LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS NO. 45 - ORDER NOW!

In 1957, after the massive world-wide success of Hammer Film's THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, all the major film companies wanted to get their hands on the follow up. In this case - THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Columbia Pictures won the bidding battle and were given what may be the best of all the Hammer Frankenstein series. Wonderfully acted by Peter Cushing. Brilliantly directed by Terence Fisher. From a witty, biting script by Jimmy Sangster. It was Hammer at its height with the beginning of their golden era.

LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #45 featuring:

> 'I Will Have My Revenge. They Will Never Be Rid of Me!'

  The Making of THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN by Bruce G. Hallenbeck.  

v>'This Creature Walks On the Earth.'

  In depth study of the production of one of the best 1970's horror films - THE CREEPING FLESH - by John Hamilton.  

 

> Interview With Annette Whiteley

  Conducted by Dr. Adrian Smith.  

 

> The Hammer Diaries of Christopher Wicking - Part 3 (1975)

  Edited by Mitchel Wicking.  

 

Plus - A History of Horror Film Fanzines - Magick Theatre and...

All our regular features - Letters to LSoH - Ralph's One-and-Only Traveling Reviews Company - Hammer News.

Covers:

Front Cover by William Stout

Back Cover by Dan Gallagher jr.

Inside Front Cover by BRUX (David Brooks)

Inside Back Cover by Ron Lizorty

The Best Classic British Horror Film Coverage Since 1972!

ORDER HERE!

MONDAY MORNING MACABRE NO. 81

[Cartoon by McCartney (Bill Ward) for CRACKED magazine.]

CREEPY'S LOATHSOME LORE NO. 7 (WEREWOLVES)

[From CREEPY #7, February 1966. Art by Frank Frazetta.]

APOCALYPSE SOON . . .

[Gahan Wilson cartoon from PLAYBOY, August 1958.] 

HAPPY (BELATED) BIRTHDAY, JIMI!

Yesterday was Jimi Hendrix's birthday. He would have been 78 years-old. He was a big fan of science-fiction and comic books!

WHO WERE THE MASTERS OF TERROR?

Culled from the moldering archives here at the Mysterious Mansion is an interesting article from the February, 1936 issue of MOVIE ACTION magazine. Penned by an unknown writer, "Masters of Horror" is the title of the piece that features stories about the few actors starring in horror roles at the time. Described as "chill men", the list includes Lon Chaney, Boris Karloff, Fredric March, Bela Lugosi, Henry Hull and Peter Lorre. Each actor is given a few paragraphs on the roles they played and how they got them. Notable tidbits are descriptions of Jack Pierce's makeup's for Karloff in FRANKENSTEIN and THE RAVEN, and Fredric March's 20-makeup (!) transition from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde.

A cool article from the golden years of Hollywood Horror!

ONCE MORE AROUND THE BLOCH

Robert Bloch wrote a ton of short stories and, as a follow on to last week's post, here's another one. It is again from the pages of PLAYBOY, where some of the best short fiction of the 1950's and 1960's were published, mainly as a result of editor Ray Russel -- an author himself -- who encouraged tales from many genre greats, including Ray Bradbury and Charles Beaumont, and whose generous pay rates attracted the same to submit their best work.

Here's another weird little tale from Bloch, "Word of Honor", from August 1958.

BONUS!

Also in this issue is another classic short short by Henry Slesar, one of my favorite writers of the period.

And of course, if you're wondering who the Playmate was for this issue, it was lovely 19 year-old Floridian, Myrna Weber.

FRANKIE'S FRIDAY FUNNIES NO. 195

HAPPY THANKSGRAVING!

Hope your day isn't too full of weird relatives.

CONAN IN ACTION

Mezco Toyz is no stranger to horror and fantasy collectible figures. They have been producing high-quality items for years now, and the new Conan action figure from the lauded One:12 Collection is no exception. Take a look at his features -- a grim visage and battle-scarred flesh adds a touch of realism. With lots of extra accessories you can have Conan battle all sorts of barbarians, beasts and monsters! Pre-order HERE.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The One:12 Collective presents Conan The Barbarian; based aesthetically on Frank Frazetta’s famous paintings of Conan, Robert E. Howard’s legendary character.

