MEDIASCENE NO. 16

This is issue #16 of Jim Steranko's classy "magazine of popular entertainment". Published on newsprint paper like THE MONSTER TIMES, he would later print his other publications in standard magazine format.

This is one killer issue, with a feature on Gil Kane and Richard Corben's graphic novels that were in development at the time. Kane's THE FLAME HORSE was never published and Corben's KING OF THE NORTHERN ABYSS, based on Robert E. Howard's story, "The Valley of the Worm" morphed into BLOODSTAR which found life with Morning Star Press. Also included in this issue are interviews with Bernie Wrightson and Vaughn Bode, a profile of Jack Davis and a feature on The Shadow.

BODE AND WRIGHTSON: PURPLE PICTOGRAPHY

In 1971, Vaughn Bode and his buddy, Berni Wrightson teamed up for an adult comic strip that was published over a number of issues in the men's magazine, SWANK. Bode was noted for creating the oddball characters Cheech Wizard and Junkwaffle, as well as his voluptuous women. Of course, Wrightson needs no introduction here. 

As seen here, some of the stories were collected and published by Eros Comix in October 1991. The story, "The Monster's Thing" is a sexy Frankenstein parody and looks more Wrightson than Bode.