NEW ARTICLE PUBLISHED!

During my computer fiasco, I managed to get a little good news with the publication of my 7th installment of "Fear in Four Colors: The Hideous History of American Horror Comics" in Dead Letter Press' NIGHTMARE ABBEY #10. This chapter is entitled, "Little Shoppes of Horrors (A-C)".

Here is a sample of the article:

Thus far in this series, we’ve learned about the origins of the American horror comic book and the writers and artists who worked behind the scenes creating them. We’ve also learned how they were relentlessly criticized and maligned throughout their short history by parents, teachers and religious organizations until most of them buckled and collapsed under the weight of the onerous restrictions brought about as a result of public outcry.

But, what about the people who were actually involved in printing these vile, salacious and foul things as they were often referred to by their detractors? Many of these individuals got their start publishing pulps, then superhero, Western, humor, crime and romance comics, turning to horror only when it became obvious after watching EC Comics’ now-legendary titles fly off the spinner racks that they were the new four-color cash cow. At their peak, horror comics were an exercise in which every month publishers sought to outdo each other to produce the most grisly, gory and blood-soaked books they could come up with in their unbridled imaginations. And readers loved it.

Publishers were well known to form multiple corporations and tiered companies, with any number of brands and imprints for any number of reasons, including legal protection, taxes and other fees, all with the purpose of maintaining any kind of advantage they could over their rivals.

As a consequence, comic book publishing was an intensely competitive business. For example, the pulp paper that comics were printed on was a coveted commodity and not always easy to acquire, especially during wartime when there were strict allocations. In addition, distribution could be problematic, and the lack of it could make or break a fledgling enterprise. As a result, distributors had the upper hand and often made demands that were viewed as underhanded and predatory.

While most publishers were normal, law-abiding citizens, there were a number of cunning thieves, pornographers, cutthroats and ex-cons who would extort, leverage and resort to other shady methods to get a leg up on their competitors.

Beginning with this installment of Fear in Four Colors we’ll take a closer look at the entrepreneurs who published horror comics during the pre-Code years, a handful that are still around today. Some flourished and some floundered, but at the very least, when the presses were rolling, they provided a steady paycheck to business owners, printers, writers, artists and others during a time when it wasn’t always so easy to make a buck.

From the publisher

• 10th mammoth volume of the critically-acclaimed horror magazine/book.
• Creepy GHOST STORIES & other WEIRD TALES!
• FEAR IN FOUR COLORS (History of American Horror Comics, part 7)
• 12 terrifying tales by today's top writers!
• New HORROR DELVE list: 13 Greatest pre-WWI horror tales
• Another chilling visit to Bone Street!
• Classic horror movie: Corman's THE HAUNTED PALACE
• A new Magnus Supernatural Dog Tale
• INDY (the Horror Husky) TAKES OVER!
• Art by World Fantasy Award-winner Allen Koszowski
• Heavily illustrated: movie stills, comic book covers, cool facts!
• Get it now, fellow fiends!

Order a copy at Amazon HERE.

Visit my Amazon Author Page HERE.

WORLD OF MONSTERS IS BACK ONLINE

Hi, monster fans. Well, it was a while coming, but after frying a capacitor on my motherboard, buying a replacement laptop, file recovery and assorted other tasks, I'm pretty much back up and running. I've still got a bit of organizing to do, but I'll be able to provide some entertainment in the meantime.

During my blog hiatus, I was suddenly slammed with multiple writing assignments (with deadlines). Consequently, my priority is publishing over posting, so there may be some shorter and sporadic entries here for a while.

In other news, there's just a few more days to vote in the Rondo Awards. Voting ends at the stroke of midnight, May 1, 2026 EST (that means folks on the West Coast have until 9:00 pm.). If you haven't already, I'd sure appreciate it if you would cast your vote for World of Monsters for best website and ‘The Phantom of the Opera, A Centennial Retrospective,’ by John H. (typo, should be M) Navroth, CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN #42 for best article.

Click HERE to see the ballot. You're not required to cast a vote in every category. You could even send a simple email to David Colton at taraco(at)aol.com and just vote for my entries if you like.

Thanks for your support and there's much more monster goodness to come!

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES AT THE MYSTERIOUS MANSION

UPDATE: I've got my recovered files on my new laptop. Need to do a little organizing and then get back to business. Should be a few more days before you see a new post.

