An interview with Stan Lee, The Avengers' Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee, some comics, part three of Christopher Lee's CoF interview, and a Farewell to Basil Rathbone are highlights in this issue 12 of Castle of Frankenstein. This is the first issue to also have a page width less than 8.5 inches.
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A Spock, Messiah book review, Leonard Nimoy's first role in Zombies of the Stratosphere, the NASA space shuttle, fan club guide, behind the convention scene, the Smithsonian gets involved, and a short guide and filmography to great science fiction movies is beaming down in this second issue of All About Star Trek Fan Clubs. I remember attending the ST conventions and having a lot of fun and late nights. Unlike the "sell" convention scene today, the 1970s was a fresh and exciting time to explore popular culture. Here's the comic book reader version: Download Star Trek Fan Clubs Issue 2
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Bela Lugosi's tragic drug addiction is explored by Barry Brown in issue 10 of Castle of Frankenstein, and there are more interviews, with Christopher Lee and Lon Chaney JR. What's exciting about COF interviews is that they actually visit the interviewee. How old school! Adam West's Batman and the movie Rat Pfink and Boo Boo put in an appearance, and a beautiful centerfold photo from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is ripe for being pulled out and taped up on a wall. Latest Film News also provides a wealth of information as usual. This copy comes from Professor Kinema's archive and here's the comic reader version for you: Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 10
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This is one of my favorite issues of COF. The cover is eye-catching, Boris Karloff is interviewed, and there's more to love. For instance, there is Stuart E. Samuels complaint in his Bat Mania article that there is too much camp in the Batman television show. We may scoff now, but he makes a good point about the longevity of "satire twice a week, every week, all year long." Then there's Robert C. Roman's (I'm not sure if any of these author names are legit, by the way) recognition of Laird Cregar, a horror actor who barely had a chance to reach stardom. Roman follows up with Victor Buono (King Tut on Batman), another stellar character actor. Outside the usual fare coverage continues with Judex (1963) and Fantomas, and Joe Dante makes some valid complaints about television horror. And…the too brief World of Science Fiction Fanzines is visited.
This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema. Here's the comic reader version: Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 9
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In issue 8 of Castle of Frankenstein, William K. Everson recounts the melancholic last days of Bela Lugosi, COF goes behind the scenes with Fu Manchu, and David McCallum's Outer Limits are explored. Makeup artist Roy Ashton is interviewed, a visit to Bray Studios is made, and in the Noose Reel, Joe Dante joins the fray to dish some dirt on why editing movies to fit time slots is stupid. Yes, boys and girls, way back when, network television would butcher the classics and the duds by cutting scenes to fit in more commercials or run in a shorter air time slot. Now that's a horror story right there. Completing this issue is Lin Carter's 1965: The Year in Horror-Fantasy Books.
This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema. Here's the comic book reader version: Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 8
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Die, Monster, Die receives a set visit, director Joseph E. Levine's 25,000 dollar monster for Hercules and the Princess of Troy gets some love, and for the first time, COF brings out the critics for Tomb of Ligeia to spark up the letters column. The European horror scene is covered by Mike Perry, along with a blurb on the "bizarre" Avengers television show, and an opinion on the Lugosi versus Lee Dracula appears with the usual misfiring analysis.
This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema. Here's the comic book reader version: Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 7
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Lon Chaney Jr’s monstrous creations, The Munsters, and Christopher Lee kick off the 6th issue of Castle of Frankenstein. A timely article on Alfred Hitchcock (for me, that is: I had just watched the documentary, Hitchcock/Truffaut, and I’m reading the splendid book) is to die for, and a nostalgic look at Horror on the Air and those wonderful radio shows makes this a solid reading experience.
Here’s the comic book reader version: Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 6
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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
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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.)
More Fantastic Monsters in the Closet: Issues 1, 2, v2-1,
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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.)
More Magazines in the Closet:
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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
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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.)
More Magazines in the Closet:
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