Is FANGORIA on the ropes or
just exhibiting growing pains? The future of the top-selling commercial monster
magazine is uncertain, to be sure. Longtime staffers Michael Gingold and Bill
Mohally, along with Chris Alexander, were the heart and soul of Fango and new,
one-time intern and current Fango Web editor Ken W. Hanley has his work cut out for him. Gingold left
without an official farewell to readers, which is suspect. Was this a hostile takeover
or did he leave willingly? All this is moot, so we’ll just have to wait and see
what happens. In the meantime, below is the 411 direct from the FANGORIA website.
"When I [Ken W. Hanley, ed.]started
interning for FANGORIA nearly four years ago, the first person this writer met
at the company was Michael Gingold. With a hearty handshake and a smile, Mike
welcomed me to the office and brand that would forever change my professional
career. In the years afterwards, he became my mentor, my colleague, my editor
and, most importantly, my friend. And, without a shadow of a doubt, he was the
heart of FANGORIA Magazine for longer than I’ve been alive.
Nobody could write like
Mike. No one could interview like Mike. He’s the kind of writer that takes the
time to put his personal spin on horror happenings rather than copy-and-paste a
press release. I thank Mike for everything he’s done for FANGORIA, and for me,
personally. He’s also the kind of person that many filmmakers, writers,
publicists and horror fans are proud to call their friend.
And it’s exactly this
reason why I’m sad to say that Michael Gingold is no longer a part of FANGORIA
Magazine. For many of you, this may not be news, as FANGORIA’s parting of ways
with Mike became public yesterday, and to see the tremendous outpouring of
support among the horror community assures this writer that Mike will move on
to bigger, bolder, and brighter things. Honestly, I was hoping for Mike to say
farewell personally, on his own terms, to the horror audience he served for
decades, and that option is still available, should he choose to do so.
Furthermore, FANGORIA also
parted ways with longtime art director, Bill Mohalley, whose designs and
masterful work have lead to all the iconic covers, spreads and artwork that
fright fans have come to know and love. This writer personally hopes for the
best for both Mike and Bill during this time.
Since the news of Mike’s
exit broke, many were wondering what would happen with FANGORIA, considering
just two weeks earlier, we released a statement regarding our new publication
schedule. So rather than keep our readers in the dark or at the mercy of
ill-informed speculation, FANGORIA has decided to share where the company
currently stands.
As of this writing, I have
taken the unenviable position of filling the massive shoes of Michael Gingold,
Chris Alexander, Tony Timpone, David McDonnell, David Everitt and Bob Martin as
the next Editor-in-Chief of FANGORIA Magazine. The magazine will be
restructuring to bring in new blood, including at least two exceptional women
in the horror journalism field who will be announced in a formal staff
statement on June 1st.
The publication schedule
that FANGORIA announced on May 10th will continue as scheduled. Issues #345 and
#346 will be sent exclusively to subscribers in the coming weeks, and our June
Issue, #347, will be our first to return to stands with an early digital
release exclusively on FANGORIA.com.
I would like to be clear about
one thing, though: FANGORIA will never be the same without Mike’s presence and
influence in the magazine. This writer will not try to mirror Mike’s
accomplishments from his 28 years with FANGORIA, nor could I if I even wanted
to. But what this writer does promise as Editor-in-Chief will be a different
kind of FANGORIA altogether; something timeless, new, and unique yet building
on the legacy of what made FANGORIA so notable in the past.
FANGORIA will still be
dedicated to giving independent horror filmmakers, authors, game designers, and
FX artists the showcase they deserve. In this next phase of FANGORIA, this
writer hopes to revive the art of FX preview pieces, which has since been lost
in the age of studio embargoes and CGI, and make them integral to each ensuing
edition. And I want to hear more voices in the world of FANGORIA, print, web or
otherwise, especially from the endless stream of brilliant female writers as
well as writers of color, both of whom offer a perspective on the genre that I
couldn’t possibly imagine.
The fact is that FANGORIA
has so often been a part of what we all grew up reading. Even though the
magazine has changed under the direction of Tony, Chris and Mike, FANGORIA has
essentially been a treasure of horror’s past that many of us still love. For
what it’s worth, a new generation should be able to feel the same way about
FANGORIA that the lifers and horror lovers do, and I will do my damnedest to
make sure that happens.
So, in short: FANGORIA is
not dead. I hope both Mike and Bill find an exceptional outlet for their
immense talent from here on out, and I’ll be damn sure to read wherever they go
next. I hope that you all give this next chapter of FANGORIA a chance to stand
on its own, as I promise that I will pour every ounce of energy that I have
into doing just that.
Please check back here at
FANGORIA.com next week for our official staff announcement as well as more
details about FANGORIA #347, which is currently in production. I would
personally like to thank the fans for sticking with FANGORIA through the good
and bad, and please: wherever they go, whatever Mike Gingold and Bill Mohalley
does next, support it."
"With June finally upon us,
FANGORIA would like to ring in the occasion with a pair of updates regarding
the FANGORIA staff and our next issue.
As mentioned last week, Ken
W. Hanley will be serving as the new Editor-in-Chief, beginning with FANGORIA
#347. The new expanded FANGORIA team includes April Bedan (Sales Manager),
Madeleine Koestner (Managing Editor), Shawn Macomber (Senior East Coast Correspondent),
and Amy Seidman (International Creative Liaison), who join the current staff
that includes Robert Feldman (Webmaster), Trey McGriff (Marketing Coordinator),
Cheryl Singleton (Marketing Director), and Tony Timpone (Editor Emeritus). Our
new Art Director will be announced soon alongside an update regarding our Web
Editorial Staff.
Next up, for those
wondering what’s in store for FANGORIA#347, FANGORIA would like to offer you a
some details about what to expect from the impending issue. The cover for
FANGORIA #347 will feature the one-and-only John Carpenter, who has become a
full-fledged rock star– complete with a world tour– after more than 40 years as
a horror filmmaker and film composer. FANGORIA #347 will also proudly feature a
career-spanning conversation with FX wizard Gary J. Tunnicliffe, who is hanging
up his full-time FX career after 25 years in the business…and previews us with
exclusive comments on the upcoming HELLRAISER: JUDGMENT. The issue will also
features interviews with esteemed horror author Joe Hill, two contemporary
Masters of Horror, and representatives from spanning almost every facet of the
genre.
For those who missed our
previous update, FANGORIA #345 and #346 will be released simultaneously to
subscribers shortly, with a limited number of issues available exclusively
through FANGORIA.com soon. Stay tuned for a complete cover and content reveal
next week."
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