I'm having some technical difficulties here at the Mysterious Mansion. After 12 years of faithful service my laptop gave up the ghost. I have a backup laptop to monitor the site and reply to comments, but it doesn't have my working files on it to create new posts. I'm waiting for a recovery disc from my backup provider to upload my files onto my new laptop. As a result, it will be a while until I'm back up to speed.

In the meantime, I invite you to use the search tab on the right sidebar or the label index at the bottom of the page and poke around for lots of archived material.

Thanks for your patience.

Your Sinister Scribe

BLUMHOUSE PLANS NEW VERSION OF 'THE EXORCIST'

I don't know if I'm ready for another take on THE EXORCIST, but I guess there's no choice in the matter. The article below from THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER is sure taking it tongue-in-cheek, which gives you an idea on how the concept is being viewed. One thing it's got going for it is a good cast. The big question is: what kind of a script are they going to get to ply their talents?

John Leguizamo Joins Scarlett Johansson in New ‘The Exorcist’ Horror Movie for Blumhouse, Universal (Exclusive)

Mike Flanagan, known for his Stephen King adaptations 'Gerald's Game' and 'Doctor Sleep,' is writing and will direct the feature film.

By Borys Kit | March 4, 2026 | Hollywoodreporter.com

John Leguizamo has joined the head-spinning cast of Mike Flanagan’s untitled The Exorcist feature, Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Entertainment’s new take on the horror classic.

Flanagan wrote the script and is directing and producing the new feature, promising a “fresh and bold” take on the demonic possession story.

And the feature, which begins production next week, is easily the most brightly starred Exorcist project in years. Scarlett Johansson, Jacobi Jupe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane are already loading up on the holy water.

Flanagan wrote the script and is directing and producing the new feature that is not a remake nor a sequel but set in the Exorcist “universe.”

While plot details are being kept under the sheets, it is known that Johansson plays a mother and Jupe her son. Leguizamo may be playing an antagonist.

Universal Pictures will release the new film theatrically and has set a March 12, 2027, release date.

BUD PLANT SELLS HIS WEBSTORE

Bud Plant, owner of Bud's Art Books announced last year that he was retiring in 2026 at the age of 73. In a recent blog post, Plant wrote that he had sold his business to long-time friend Bill Schanes.

I have been a customer of Bud's fine establishment for many years and I'm sad to see him go. I hope that Mr. Schanes doesn't decide to re-invent the wheel after he takes over which happens so often when a business changes hands.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bud's Art Books, it is one of the most valuable sources for books about art, comics and just about anything else that is printed regarding the topics we all enjoy. Visit the sight by clicking on the sidebar on the right column of this blog.

This message was published on his blog:

A press release has just gone out announcing that this business, as of February 1, will now be owned by a new corporation co-owned by William “Bill” Schanes and Sasha Fera-Schanes, who currently co-manages Pop-King Inc., an eBay store, with her father Steve Schanes, Bill's brother.

Our staff will remain the same. New to us is Marty Grosser, former 37-year head editor of Diamond Previews, stepping into my duties here. He’ll be choosing new items to handle, editing descriptions, recommending items, putting together the weekly eblast, editing the print catalog and so on. I (Bud) have been working with Marty to get him up to speed for several weeks now.

I will remain on board on a part-time basis over February and March to see that the transition runs smoothly and to help out wherever I can.

Many of you will know Bill Schanes; Bill was Vice President of Purchasing for Diamond Comics for 30 years; he retired 13 years ago to take time off and travel. Bill and the Schanes family started and ran the legendary Pacific Comics—publisher of comics, portfolios and books, and an early comics distributor. I (Bud) acquired their distribution arm in 1985. You may recall they were first to publish Dave Stevens and The Rocketeer, Jack Kirby’s creator-owned titles and much, much more.

Bill has no lack of experience in this industry, and he and I have been friends since he started out in the industry in the mid-1970s—he’s several years younger than I am. Bill was also integral in the sale of my own distribution business to Diamond Comics in 1988, after which I went back to direct-to-customer retailing which is where this brings us to today. – Bud

PAPERBACKS FROM HELL FLAME OUT

Will Errickson, co-owner of Valancourt Books who publish the line of PAPERBACKS FROM HELL has announced on his blog, TOO MUCH HORROR FICTION (link is on the "Legends Of Bloggy Creek" right sidebar of this page) that he and his business partner, Grady Hendrix are publishing their last few books in 2026.

