Creepy was launched and to celebrate the event Warren held the first of several gatherings at the Cattlemen Restaurant. For Warren it was the first chance to meet many of the contributors to the magazine and as ever he was on great good form as he played host to the assembled creatives. There were other projects to be considered and as initial sales returns started to filter through from Kable News, Warren felt sufficiently emboldened to consider a war magazine much in the vein of EC's "Two Fisted Tales" and "Frontline Combat".
" but unlike "Creepy", Warren's war magazine was gravely mistimed. With the U.S. sucked into the morass of Vietnam, BC's anti war stance and at times overt critique of America's conduct of that war, created a news stand backlash and problems with their distributors. The covers by Frank Frazetta which in the case of issue 2, was particularly brutal didn't help things either. With the full details of sales returns often coming in three months after a magazine hit the stands, it meant that on a bi-monthly schedule and allowing for pick up to kick in after a second issue, it wasn't until issue 4 was print ready that Warren decided to pull the plug on the project.
But there were other even more immediate problems, Warren had picked up on the grapevine that one of his arch rivals Myron Fass was about to launch a "knock off" version of "Creepy", with Fass's baby going under the title "Eerie". This Warren couldn't and wouldn't countenance, Fass was in may ways similar to Warren, only whereas Warren had drive and vision, Fass just had drive, in fact Fass was so driven he was like a squirrel on crack. Fass had also been greatly influenced by Bill Gaines and when "Mad" magazine was turning into a runaway success, Fass launched his own copycat version of "Mad" titled "Lunatickle". A few years later when it was becoming evident that Warren's "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine was doing great business Fass launched his own horror rag under the name of "Shock Tales"although "Schlock Tales" might have been more apt. Whereas the Ackerman edited "Famous Monsters" had some kind of cinematic reference points, Fas's product had none, the pictures being sourced not from film stills but from Fass's own scantily dressed secretaries being menaced by co-workers in horror make up with lurid text adding a final tasteless flourish. Fass's output was like a kitsch barometer of every bizarre and salacious fad that assailed the U.S. public, when Kennedy was assassinated Fass's prurient outpourings netted him a reputed 4 million dollars. For Warren hearing that this periodic thorn in his side was about to create a travesty of his newest and most promising magazine was not a situation he was prepared to accept without a fight.
" number one - now a highly prized collector's edition. Russ Jones was deputed to get the 200 copies onto as many newstands as possible thereby stealing a march on Fass and claiming title and copyright for themselves.But for Jones and Warren a parting of the ways was looming ...
Creepy & Eerie © New Comic Company LLC 2010
Check out the ongoing series of reprints from Dark Horse Comics here for US readers.
And here for UK readers.
Meanwhile all four issues of Blazing Combat have been superbly reprinted by Fantagraphics available here for UK readers.
And here for US readers.
The Myron Fass publications were really low grade with their cheap looking art and shlocky story telling. I actually was a fan of these once,when I was a boy. The covers themselves had a cheesy but ghoulish appeal to them. There are a few blogs and sites dedicated to these sleazy magazines. After being exposed to better quality horror comics like;E.C.and Warren,etc.,made me despise these poor imitations of much better classics.Budd
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your comment Budd. I must admit to being somewhat mesmerized by old Myron, he's stuff is just so gawdawful that it's no surprise to discover some really fascinating blogs on his magazines
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of a Vampirella-alike published by Skywald, and that's pretty lousy compared to Warren mags - though nothing to do with Fass, I think?
ReplyDeleteI think that'd be Devilina Dave. It only lasted for two issues but Myron's stuff made it look like Anna Karenina! Skywald's b&w titles may have been rather variable compared to Creepy and Eerie but they did publish some excellent material amongst the dross.
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ReplyDeleteThe Blazing Combat series lived an awful short and tragic life,almost like the poor lads that have to sacrifice their own lives for their country.These were rather thoughtful stories,much like what Harvey Kurtzman did with the EC war titles back in the 50s. And a lot of great EC veteran talent were there.As oppossed to the Myron Fass Eerie books that were about as tasteless as a cheap exploitation film.And I'm actually rather fond of Cult and low budget movies.Liam
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read, though one difference was that Myron Fass paid his artists and writers promptly and reliably. Which counts for a lot, believe me.
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