From Zombos' Closet

The Monster Times No. 23 Godzilla, the King of the Monsters!

Come in, come in. Plenty of room under the bed sheet. My, it's a chilly one tonight, isn't it. Don't worry, it's just the batteries in your flashlight causing it to flicker. It's only midnight. I heard the ghosts and monsters don't come out to play until 2am. Besides, horror magazines act like a talisman to ward them off. So snuggle closer. Tonight's reading is The Monster Times, issue number 23. It's all about Godzilla, you know. He just can't stop talking about himself. Such an ego.

Halloween Magic Floating Ball Featuring Witch and Cauldron

I found this enchanting Halloween novelty in an Eckerd store in 2003. My, where does the time go, right? I couldn't resist. Had it lying in a box ever since then, but now's the time to enjoy it.

Movie Pressbook: Death Ship (1980)

George Kennedy loses it as survivors wind up not really surviving. Worth a look, but don't trip over your feet rushing to do so.

Mexican Lobby Card: Santo vs. La Magia Negra

Mexican Lobby Card: Santo Y Blue Demon Contra El Dr. Frankenstein

Spacehunter 3DAdventures in the Forbidden Zone(1983) Pressbook

Sure, it's a guilty pleasure. Molly Ringwald, Michael Ironside, Peter Strauss, and Ernie Hudson looking much like he did in Ghostbusters. What's not to like?

Mexican Lobby Card: Capitan America (1979)

Here's the Mexican lobby card for the television movie, Captain America II: Death Too Soon. And I bet you thought you knew every movie Christopher Lee appeared in, didn't you?

The Haunted Toybox: The Lost FX of MAXx FX

I recently downloaded the second issue of The Haunted Toybox and read this MAXx FX article reprinted here. MAXx FX was a fantastic toy idea that didn't survive the marketing monster. But now, with Face Off and the heightened interest in makeup and special effects, I think it's time to revisit Max Miracle, Master of Make-UP and Special Effects. Issue two also has articles on Monster 500 (which had me running off to Toys R Us to find them; and I did), and Rat Fink and Rad Rods (which made me drool). Johnny Lightning's Creepsters (wish TRU had continued that line) and a lot more is stuffed into the issue, too. With permission from the mad toymaniacs at The Haunted Toybox here's The Lost FX of MAXx FX.

Halloween Eureka Cat and Bats

The Monster Times Collectors Issue No.1

The wonderful thing about The Monster Times newspaper-styled magazine was its coverage of horror and science fiction and comic books. This first TMT collectors issue includes Star Trek, UFO, Lost in Space, The Outer Limits, and a report on the 1972 Star Trek Convention. Due to the inexpensive (aka cheap) printing and paper, some pages were cut incorrectly, but you can still read it all.

Halloween 2014: Target Stores

The past few years Target has focused more on party decorations than quirky-fun-quotient Halloween items, but whatever they put on the shelves it usually has style. Skeletons and skulls are always a staple too, and this year I'd say the Skull Totem is my favorite, followed by the Talk-back Skull. The light-up eyes owl also turns its head and hoots, which is attention getting, and the Day of the Dead decorations are nice accent pieces. The Haunted House in Dome has bats swirling around when you press the button. One thing to note: the Talk-back Skull is very presentable as a showpiece, but check the back of the plastic dome before you buy one. There's a screw that holds the skull to the dome and some domes were badly cracked around the screw.

Halloween 2014: Lowe's Animated Medusa Head

Snagged this at a local Lowe's Home Improvement store. Only this and another were on the shelf, so I'm thinking it's a keeper. Snakes move while she foretells your doom. Cool. I'll post a video of it in action. Lowe's also has a full-size skeleton in a cage, but my wife was with me (she's not a Halloween fanatic or monster buff like I am), so I couldn't sneak it past her. But I love her anyway.