Errickson writes:

Well, the time has come: after seven years and almost two dozen titles, Valancourt Books' series of horror fiction reprints, curated by me and Grady Hendrix and inspired by our 2017 nonfiction book Paperbacks from Hell, will come to an end. I know that's not news you wanna hear! We're proud of what we've accomplished and the books we chose. But more and more, alas, it was getting difficult to acquire the rights to various books we wanted to get back into print. The three upcoming titles will be: 

Cover images from Too Much Horror Fiction.

These are highly sought-after titles, very rare on the secondhand market. Publication will be 2026. I hope you guys are excited to get your hands on these guys; I know we are all thrilled to unleash these horror fiction classicks once again upon an unsuspecting public... 

Visit the Valancourt Books website HERE.

MORE DAN CURTIS BLU-RAYS!

Just last week was announced the Blu-ray editions of Dan Curtis' trio of horror films. Let's toss in a few more with new Blu-ray issues of his TV movies DEAD OF NIGHT and collections GOTHIC TALES and LATE NIGHT MYSTERIES. Had these been solicited by anyone but Kino Lorber, they might have been sold as a box set. This way we get to choose from the ones we want and pass on the ones we don't. I like that idea.

Dan Curtis' Dead of Night Blu-ray

Kino Lorber have detailed their upcoming Blu-ray release of Dan Curtis' Dan Curtis' Dead of Night (1977), starring Ed Begley Jr., E.J. André, Ann Doran, Christina Hart, and Orin Cannon. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on October 28.

Description: From the legendary dark minds of producer-director Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows, The Night Stalker, Trilogy of Terror) and writer Richard Matheson (Tales of Terror, The Last Man on Earth, The Twilight Zone) comes this thrilling triptych of spellbinding stories. Second Chance – After buying an antique automobile, Frank (Ed Begley Jr.) restores the vehicle to its original condition. Along with the car, Frank is suddenly transported back in time to the year 1926. Based on a story by Jack Finney (Invasion of the Body Snatchers). No Such Thing as a Vampire – Alexis (Anjanette Comer), the mistress of an old mansion, is terrified of vampires. When her husband (Patrick Macnee) calls in a friend (Horst Buchholz) to examine her, a macabre and bloody scheme unfolds. Bobby – In the dead of night, a boy (Lee H. Montgomery), thought to be deceased, surprises his despondent mother (Joan Hackett) at the family beach house, bringing her both extreme joy and overwhelming terror.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Audio Commentary by novelist and critic Tim Lucas
• Introduction by Jeff Thompson, Author of The Television Horrors of Dan Curtis
• Dead of Night - A Darkness At Blaisedon (HD Up-Res): 1969 TV Pilot (51:53)
• Robert Corbett's Music Score Highlights
• No Such Thing as a Vampire: Deleted Scenes
• Deleted Extended Opening Title Sequence
• Newly Commissioned Cover Art by Tom Hodge/The Dude Designs
• Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase
• Optional English Subtitles

Dan Curtis' Gothic Tales Blu-ray

Kino Lorber have revealed that they are preparing a Blu-ray release of Dan Curtis' Gothic Tales (1973-1974). The release is scheduled to arrive on the market in late November.

CONTENT:

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973)

Not long after having his portrait painted by the artist Basil Hallward (Charles Aidman), handsome Dorian Gray (Shane Briant) meets Lord Harry Wotton (Nigel Davenport) and falls under his influence. A radical libertine, Wotton encourages the boy to indulge every hedonistic impulse, and soon Dorian becomes notorious for his debauchery. Looking at his own portrait one day, he fancifully wishes that it might age rather than he -- and, miraculously, gets his wish.

The Turn of the Screw (1974)

An English governess is hired to take care of two adorable orphans, who turn out to be not exactly what they seem to be.

Dan Curtis' Late-Night Mysteries Blu-ray

Kino Lorber will release on Blu-ray Dan Curtis' Late-Night Mysteries (1974). The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on September 23.