From recreating Frank Frazetta’s ‘The Barbarian’ painting, to readying Conan for a long trek across the snow peaked mountains of his homeland, to an epic Hyborian Age battle, the One:12 Collective Conan figure includes a bounty of weapons, accessories, and outfitting to create many distinct looks for display.

The fearsome warrior is outfitted in an interchangeable loincloth and includes a removable crossbody battle axe harness, removable cape that drapes freely, belt that can hold his sword sheaths and dagger, and mid-calf boots.

Barbarian of the far north, Conan was born on a battlefield and became a respected warrior by the age of 15. Traveling throughout the world, Conan has been a thief, outlaw, mercenary, and pirate. Motivated by his own survival, power, and enrichment, Conan will do whatever it takes to rise to the top.

 

THE ONE:12 COLLECTIVE CONAN FIGURE FEATURES:

• One:12 Collective body with over 30 points of articulation
• Two (2) head portraits
• Hand painted authentic detailing
• Approximately 17cm tall
• Eight (8) interchangeable hands
• One (1) pair of fists
• One (1) pair of weapon holding hands (L&R)
• One (1) pair of grabbing hands (L&R)
• One (1) pair of posing hands (L&R)

COSTUME:

• Necklace (removable)
• Crossbody axe harness (removable)
• Cape (removable)
• Two (2) interchangeable loincloths
• Belt with carabiner hooks
• Mid-calf boots

ACCESSORIES:

• One (1) scimitar sword with removable sheath
• One (1) broadsword with removable sheath
• One (1) dagger with removable sheath
• One (1) battle axe (fits into crossbody harness)
• One (1) shield
• One (1) One:12 Collective display base with logo
• One (1) One:12 Collective adjustable display post

Each One:12 Collective Conan The Barbarian figure is packaged in a collector friendly box, designed with collectors in mind. 

THE COMING OF (KING-SIZE) CONAN

MARVEL COMICS IS CELEBRATING the 50th Anniversary of its CONAN THE BARBARIAN franchise with an oversize special edition comic due out later in December of this year. With a combination of both new and old stories and art, it promises to be as spectacular as it sounds. If you are unfamiliar with "Conan of the Comics", now's your chance to hop on board the slave galley to Hyboria, by Crom! Available from your local comics retailer.

This is a large image and makes a great wallpaper!

Official announcements by the folks at the Mighty Marvel:

Pay Tribute to the 50 Year Legacy of Conan with 'King-Size Conan' This December

Discover the creators joining Roy Thomas in celebrating Conan's monumental comic book legacy!

Last year marked Conan's triumphant return to Marvel Comics, and now this coming December, we celebrate his 50-year legacy with the anniversary special KING-SIZE CONAN #1.

As revealed to Newsarama, writer Roy Thomas penned CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 back in 1970, writing 115 consecutive issues out of the 650 CONAN issues at Marvel from 1970 to 2000, and now returns to the fold with KING-SIZE CONAN #1. Thomas is paired with artist Steve McNiven in one of the five tales featured in this oversized anniversary special.

The other creative teams tackling the remaining four stories include Kurt Busiek and Pete Woods, Chris Claremont and Roberto de la Torre, Steven S. DeKnight and Jesús Saiz, and Kevin Eastman tackling both writing and art duties for one of the tales.

KING-SIZE CONAN #1, cover by Andrew C. Robinson, marks the first Marvel Comics story for both DeKnight (Marvel's Daredevil writer/director/showrunner) and Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator).

"What I wanted to do is get from the first battle Conan had to a time just a few months later when he met the Aesir, which is really about where CONAN #1 starts," Thomas said to Newsarama. "I thought it would be nice to show what happened just before CONAN #1, at least in my mind, with some nice action along the way."

