Tuesday, October 15, 2024

A SCREAM-ING COMEBACK


Hey, Monster Kids! Just discovered is the Treasury of British Comics site from Rebellion Publishing. They've relaunched some of the classic horror comics that were popular in the UK decades ago, including SCREAM! and MISTY. Both titles include reprinted material and new stories.

I mentioned a while back that the entire run of SCREAM! was reprinted in a special hardback edition, which quickly sold out. They've recently announced that a second printing is in the works and will be available by the end of the year. These guys look serious about continuing a UK horror comics legacy!


From the publisher:
Get ready to scream – due to unprecedented demand, the sold-out complete collection of ’80s horror comic Scream! is to be reprinted in time for Christmas.Celebrating 40 years since IPC launched the UK’s most iconic ‘horror’ anthology, this wonderfully horrifying single volume collects all of the strips included in the 15-issue run of Scream!.All copies of the hardcover collection sold out before it was due to hit shelves in May this year, but thanks to overwhelming popular demand a reprint is now its way and will arrive in the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops and all good retailers in late November.

Produced ‘from the depths’ of King’s Reach Tower by the mysterious ‘undead’ editor Ghastly McNasty, the first issue of Scream! was unleashed in March 1984. More tongue-in-cheek than horrific, the comic was an immediate hit with younger fans as it included a pair of fake vampire fangs attached to the cover and a number of fantastic new strips from such legendary talents as Alan Moore, John Wagner, Jose Ortiz, Cam Kennedy, Tom Tully, Alan Grant and Eric Bradbury.The celebratory hardcover collection of the entire original run includes every single strip published in issues 1-15, making this an absolute must-have for fans of classic horror and thriller comics. The original print run sold out before its publication date in May and fans have been eagerly hoping for a reprint.Rebellion’s senior graphic novels editor Keith Richardson said: “Scream! was such an iconic and beloved title, so it was gratifying to see just how many people remember it and wanted to revisit its incredible stories. We’ve had so many requests to reprint the hardcover edition and I’m delighted that bring such a sumptuous collection to even more people.”

But wait! That's not all! Releasing in just a few weeks is a 40th Annual Special Edition of Scream! Here's the 411 on that:


SCREAM! 40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Cover art: Dani

Celebrate 40 years of Scream! with a brand-new anniversary special! Launched in 1984 and running for 15 issues of spine-tingling terror, the title returns with a chilling new anthology.

This collection includes all-new Dracula File and Thirteenth Floor strips, and two original stories – a peek at the dark history of a legendary 70s rock band, by Anna Readman and George Pooley, and a claustrophobic descent into the Paris catacombs, written and drawn by V.V. Glass.


The popular girl's title (which was equally enjoyed by boys!), MISTY has been relaunched, too:

MISTY 2024 SPECIAL
Created by Pat Mills and launched in 1978, Misty was a horror comic like no other. Now, more than two decades later, Misty returns and has been brought into 2024 at the pen of Gail Simone (Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey, Red Sonja).

This anthology features three brand-new chilling stories by Simone, with art by Carola Borelli (The Deadliest Bouquet, Spider-Woman), Aly Fell (A Trick of the Light) and Marianna Ignazzi (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

Magazine ads:



For more info and ordering go HERE.

In the meantime, you can read sample SCREAM! stories HERE and MISTY stories HERE.

Monday, October 14, 2024

THE PHANTOM CREEPS!


Universal's 1939 12-chapter serial THE PHANTOM CREEPS is another variation of the "mad scientist" theme. Bela Lugosi is Dr. Alex Zorka whose mad machinations focus on bringing the world to its knees. Add a giant robot (played by Edward Wolff), a dash of foreign spies and a sprinkle of G-Men and we've got another science-fiction/horror/crime potboiler in which Lugosi plays the menacing villain. It was the last of his serial appearances and the 112th that Universal produced.

Starring Robert Kent, Dorothy Arnold, Regis Toomey and Edward Van Sloan, a young Lee J. Cobb is also in a scene using archival footage. No info on who made the "Phantom" robot, but it's likely that Jack Pierce did the makeup considering he was still on board at Universal.

Released in January 1939, it offered theater-goers respite from the dark clouds of war forming overhead.

THE PHANTOM CREEPS was adapted in comic book form in MOVIE COMICS #6 (September-October 1939 by Picture Publications, Inc., an imprint of DC Comics. C. Elbert was editor, Max Gaines was managing editor and Sheldon Mayer was assistant editor. The scriptwriter is unknown and art is by Jack Adler and Emery Gondor using airbrush to touch-up the photos and adding additional line art. A pretty good job is done in encapsulating the 265-minute film is just seven short pages. Lugosi's first name, Alex is misnamed Alec.

Learn more about DC's MOVIE COMICS HERE.

Various one-sheet movie posters:





Pressbook:




Production stills:













Have a creepy week!