From Zombos Closet

Magazine Morgue

Monster Times Issue 15
September 6, 1972

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An underwhelming writing exercise for The Valley of Gwangi (a storyline for the movie, not a review or analysis), but an informative article on Vampires in the Comics, takes over issue 15 of The Monster Times. By now it's obvious that TMT is stronger when discussing comic books than classic movies. While comic book articles receive more devoted attention, genre movies were given the usual let's write out the movie's story for you to read brush-offs. While I didn't much notice this when I originally read TMT, now–and of course given the Internet's glut of information, and the easy availability of movies today–it's irksome to read. Yes, it was a different take on covering the movies, but not anywhere near fun to read as the other, more lively, articles in TMT. Alfred Hitchcock is also interviewed, and Gary Brown gives love to HLP. The Roots of Evil: The Carrot That Conquered the World by Jim Winoroski, and Joe Kane's article on Blacula, shows how much more TMT could do with writing about genre movies when given a mind to.

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Monster Times Issue 15
September 6, 1972Read More »

Horror Tales Vol. 5 Issue 5
October 1973

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According to the Weird Indexes of Eerie Publications by Mike Howlett, this volume 5, issue 5 of Horror Tales is the second volume 5, issue 5 to hit the newsstands in 1973. The first one is dated June 1973, and appears to be actually isssue 3, but was given the right volume but wrong issue number. As you get later into the issues, more and more stories from earlier issues reappear. Some wonderful artwork in this issue.

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Horror Tales Vol. 5 Issue 5
October 1973Read More »

The Monster Times Issue 14
July 1972

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Issue 14 of The Monster Times is the last one to be published bi-weekly (although it actually hit the newsstands a week later than scheduled). Starting with issue 15, TMT would hit the newsstands monthly, then eventually go bi-monthly, then eventually go whenever, until its final 48th issue. In this issue, Godzilla becomes "the Rona Barrett of Monsterdom," The Wolf Man receives the "complete filmbook" treatment, and Peter Cushing talks about Tales From the Crypt. The Phantom gets beat up as "a mercenary running-dog lackey with license to kill" by one Ms. M. J. Blowemup Weatherperson, and The Dead Are Alive and Frogs get roasted. 

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The Monster Times Issue 14
July 1972Read More »

The Monster Times Issue 24
July 1973

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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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Related articles
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The Monster Times Issue 11 June 14, 1972
The Monster Times Issue 5
The Monster Times Issue 4

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The Monster Times Issue 24
July 1973Read More »

The Monster Times Issue 13
July 19, 1972

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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)

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The Monster Times Issue 13
July 19, 1972Read More »

The Monster Times Issue 12
June 28, 1972

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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)

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The Monster Times Issue 12
June 28, 1972Read More »

Terror Tales Vol.1, No. 4
August 1973

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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?)

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Terror Tales Vol.1, No. 4
August 1973Read More »

The Monster Times Issue 11
June 14, 1972

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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)

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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

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The Monster Times Issue 11
June 14, 1972Read More »