Description: Perhaps no figure exerted a greater influence on 1970s television horror than Dan Curtis. Having created the daytime drama Dark Shadows (1966-71), and while developing The Night Stalker into a weekly series, he produced stand-alone thrillers for ABC Television's Wide World Mystery.

Originally shot on videotape, the four films in this collection have been carefully adapted to HD for this Blu-ray release.

Shadow of Fear stars Claude Akins (B.J. and the Bear) as a disgraced police officer hired to investigate crimes surrounding a psychologically troubled housewife (Anjanette Comer). In The Invasion of Carol Enders, the spirit of a car crash victim is reincarnated into the body of another patient (Meredith Baxter, Family Ties). Come Die With Me follows the cat-and-mouse relationship between a cavalier playboy (George Maharis) and the housekeeper who tries to blackmail him (Eileen Brennan, Private Benjamin). A wholesome family experiences a Kafkaesque miscarriage of justice when they are accused of drug trafficking in Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

Introductions to All Four Films by Jeff Thompson, Author of House of Dan Curtis: The Television Mysteries of the Dark Shadows Auteur

Shadow of Fear Commentary by Amanda Reyes, Author of Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium 1964-1999

The Invasion of Carol Enders Commentary by Television Historian Scott Skelton

Come Die WIth Me Commentary by Author/Podcaster Dan Budnik and Film Historian Robert Kelly

Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest Commentary by Film Historians Amanda Reyes and Heidi Honeycutt

EXTRA! RE-ANIMATOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY 4K BLU-RAY

Ignite Films is also getting into the Halloween mood with their 40th anniversary 4K Blu-ray of Stuart Gordon's cult classic, RE-ANIMATOR. And unlike the disappointing news about the upcoming UK release of the 4K GORGO, Ignite is also going to release a standard Blu-ray edition of RE-ANIMATOR. I like that idea, too!

Ignite Films will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Stuart Gordon's cult film Re-Animator (1985) with a brand new 4K Blu-ray release, which is scheduled to arrive on the market on November 11th.

A standalone Blu-ray release will be available for purchase on the same date as well.

Description: In celebration of its 40th anniversary, Re-Animator returns in a stunning 4K restoration, bringing new life to this horror classic. Based on H.P. Lovecraft's twisted tale, the film follows Herbert West, a brilliant yet unhinged medical student who creates a serum capable of reanimating the dead--with horrifying consequences. Blending grotesque horror and dark humor, Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator shocked audiences and became an instant cult classic upon its release in 1985. This vivid 4K edition captures every gory detail of West's obsession, inviting fans old and new to experience the film's boundary-pushing terror like never before.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• TWO-DISC (4K BLU-RAY/BLU-RAY) COMBO PACK RELEASE
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• Re-Animator at 40: A Conversation with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Brian Yuzna
• Piece By Piece: Cutting Re-Animator – A New Interview with Editor Lee Percy
• The Horror of It All: The Legacy and Impact of Re-Animator
• I Give Life: A Look Back at Re-Animator: The Musical
• Suzie Sorority and the Good College Boy: An Interview with Carolyn Purdy-Gordon
• Re-Animating a Horror Classic: The 4K Restoration of Re-Animator
• The Organic Theater Company of Chicago: A 1977 documentary featuring Stuart Gordon
• New 40th anniversary 4K Blu-ray trailer
• Integral Version (105 mins)
• Isolated Score
• Audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon and actors Graham Skipper and Jesse Merlin of Re-Animator: The Musical
• Audio commentary with Stuart Gordon
• Audio commentary with producer Brian Yuzna, actors Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Abbott, and Robert Sampson
• Re-Animator: Resurrectus - Feature-length documentary on the making of the film featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew
• Interviews with director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna, writer Dennis Paoli, composer Richard Band and former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone
• Music discussion with composer Richard Band
• The Catastrophe of Success: Stuart Gordon and The Organic Theater - Director Stuart Gordon discusses his early theater roots and his continued commitment to the stage
• Theater of Blood - Re-Animator: The Musical lyricist Mark Nutter on adapting the cult classic for musical theater
• Extended scenes
• Deleted scene
• Trailer & TV Spots
• Still Gallery
• Barbara Crampton In Conversation: The Re-Animator star sits down with journalist Alan Jones for this career-spanning 2015 interview
• A Guide to Lovecraft Cinema: Chris Lackey, host of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast, provides a comprehensive look at the many cinematic incarnations of Lovecraft's work.
• Doug Bradley's Spinechillers: Herbert West, Re-Animator actor Jeffrey Combs reads H.P. Lovecraft's original classic story

EXTRA!

