SCARS Magazine's Bodacious Horror Babes!

After a hard day's work in the land of franchised fruit products, I was delighted last night to come home and find, waiting for me on the kitchen counter, the latest issue of SCARS Magazine. Even ordinarily, this would be a very exciting thing for me, as SCARS just happens to be one of the coolest and most eminently readable underground pop culture magazines on the market. But this... this was extra special, because within this issue's thick and sturdy pages resided my very own article.

You'd think after 15 years as a professional writer, the thrill just wouldn't be there anymore, but nothing could be further from the truth. I got just as much of a kick picking up that issue as I did picking up H.W. Wilson's Chemical and Biological Warfare back in 1997 (nothing but uplifting subject matter for me!). I'd been waiting a long time for this one, and I'm grateful to Managing Editor Fallon Masterson for allowing me entry into such a groovy publication.

If you're a fan of this blog, chances are you will enjoy reading SCARS Magazine very much. I urge you to check out the website and pick up your own copy. In the new issue (dated Winter 2012-2013), I have an article entitled "Bodacious & Bloodied: Horror's Great 8 Badass Women of the '80s", in which I run through the absolute best female leads of '80s horror. You'll find them all there, from Heather Langenkamp to Jamie Lee Curtis, with perhaps a few surprises. It was a lot of fun to write, and I hope you enjoy reading it just as much.

Beyond my own article, there are other pieces on Alan Moore, '80s video game movies, and a profile of the amazing artist who did the cover illustration, Jason Edmiston--plus much more Reagan Era goodness. It's the Big '80s Issue, and I'd seriously have demanded a copy even if I wasn't published in it.

Check out SCARS, and let me know what you think of my rankings. Nothing like a good old fashioned horror debate...

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Hump-Day Harangue: Weighing in on the GoreZone Controversy

I realize I'm a bit late to the dance on this one, so bear with me. But this has been a situation I've been watching for some weeks now, with great concern. Specifically because it ties into something I ranted at length about some time ago--namely, bloggers getting pushed around by those who can't handle a bad review.

By now, most of you know the story. I first was made aware of it by the blogger Cyberschizoid. Write-ups on the matter followed at Chuck Norris Ate My Baby and Zombos' Closet of Horror. It seems that one Dangerous Jamie of the blog Let's Get Dangerous posted an open letter to Britain's GoreZone magazine in January, detailing his various problems with the current state of the publication, and how it might improve.

The letter seemed innocuous enough. It was carefully worded, constructive and rational in its criticism. It was by no means what anyone would call an unfair attack. Yet, it wasn't long before Jamie's blog was being inundated by troll commenters leaving hateful, obscene and vicious remarks. One of them even claimed to be Bryn Hammond, Editor-in-Chief of GoreZone. However, this was proven to be false--as were the identities of some 14 other commenters. The kicker is that all these comments were coming from the same IP address, which allegedly was located within GoreZone magazine itself.

From there, legal action was taken against Jamie for the post in question. I'm no expert on freedom of the press in the UK, or UK laws regarding libel, defamation and such, but there's no way that a magazine can sue a critic for writing a negative review of said magazine. If so, what kind of insane door would that open? As has been pointed out, GoreZone itself reviews movies and other things--could they conceivably be sued for writing a bad review?

Jamie (pictured, left) was accused of libeling GoreZone with his open letter, of attempting to harm the magazine's sales. This, when Jamie himself was libeled outright by some of the most heinous comments I've ever seen on any blog, all the while remaining civil in all his responses. It's also interesting that one of Jamie's main points in his post was that GoreZone is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors--and then, you guessed it, almost every comment bashing Jamie and supporting GZ was also riddled with the same.

He was forced to remove a GoreZone cover image from the post, when, to my knowledge, using an image like that for review purposes is completely kosher. Thankfully, this seems to have been all they've been able to coerce him to do. Ever since the IP address controversy, the GoreZone folks seem to have mysteriously backed off, and Jamie himself has not heard a word from the lawyers or anyone else in weeks.

Thankfully, lots of readers and bloggers have shown Jamie support in this unfortunate situation, including the aforementioned, as well as Robert Ring of The Sci-Fi Block, who helped get the story covered on Techdirt, a website which covers technology-based legal issues. The situation even caught the attention of Roger Ebert, who mentioned it on Twitter.

