Perhaps all the suggested reasons behind the bad years of FM (Warren decisions) are all legit, but I'm noticing that "Good" FM is credited to Warren and Ackerman, and blame for "Bad" FM is solely being laid at the doorstep of Warren.

Could it be (not all the time, but occasionally), that Ackerman didn't have enough material for an issue, was away for an extended period of time, lacked enough time/missed a deadline, or such?

If Warren paid Ackerman per article, I could see reprints as being a money-saving alternative. But if Ackerman got paid a flat rate salary or per issue, then if new material for an issue was there I don't see why Warren wouldn't go with it.

(I'm talking about the period(s) of time OTHER than the late 60s, when Warren had his extreme hardships and all the magazines suffered and the late 70s when FM basically became the STAR WARS promotion magazine...)

Jim N