Monster Mags

June 11, 2005 4:49 PM

Monster Magazine Covers! Quote: "Vintage pulp magazines will be offensive to many people today. They were issued before the current climate of political correctness overtook the country. Themes of many magazines (or at least the covers) are racially insensitive, show violence to women, unsafe and/or promiscuous sex, and negative stereotyping of gays, lesbians, Asians, and almost any group you can imagine."
posted by mischief (13 comments total)

Oh man, my mom hated these things.
posted by 2sheets at 6:14 PM on June 11, 2005

This is cool, thanks.
posted by interrobang at 6:31 PM on June 11, 2005

I was born far too late for the heyday of horror comics, but I love the things anyway. (That delightful noise is Dr. Wertham spinning in his grave.) The Gemstone hardcover reprints of EC's Crypt, Vault and Haunt rank among my most prized possessions. Thanks for the link, mischief.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:43 PM on June 11, 2005

I didn't realize he didn't have the EC covers posted. The Warrens are there though.
posted by mischief at 6:49 PM on June 11, 2005

<bragging>I've got a huge collection of Famous Monster Magazines, including issues 1-10.</bragging>

Themes of many magazines (or at least the covers) are [...very bad...] and almost any group you can imagine.

What? Even worse than this? :

posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:16 PM on June 11, 2005

What? Even worse than this?

Yes CD, she could be smoking Opium and wearing a Nazi uniform and holding a Nambla sign, but your point is strong enough...
posted by Elim at 7:43 PM on June 11, 2005

But it's got a chain gang, Elim. A chain gang!
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:56 PM on June 11, 2005

That was actually a very sweet story, C_D, despite the title. A tale of love.

I remember a lot of these from the mid-1970s. To see them again sparks all kids of memories. I think that for the prepubescent child, horror can be a preparation for what sexuality will be like once puberty kicks in. The strong emotions, the role of creative fantasy. As a little kid, some of these magazines--the creepy ones, not the gory ones-- transfixed me, captivated me. It was a daydreaming space similar to one that I would later refocus on girls, (and Ronald Reagan).

I look at these magazine covers now and they seem so flat and chintzy. It's amazing to think that most of the magic came from my own mind. Thanks for the link, mischeif.
posted by squirrel at 8:05 PM on June 11, 2005

It was a daydreaming space similar to one that I would later refocus on girls, (and Ronald Reagan).

Ok, now that's not gory, but it is creepy.
posted by Loudmax at 10:44 PM on June 11, 2005

I'm jealous, Civil. My copy of Chase's book has no dust jacket. There's an even more offensive DJ out there, but it's well beyond my means.
posted by QuietDesperation at 12:17 AM on June 12, 2005

Well, to be honest, the Reagan fantasies were both creepy and gory. Girls, just creepy.
posted by squirrel at 1:49 AM on June 12, 2005

Quiet -- The one with the twelve asian faces (all the same) on it? Yeah, I've got that one in my archive, but couldn't find it on the internets.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:53 AM on June 12, 2005

The 'Witches Tales' and 'Voodoo' titles had some of the bestest/weirdest/amateurish/twisted art and stories.
Scared me pants off. They were hacked out and seemed to have been written by a real madman. A mad man, I say!
posted by doctorschlock at 8:45 AM on June 14, 2005