NEW YEAR, NEW FEAR

First off, I'd like to wish all you MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD readers a very Happy New Year (or, to use a Forry-ism, Harpy New Fear!). I really appreciate all your support and comments for the last 2 1/2 years that I've done this. It is quite rewarding to know how many of you are out there that have a common interest in this subject. Rest assured, I will be sharing more of the same with you this year -- so  stay tuned and visit often!

Now, what would a blog about monster magazines be without monster magazines? Not much, I can assure you. The last reader poll I ran with the question, "Is the print monster magazine dying out?" The answers were encouraging -- 17% said they'd be gone in only 3 years, 7% said they'd be gone in 5 years, 10% said they'd be gone in 10 years, but a whopping 66% are confident that monster mags will be around so long as there are print 'zines. I happen to agree with this. There seems to be no letting up with the production and making of monster movies and all the related marketing. In some ways, it's hard to keep up with all of it!

So, what better way to kick off the New Year than to report on a few, brand new monster 'zines that are about to be unleashed?

Jim Clatterbaugh's MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #31 (cover image at the top of this blog) has been a long time coming, but he has just recently announced that it is headed for the presses . . . tomorrow! Jim also shared with MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD the cover image for MFTV #32, due to be released at the Monster Bash in June 2013. With a cover story about my most favorite Universal Monster Rally film, FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN (okay, it's a pretty close tie with ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN),  and coverage of the evolution of Jack Pierce's Wolf Man make-up, I don't know about you, but I will be in horror heaven!

Just announced is the 14th issue of DIABOLIQUE, one of the best-produced, interesting horror film mags that has been introduced in recent years. D takes its horror seriously, and the content reflects it without being overly-academic or self-indulgent. A top "Best of" contender, in my opinion.

Dennis Druktenis' SCARY MONSTERS has reached its 85th issue! I have enjoyed the wraparound cover images that he has been featuring lately and you can be sure that each issue is absolutely packed with monster goodness. Dennis is a true Monster Kid and the enthusiasm he shares through his fun magazine shows no sign of letting up.

Okay, so now it's time to lend your support to these excellent magazines. For the price of a Starbucks grande skinny mocha you can purchase something that lasts a lot longer -- and without the fat and the sugar high! Links to the respective websites (including a new SCARY MONSTERS site) are found on the sidebar to the right of this blog post.

Well, that's about it for now. Once again, I'd like to thank all you readers for visting MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD. I promise there's some really cool stuff in the works.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!