And speaking of Ebert, the legendary film critic was lambasted, along with Jamie, in an interview given by the real Bryn Hammond with the website Screen Jabber. Hammond denied the claim that the phony negative comments were coming from within GoreZone itself. But in defending himself, he really did himself no favors, describing Jamie's responses to him as "naively spouting off about freedom of speech and all that bullshit." Hammond also warns both Jamie and Ebert (who never came down on either side of the issue, by the way), to "really watch that kind of bullshit they're writing and talking about."

It's very unfortunate that a blogger could be so thoroughly bullied by a corporate entity, but sadly, it doesn't surprise me. As was stated in the CNAMB write-up, this would definitely not be happening if it had been a major website or other entity that published the critique. But because it's someone they consider unimportant and defenseless, they try to pressure him into retracting his criticism. Thankfully, the situation seems to have calmed down a bit, as someone must've informed GoreZone that they don't have a legal leg to stand on.

I had not been all that familiar with GoreZone before this debacle (I do remember a Fangoria satellite mag with the same name in the '90s, but I don't think they're related), but the whole thing has pretty much ensured I will not be picking up my first issue anytime soon. If this is the way they operate, I want nothing to do with them. In fact, I won't even entertain the notion of buying an issue until Jamie gets an apology, and I encourage anyone disturbed by the matter to do the same. I doubt that apology will ever come about, but so be it. Judging by what's been spewed onto Jamie's blog and elsewhere, I don't think I'm missing much.

It's very important that companies like GoreZone not be simply permitted to get away with bullying small, independent bloggers and other journalists. If we allow it to happen once, it's just going to keep happening, and getting worse every time. Folks like that shouldn't be emboldened--it should be made clear to them that such behavior cannot be tolerated in a free society.

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SFX Magazine Does Horror!

I recently had a copy sent to me of the brand new SFX special magazine on horror, and would like to give you all a preview of what is a very impressive and jam-packed issue. My thanks to editor Ian Berriman, whom I really hope is able to pull off making this a much-more regularly published periodical.

Most of you may know SFX as a UK-based genre entertainment magazine, mainly dealing with fantasy and sci-fi. Imagine if Starlog and Empire had a baby. Anyway, from time to time they put out a special, and this latest one is entitled simply "Horror", and tackles our favorite subject head-on, in an oversized, glossy format that's to die for.

Think I'm just saying that because they sent me a free one? Well, check out some of what's inside:

• The cover story is a countdown of the Top 20 Horror Villains, basically an expansion of a poll conducted on SFX's website. And while I'm peeved that the online voters predictably left off some of the more vintage baddies (Dracula is the only Universal monster included), it is a fine list nevertheless, with some pleasant surprises like Sadako, Pennywise and my main man Dr. Anton Phibes.
• There's a very candid excerpt from Robert Englund's new autobiography, Hollywood Monster, in which he recalls first meeting Wes Craven, and how Freddy Krueger almost wore a newsboy cap instead of a fedora.
• Rick Baker talks in-depth about his approach to designing the Wolfman makeup, not even pulling any punches with regards to some of his disappointment in the finished product. I thought it rocked, Rick.
• The A to Z of Friday the 13th. B is for Betsy Palmer. S is Savini. You get the picture. Good clean fun.
• Horror's Hidden Treasures is a superb piece in which 34 leading horror creators are asked to recommend a relatively obscure or underrated book/movie/whatever (although the obscurity of some is debatable). Clive Barker, for example, really wants you to check out Eyes Without a Face. Not the Billy Idol song, silly.
• Writer Russell Lewin goes on a mad mission to make it through every single one of Britain's 74 infamous "video nasties". Best of all, the article gives a complete list, so you sickos can more easily track them all down yourselves!
• Yet another superb piece, My Life in Horror, spotlights five beloved character actors/genre icons: Brad Dourif, John Saxon (Yes!!), Ingrid Pitt, Kane Hodder and Ken Foree. Worth the cover price alone. Well, not literally, but you get the idea. It's really good.
• A suitably lurid and gaudy rundown of the delicious phenomenon of Spanish horror, including the likes of the late Paul Naschy, the Blind Dead series, The Awful Dr. Orlof, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue, The Orphanage and lots more.
• Not enough for you? OK, how about a piece on the history of American horror comics, spanning the EC days and Seduction of the Innocent, through the Warren magazines, DC and Marvel's '70s horror dalliances, the Vertigo boom, all the way to the present day genre of Steve Niles, Robert Kirkman and Mike Mignola.

