Monarch's Reptilicus!

Charlton also was associated with the paperback imprint Monarch and they too adapted Reptilicus using the writer David Owens. Pink took issue with some of the scenes created for the novel version which are reputed to have a somewhat lascivious quality. I've never read it, so I cannot speak first-hand about it. But apparently it upset Pink who pulled the license from Charlton.

Rip Off

Monarch's Gorgo!

The Monarch Books (a Charlton brand) novelization of the Gorgo saga by Carson Bingham (the pen name of Bruce Cassiday) is much different from the movie. The story is told from the point of view of Sam Slade and his partnership with Joe Ryan is much more tempestuous than in the film. They first joined forces in the Korean War and later as gun runners for the Cuban revolution. Both are rough and tumble, but Joe is much more imposing and dangerous than in the film. The biggest change is the addition of Moira, the sister of Sean, the kid from the film. We get some exceedingly sexy scenes between her and Sam as he is smitten immediately. (She has a very difficult time keeping her clothes on.) She's presented early in the book almost as a mystical figure, mysterious and strangely aloof. But the description of their lovemaking is very salacious in the spirit of that era. I'd imagine more than a few kids had eye-popping moments as they awaited the monster to emerge. The attack on Nara Island by Gorgo's mother is much more impressive in the novel though there is a limitation to the descriptions of the destruction of London as we are hampered by seeing only through Sam's eyes. 

To read the novel version of the story by Carson Bingham check out this link to the Internet Archive. 

Rip Off

Monarch's Konga!

Konga the novel from Monarch Books (a Charlton brand) was written by "Dean Owen" (Dudley Dean McGaughey) and adds some spice to the already pretty randy yarn about a man and his killer gorilla. 

The cover art is by John Duillo. For more Duillo art check out this link. 

Rip Off

The Exploitation Of Konga!

Here is the rather impressive debut issue of Charlton's Konga comic, developed as a tie-in to Herman Cohen's memorable early 60's monster flick.

Here you can see this particular issue in the Konga move pressbook (featured at From Zombo's Closet) along with the Monarch novelization by Dean Owen. Monarch was also an arm of the Charlton publishing "empire". Both the comic and the novel are among the "Special Exploitation Material" a theater could make use of to entice the customer to come see the movie. I'd love to see a Konga balloon or bank. The pressbook also suggests weirdly that the serum which gave birth to the giant Konga might actually be withing the realm of possibility! Who are they trying to kid?

The novelization is pretty racy in places. I wonder if theaters ever caught any heat for disseminating this book to its relatively unwary customers.

Rip Off

The Monarchs And The Gold Stars!

My favorite publisher is the now defunct, but far from forgotten Charlton Group. This outfit situated in the town of Derby, Connecticut was close enough to the the New York City talent pool to draw from it regularly, but not so close as to be absorbed into its colorless mass. Charlton productions have always had a distinctive quality, mostly owing to the fact that most if not all their product was produced in house, on presses the publishers themselves owned and operated. In fact the comics so much adored by some discriminating  fans (like yours truly)  were rumored to be mere fodder to keep the presses warm and running between more profitable magazine productions.

But Charlton was not limited to magazines. They also had a paperback  brand, in fact they had two. Monarch Books is a handsome collection of paperbacks published in the heyday of that format which offered up an array of soft pornography for that always ready audience along with some choice books of a more specific nature such as adaptations of movies like Gorgo, Konga, Reptilicus, and Brides of Dracula. To get a solid look at the offerings of Monarch check out this beautiful gallery at Bookscans. And take a gander at this file overview for some juicy details about this little publisher.

The second Charlton paperback brand was the smaller Gold Star. Gold Star books offered up again the usual soft-porn fare as well as a most peculiar and unfortunately much objected to run of brand Tarzan adventures. To get a look at their offerings check out this link as well as this one. For more on the inner workings of this other paperback brand see this.

Paperbacks were once upon a time a source for most entertainment we now associate with the internet. Technology has replaced and sadly made obsolete these vintage classic and not-so-classic tomes. But most folks who might be inclined to visit here most certainly appreciate the old stuff. I know I do.

Rip Off

Monsters Of Monarch!

Monarch Books was an imprint of the defunct Charlton publishing firm. As Charlton would take licensed material and create fascinating comics out of them, Monarch Books would do likewise in the realm of pulp fiction. The adaptations written by Dean Owen and others for Brides of Dracula, Konga, Reptilicus, and Gorgo are highly collectable. I've seen them from time to time, but always at prices I won't pay for a book likely too fragile to actually read. What I'd love to see is a reprint program for some of these vintage items, to get them into the hands of fans for the sheer enjoyment of what appear to be quite unusual takes on some monsters we're quite familiar with.

The reverse cover of Gorgo for instance offers up a brief description of the book with a few tantalizing details.

What is added is sex. The movies while sometimes with a sexual subtext (if you look really really hard) never had any on the surface, or at not any that would be considered offensive. That's apparently not the case with these novels which seem to be quite steamy. Charlton or Monarch seemed quite adept of taking projects which came to them and targeting a specific audience, whether it be kids looking for four-color fun or adults seeking fun of a different sort.

Rip Off