FANGORIA: The Scarlet Years 1979 - 1988
January 21st 2009 00:04
I discovered Fangoria magazine very late in the piece, probably due to it not being easily or noticeably available in magazine stores in Wellington. The first copy I bought was the May 1986 issue I think, from a new specialist comic book store for about $NZ8. I was in horror heaven. However it wasn’t until I was at university the following year that I began purchasing regularly (ten issues published annually).
Every month I’d await the next issue with baited breath, savouring the glorious attention to detail paid to the horror movie (and literature to a lesser degree) genre; modern, cult, and classic. Exceptional interviews, amazing exclusive photos, and more grotesque and fantastic tidbits than you can shake a severed arm at! I felt in direct connection with the world of horror movie-making.
The manifesto-styled ad from issue #1
#7: The issue that sealed the magazine's enduring popularity
Several months later (I’d almost forgotten), near Christmas time, a large heavily taped-up cardboard box arrived. It had been thrown around a bit and had the damaged corners to prove it, but I instantly knew when I saw the mailing address what it was. I was beyond horror heaven! I shed tears of bloody joy!
A threatening lawsuit by an existing magazine called Fantastic Films forced Fantastica to change its name at the last minute to Fangoria. The inaugural issue was edited by “Joe Bonham” a pseudonym for Rolling Stone contributor and screenwriter Ed Naha and martial arts enthusiast writer Ric Meyers. By the second issue Bob Martin was recruited as editor and he remained in the position until 1986 where upon Anthony Timpone took over the reigns.
#9: One of the rarest issues, now worth a lot of money
The last issue of Fangoria I bought was #79 (December 1988), which made claim on its cover “The #1 Horror Magazine – Now in our 10th Year!” On the front was a dreadful still of Michael Myers from Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. Subconsciously I had made the decision to no longer fork out my precious dollars for a magazine that was supporting what I feared was a dying art-form: the modern horror movie. The quality of movies had dropped drastically, and Fangoria no longer seemed as cool as it once had. I bought three early issues of Fangoria’s companion piece, Gorezone (September '88 - January '89), but the mag's production values paled in comparison. I was getting older too, and my regular financial outlay interests lay elsewhere.
#10: For many years the most sought-after issue
It was hard enough to find copies of numerous older issues fifteen years ago, and when you did, you paid top dollar. Now, it will be very, very difficult indeed, and very, very expensive.
Over the coming months I plan to re-read all my issues and occasionally write posts for Horrorphile that are associated with interesting articles published in the back catalogue of Fangoria. It may still hold the title of being the most widely-read horror-themed publication, and I applaud that, but for me their most interesting years are the issues I own in hard copy, what I refer to as The Scarlet Years, 1979 – 1988.
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Comment by Damo
You have a special collection there.
Now I have a hobby checking out their website.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Damo, hey now, don't you go reneging on your loyalty to my blog!!!
Cibby, the lair is deep my friend!
Comment by Damo
Don't worry about that. I checked out the site and I still prefer your reviews. All the news without the clutter.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Movie Mall
Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky
My older brother used to collect all the Fangoria mags along with Starlog (you just jogged my memory about the latter).
Being about five years old at the time (born in '77), the gory pictures used to scare the shit out of me when I'd work up enough courage to have a look at them.
Those Starlog mags really got me into sci-fi though.
Of course it was a few years later after my brother had moved out of home that I discovered his other collection - Playboy. Jackpot!
Suffice to say, I think mum chucked the lot of them out during a clean-up one day. I kept a lot of his old Star Wars toys and bits and pieces (which I've still got), but I wish now I'd hung onto those mags.
I later collected Empire, Premiere and a few others every month myself - the (good old) days before internet - and then started cutting and pasting, trying to make my own.
Thanks for sharing mate.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Don't get me started on old issues of Playboy and Penthouse ...
Glad I cleared a few cobwebs though!
Comment by longhair57