First of all, it was a thrill to be opening up #32 in the hotel room. Leafing through it I was mentally noting immediately that it was a standout issue.
However, I am just now realizing what a remarkable thing this is! Not until I had gotten it home and had totally absorbed it was I able appreciate all the work that went into this magazine.
At the risk of sounding like a gushing fanboy, I’m going to praise this issue to the high heavens, doggone it!!
Not only is it gorgeous to look at, it’s got Mank and Weaver (in alphabetical order), two top-tier writers at the top of their craft. You also have Scott Essman’s photo article where you can flip the page and see a full page still of each Pierce Wolf Man makeup on your left. Very nifty!
That’s 2 HUGE articles (with lots of new information) on classic Universal Horror and ‘50s sci fi and all illustrated with stunningly reproduced stills. Many of these were new to me. Even the ones I’ve seen are definitive here on the glossy paper.
Hammer fans can also enjoy this with the review of the new UK (HORROR OF) DRACULA (58) and Senn’s thorough description of the recently discovered Japanese footage. Even Gary Rhodes is represented with Mark Clark’s good review of his new (and best) Lugosi book.
The stills are so crystal clear. The writers are some of the absolute best out there. The design and layout, the paper, and everything is just top notch.
AND THEN THERE’S THAT COVER!! You just have to see it and hold it in your hands to see what a knockout it is. Whenever I think: WOLF MAN, that’s the still that always comes to mind first. So what if it’s from HOUSE OF DRACULA? Those eyes seem to be looking right over my shoulder!
For those who don’t like colorization (What? You want b/w covers??) The original black and white still is one of the full pages inside the magazine.
It's the best MFTV yet. I know because I've got them all. If you know the track record of this magazine, you know what I am comparing it with.
I can’t find a defect in the entire issue. Think of it, even the review of DRACULA VS FRANKENSTEIN made me want to see it! I never thought I would ever do THAT again!
Seriously, I’m even thinking that this may arguably be the best issue of ALL monster magazines I have ever seen period! I have been reading and collecting them since FM #2. More than one person (not Jim or Marian!) at the convention had mentioned to me that MFTV is the finest monster magazine ever (I think so too) so my making that statement is something to realistically mull over.
Folks, if you deem yourselves to be connoisseurs of the finer things in life, you need to have this one!
Congratulations to Jim, Marian and everyone who contributed. I wish I could have realized all this and told you in person at the Bash, but I didn’t know how special this issue was until now.
I’m even going to put my real name to this!

Mark Martucci