There are tons more juicy tidbits throughout, but you get the picture. This is, in short, a fine publication that does the horror genre proud. Aside from the magazine itself, it even comes in a deluxe package that contains goodies like horror-themed pub coasters (Winchester, Slaughtered Lamb, etc.), Freddy and Jason pins and a vintage double-sided Halloween/The Thing movie poster. Having worked on special magazines like this in the past, I can tell that a lot of passion and care went into putting this together. I suggest you pick it up.

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VAULT VLOG: Magazine Madness!

• For more on Cineaste Magazine, go to their official website.
• Order Midnight Echo #3 right here.
• And of course, Musings Across a Continuum can be found here.

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Love Meets Lovecraft! My Debut Short Story Is Now Available!

The day is finally here. As you might recall, some months back I announced that my first piece of fiction had been accepted for publication--and now it's finally out there. Midnight Echo, the official publication of the Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA), unleashed its third issue today--and my very own story, "Hell Hath No Fury", is among those you will find on the pages within.

A love story with a Lovecraftian twist, "Hell Hath No Fury" took me a good six months to complete, and I'm pretty psyched that it's now out there in the world for people to enjoy. If anyone is interested in picking up their very own copy of Midnight Echo #3 and checking out my story, the AHWA is selling digital PDF copies for a mere $3.50 American--not too shabby for a mag boasting 133 pages of content and containing 41 short stories. If you're old-school like me, print copies are also available. Nothing like holding it in your hands (and no, that is not what she said, unfortunately).

This is a day I've dreamt of since I was six years old. I'm proud of my twisted little tale, and I hope you check it out and enjoy it. Hopefully, it will be the first of many. But for right now, I have some laurel-resting and rose-smelling to do.

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Zombelina Presents: Creepy Magazine, Then vs. Now

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A Quarter-Century of Krueger: The Long-Lost Marvel NOES Comic Magazine...

First off, let me just wish a Happy Rosh Hashanah to all my Vault Kvellers out there. Having said that, I will now turn my attention to a rather obscure yet glorious corner of the Nightmare on Elm Street universe this week in QCK. I'm talking about the notoriously short-lived Marvel Comics NOES magazine.

Don't remember it? Shame on you. It came out in 1989, back when I was at the height of my newsstand comics collecting, being as yet too young and unsophisticated to have discovered the wonder of comic book stores. Did you know that it was the best-selling magazine-sized comic book that Marvel ever put out? Quite a feat when you think that this is the company that published things like Savage Sword of Conan!

And yet, as tremendously successful as it was, Marvel's A Nightmare on Elm Street magazine lasted all of two issues. That's right, two issues. It was a sad state of affairs, especially when you consider that it was a fine bit of reading. It was intending to take on an anthology format, unfettered by the movie continuity, yet still featuring Freddy Krueger on a regular basis.

But all we got was the initial two-part story, "Dreamstalker"--written by the late Steve Gerber, best known as the co-creator of Howard the Duck and mastermind of many other offbeat '70s Marvel titles; and drawn by Rich Buckler, acclaimed '70s Fantastic Four artist and co-creator of Deathlok.

I happen to own both of those issues, and I remember being blown away by them. At the time, much of the comic adaptations inspired by film properties were rather lackluster, but this NOES mag was some quality work. And being in large format, it was free of the crippling Comics Code, which made it that much better.

Unfortunately, it was also this that brought about its premature downfall. In his Marvel.com blog, Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort (then a mere intern) recalls that then-Marvel president Terry Stewart got cold feet when he began receiving letters from "concerned parents" regarding this new magazine that supposedly glorified a child-murderer. And so, despite the clearly labeled warning indicating this mag was intended for mature readers, Stewart pulled the plug.

