, an interview with John Carradine, the Teletype and Trek Talk, and coverage on Bug! and Jaws mania. For horror comics fans, Atlas' Monsters and Heroes gives a good rundown on their horrific comics. Enjoy.

Comic reader version:  Download The Monster Times Issue 45 (and read more at the magazine morgue!)

Castle of Frankenstein No. 20, 1973

Fellow Zombos' Closet denizen Matthew Banks was super enough to send over some PDFs from the Internet Archive for Castle of Frankenstein. (Thanks!) They are posting a lot of monster mags for posterity (you'll see quite a few from ZC, too, with due credit of course; unlike some bloggers who simply grab my scans). But the Internet Archive doesn't capture the magazines in stunning horrific color like ZC does :) Anyhow, the PDF quality is poor (though there are other formats you can download), so here's the Comic reader version instead:   Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 20

In this issue of CoF, the Ray Harryhausen interview concludes, Vault of Horror gets buried in coverage, and The Frankenstein TV Movie Guide gives the lowdown on what horrors you could see on the small screen...maybe...depending on when it was aired. Of course, we just stream everything and binge watch now. We are so spoiled. There's also lots of letters coverage and book reviews. (And for more magazines to read late at night, under the bedsheets, go to the magazine morgue.) Special thanks to Matthew Banks for reminding me to get the rest of the CoF and The Monster Times magazines posted. Your wish is my command!)