I started with FM in September 1965 (issue #35) and was totally enthralled. This was in the days of the square binding, and every book looked great! It wasn't until issue #48, in November 1967, that I noted a distinct change. Most significantly, the binding went to a regular stapled spine, the book lost its distinctive heft, and there were more and more reprints. From that issue on, I noted a lack of quality in FM, and it didn't get better until the mid 70's (remember the "Food of the Gods" cover? Awesome!).

It's funny you should mention comic books. By the late 60's (especially 1969), comics were definitely a'changin'. For one, the price went up to 15 cents, an outrageous jump. Remember how they'd actually print little blurbs from Dick Giordano (in DC) to "explain" the three cent increase? I can't imagine them doing that nowadays! Also, DC comics, at least, became slightly cheaper "looking." There was a LOT of "groovy, boss, neato" slang being tossed about, and DC's attempts at being "hip" (especially Teen Titans, circa 1968) were just painful. Stuff like "Wonder chick!" Yeep! DC was a bunch of middle-aged guys trying deparately to be "with it" during an undeniably crazy time. At least Marvel was cooler, but they, too, went down in quality. Way too many reprinted books, a lot of horror junk, and a lot of "mod" way-out plotlines.

By that point, Gold Key was just struggling, Archie had deteriorated into kiddie land (with every story having a moral), and even Harvey became more sanitized. Plus, my favorite comic of the period--Little Lulu--stopped printing her annual Halloween issue! The last was in 1965, and my Halloweens haven't been the same since!

Rod