The story goes that an additional three issues were already in the planning stages. This included a rumored storyline written by Sam Keith (creator of The Maxx) and drawn by Peter David, best known for his revolutionary work on The Incredible Hulk during the same period. A sendup of Field of Dreams, Krueger style (one can only imagine what that might mean), alas, it never saw the light of day.

Marvel's NOES title was the first-ever comic based on the juggernaut horror film series. As we all know, it would be far from the last. But it's a shame that corporate timidity would bring it crashing down so quickly. I don't believe this would be something that would happen today, what with the much greater proliferation of "mature readers" comic books. But then again, when you think about what Savage Sword was getting away with back then, it really makes you wonder what Stewart was thinking...

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VAULT VLOG: Where Have You Gone, Forrest J. Ackerman?

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The Tuesday Top 10: Favorite Famous Monsters of Filmland Covers

I recently had the pleasure of rediscovering that great watershed publication of geek culture, Warren Publishing's Famous Monsters of Filmland. Basically, this mag, under the guidance of the one and only Forrest J. Ackerman, epitomized the "fun" approach to horror that I hold so dear to my heart. A large part of this was due to the vivid, amazing covers by brilliant artist Basil Gogos. Join me this week as I take a nostalgic trip through the FM archives to look at some of the most memorable....

10. #114 April 1975 (Godzilla/Rodan)


9. #99 January 1974 (The Wolf Man)


8. #225 Fall 1998 (Bride of Frankenstein)


7. #14 October 1961 (The Pit & The Pendulum)


6. #249 Fall 2008 (White Zombie)


5. #38 April 1966 (Curse of the Demon)


4. #16 March 1962 (Phantom of the Opera)


3. #109 June 1974 (Madhouse)


2. #9 November 1960 (London After Midnight)


1. #56 July 1969 (Death of Boris Karloff)

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Forrest J. Ackerman 1916-2008

One of the giants--if not the giant--of genre fandom has finally shuffled off his mortal coil. The venerable Forrest J. Ackerman; Uncle Forry; Dr. Acula; 4SJ; The Ackermonster--is no more. Last Thursday night, he slipped peacefully away, surrounded by friends, at the age of 92.

If you're reading this blog, you probably already know this, but Ackerman was the quintessential, original "fanboy", in 1958 founding the legendary magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland that ran for nearly a quarter century and literally gave birth to the modern phenomenon of horror/sci-fi/fantasy fandom as we know it. In fact, it was Forry who coined the term "sci-fi" in his early issues of FMOF. He inspired generations of "monster kids" in the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s, and his influence continues to be felt.

Additionally, Ackerman had gathered together over his almost century of life the single most impressive collection of genre memorabilia on the planet. He enjoyed the friendship of everyone from H.P. Lovecraft to Harry Knowles. The man was literally a pop culture phenom all too himself, and the world is poorer for his passing.

For a truly amazing tribute, I direct you to Knowles' Ain't It Cool News, where you can check out tributes from Phil Tippett, Rick Baker and Paul Dini, as well as a moving final farewell written by Ackerman for Knowles five years ago, in anticipation of his death.

Most of Ackerman's heyday occurred before my time, but even though I grew up more in the era of Starlog/Fangoria, his was a name I always knew and respected--the godfather and president emeritus of the entire fan community. 

R.I.P. Uncle Forry.

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Rue Morgue Honcho Talks Horror

It's been clear for years now, at least to this humble blogger, that Rue Morgue is the finest horror magazine on newsstands. And I'm not the only Classic Horror Film Board voter who thinks so, since the mag did win a coveted Rondo Hatton award a couple weeks ago.

Firefox News (no connection to the browser, which they dutifully point out) has a really in-depth exclusive interview up with Rue Morgue founder Rodrigo Gudiño, who is apparently quite the deep thinker on all matters horrific. With a guy with this much insight on the genre at the helm, it's no wonder Rue Morgue runs circles around other horror pubs that seem more interested in printing as many gore-dripping photos as possible than anything else.

Gudiño discusses the difference between horror fans and science fiction fans, the perception of horror in the mainstream and what can be done about it, as well as many of the ventures Rue Morgue and its staff are involved in, including motion pictures. Check it out here.

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