Greetings from the 10-foot pole department: today I'm here to write about The Monster Magazine That Refuses to Die. The question I have is: is it finally time to lay it to rest?
A year ago I posted a news item on a topic I was guardedly optimistic about -- the return of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND print magazine. The property was purchased by metal band Slipknot's lead vocalist, Corey Taylor. Obviously a huge fan, he announced the coming of his version of the legendary -- and now a little long-in-the-tooth -- monster magazine that us Monster Kids grew up on. And for anyone who is crazy enough about FM to buy the rights to it, I say more power to him.
Well, about a year-and-a-half after it was originally announced, pre-orders for the first issue were being taken on the website. I got a little excited about it . . . until I saw the price -- 25 bucks! What's more, there were no no digital editions for us cheapskates.
At the start, I signed up for the FM newsletter hoping to receive some more exciting updates, but alas, more than a year later, I haven't received a single one (and yes, I've checked my Spam box). I did visit the website now and then but didn't see anything about the first issue being published.
Well, that changed when I just recently decided to tap the "Products" button on the main menu and -- voila! -- there were already two issues published and a third on the way! Why there isn't a "Magazine" tab beats the hell outta me.
I had similar feelings when FANGORIA was resurrected; at a $20 price-point I was turned off, even after thumbing through a copy or two that I came across on the newsstand at my local B&N. Interestingly, their mag is also hidden behind the "Shop" button on their website.
To be fair, I've been only bagging on the exorbitant cost and have yet to see the contents of the new incarnation of FM. But I have to say, with the sparse blurbs (see below) and what's in the text boxes on the covers, I'm gonna have a hard time springing for one of these.
Color me cynical, but if the new FM lasts for more than 10 issues or so, I will be quite surprised. I just don't see it as being unique and exceptional enough to capture the reading audience of today. And, good lord! The price!
Cover art by Terry Wolfinger. Featuring articles about Sid Haig, King Kong, The Exorcist, An Interview with Tim Burton, AND MORE!!
Issue #2 features cover art from Terry Wolfinger. Articles about Phantasm, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Lon Chaney, 13 Questions with David Dastmalchian, AND MORE!!
Prices keep me from sampling more of these monster mags. I get Scary Monsters on the regular to keep my hand in but nothing beyond that.
ReplyDeleteI just spent 25 bucks on the latest issue of Screem Magazine, which included 5 bucks for postage. But like Little Shoppe of Horrors, it's got about a novel's-length of articles and reviews, mostly on the topics I'm interested in. Still, it hurt to push the "Buy" button.
ReplyDeleteIt has probably been explained before, and even though I haven't purchased any of them but, it would have been more historically logical to continue on with the issue numbering system instead of reverting back to issue #1, 2 & 3 - if that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI see no reason to begin it again from #1. It would have been better for the dedicated FM fans still out there that it would have instead continued with the previous numbering. Of course, when one owns the rights, they can do as they please.
ReplyDelete