One of the tales in Dan Curtis' DEAD OF NIGHT, "No Such Thing as a Vampire", is adapted from a short story by fantasist Richard Matheson. It was first published in PLAYBOY'S October 1959 issue. It was reprinted in THE PLAYBOY BOOK OF HORROR AND THE SUPERNATURAL (Playboy Press, 1967). The following is from the magazine. Art is by Jurgens.

If you care to see who was the Playmate of the Month for this issue, go HERE.

GORGO SPECIAL EDITION COMING TO 4K BLU-RAY!

I almost came up out of my chair when I saw this -- the UK's Screenbound Pictures will be releasing a limited edition, 4K Blu-ray of GORGO this October! After the initial adrenaline rush, I then took a plunge into disappointment -- if it's coming from the UK then it won't be playable on U.S. machines (still haven't bought an all-regions player yet). Then, I looked and my adrenaline kicked back in when I saw they're manufacturing it as an all-region disc!

Pre-orders are now being taken HERE.

NOTE: You'll need a 4K player to play the disc -- it won't play on regular Blu-ray players.

From Blu-ray.com

British label Screenbound Pictures is preparing a 4K Blu-ray release of Eugène Lourié's Gorgo (1961), starring Bill Travers, William Sylvester, Vincent Winter, Bruce Seton, and Joseph O'Conor. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on October 6.

Description: A giant classic of sci-fi action in which a volcanic eruption in the North Atlantic brings a 65-foot prehistoric monster to the surface. The crew of a nearby salvage ship ensnare the monstrous sea creature and put 'Gorgo' on public display as the star attraction in a circus in Battersea Park, London. But when a scientist confirms Gorgo is just a baby, his 200-foot-tall mother descends on the capital in order to rescue her kidnapped offspring, destroying everything in her way including London's iconic landmarks!

Director: Eugene Lourie

Actors: Bill Travers, Christopher Rhoades, Eugene Lourie, Vincent Winter, William Sylvester

Categories: 4K UHD Blu-ray, Action & Adventure, Featured, Featured2, Pre-Orders, Sci-Fi

Release Year: 1961

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Runtime: 77 minutes

Country: United Kingdom

Format: 4K-UHD BluRay

Region Code: Free

Studio: Screenbound Pictures

Number of Discs: 1

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• Ninth Wonder of the World: The Making of Gorgo – A New Documentary by Daniel Griffith
• Gorgo – Gorgo: The Monster from the Sea! Video Comic
• Extensive Lobby Card & Poster Gallery
• Gorgo Toys & Collectibles Gallery
• Production Notes
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• MGM Pressbook Gallery
• Star Cine Cosmos – French-Language "Fumetto" (Video Comic Book)
• Restoration Video – Before & After
• Limited to 2000 Copies – Numbered
• 8-Fold Poster
• 24-page Comic Book included
• Optional English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish subtitles for the main feature

I think it's time to celebrate with another issue of Charlton's GORGO comic. We'll pick up where I left off with issue #10.

GORGO ("The Venusian Terror")

Vol. 1 No. 10

October, 1962

Charlton Comics Group

Cover: Joe Sinnott; Vince Colletta

Editor: Pat Musulli

Script: Joe Gill?

Art: Joe Sinnott; Vince Colletta

Pages: 36

Cover price: 12 cents

NEW MONSTER MAG!

Attention all Space Cadets! FantaCo Enterprises has just released news about their newest 'zine, SPACE MONSTERS. It'll be a 100-page digest-sized magazine "covering all aspects of horror, sci-fi and fantasy", and according to the folks at FantaCo, "it is shaping up to be one of the most popular mags we have ever published."

Contributors for the first bi-annual issue due this June include: of Casey Orr of GWAR, Donald Farmer, Nicholas Vince, Donald F. Glut, Jason Brazeal, Simon Pritchard (cover and comic story), Elizabeth Belmont, Sadie Katz, Steve Strout, Steve Werblun, Frank Dietz and Dennis Daniel .

Pre-order from MONSTERS IN MOTION, or direct from FantaCo (not taking pre-orders yet).