KING-SIZE CONAN #1 interior art by Steve McNiven and Ive Svorcina

"There's some really nice stuff from Steve McNiven," continued Thomas. "He's not slavishly channeling Barry Smith, but there's an approximation that really catches that spirit, and it's really good."

The oversized 50th anniversary special KING-SIZE CONAN #1 features:

All-new prelude to the original Marvel CONAN (1970) story by Roy Thomas and Steve McNiven

A tale of revenge by Kevin Eastman

A turning point in Conan's career as a mercenary by Chris Claremont and Roberto de la Torre

An early brush with sorcerous forces that will shape Conan's destiny by Kurt Busiek and Pete Woods

Conan and Bêlit sail together again for the first time since the 2019 Marvel relaunch in a story by Steve DeKnight and Jesús Saiz

Celebrate 50 Years of Conan the Barbarian Comics with 'King-Size Conan' #1

Preview the works of Roy Thomas, Steve McNiven, Kurt Busiek, Chris Claremont, and more in the oversized special!

In 1970, Roy Thomas brought CONAN THE BARBARIAN, a creation of author Robert E. Howard, to Marvel Comics. With art by the incomparable Barry Windsor-Smith, CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 introduced the Hyborian Age to a whole new audience, paving the way for decades of comics and Conan’s conquest of pop culture.

Now get ready to celebrate 50 years of CONAN with an oversize special spanning the breadth of Conan’s life and times by the most dazzling array of creative talent ever assembled to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth!

Experience Roy Thomas and Steve McNiven’s all-new prelude to that original story from 1970! Thrill to a tale of revenge by Kevin Eastman (co-creator, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), writing and drawing his FIRST Marvel story! Chris Claremont and Roberto de la Torre team up to unveil a turning point in Conan’s career as a mercenary! Kurt Busiek and Pete Woods recount an early brush with sorcerous forces that will shape Conan’s destiny! Conan and Bêlit sail together again for the first time since the 2019 relaunch, with Jesús Saiz illustrating the Marvel Comics maiden voyage of Steven S. DeKnight (Daredevil writer/director/showrunner)!

The perfect introduction for new fans, and an essential adventure for die-hards, this is the can’t-miss Conan comic of the decade! Revelations, surprises, and savage action prevail in the all-new KING-SIZE CONAN #1!

"I feel that one of the milestones of my creative life was when I stumbled into acquiring, writing, and editing CONAN THE BARBARIAN (and SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN)," says Modern Marvel Master Roy Thomas, "so I'm very happy to be writing the character again fifty years later, even just for a ten-page story. Just for a zane, I decided to do a prequel to CTB #1... more a vignette than a story, but bridging the gap between CTB and some retroactive continuity that I added later. Hope people enjoy it... and the art by Steve McNiven should assure that they like looking at it!"

“My love affair with Marvel Comics began before I could read," adds Steven S. DeKnight in an interview with Newsarama. "I used to look at the incredible art and make up my own stories. Now, quite a few lifetimes later, I have the honor of actually writing my own story for the House of Ideas. And not just any story! Conan! Barbarian! Destroyer! King! To say this is a dream come true would be a criminal understatement. I couldn’t think of a more satisfying character to make my debut with between the pages of Marvel Comics. I hope you enjoy this adventure as much as I did!”

"I bought Conan issue #1 off a drug store spinner rack," Kevin Eastman recalls to CBR, "I was eight and it cost me fifteen cents. That was a big chunk of my paper route money in those days and worth every penny. I read it so often the staples barely held it together, which Stan Lee commented on when he signed it thirty years later. As a lifelong fan I was thrilled when [editor] Mark Basso not only invited me to do a cover recently, but to contribute a short story for this collection. I was at once incredibly excited and insanely nervous, as well as grateful they still wanted to publish it after I turned the work in! Thanks for so many awesome memories!" 

Sample pages:

Variant covers:

John Buscema

Carlos Pacheco

Jen Bartel

Jesus Saiz

Joe Jusko