Retro Fan #17 November 2021 (magazine review).

The latest ‘Retro Fan’ is a Halloween special since last year’s edition sold so well and is now going to be a regular event. Getting this review out now should ensure, at least in the USA, you get your copy before the day.

Rod Labbe goes over his early adventures making Aurora’s horror models and all the mistakes a youngster could make. Although I didn’t get the early models, I did have the luminous headed Dracula kit and ‘The Forgotten Prisoner Of Castlemare’ kit made and in my own collection when young. I would contradict him about painting the parts before sticking them together. It all depends on the parts and the paint does mask the connections. It’s all a matter of applying common-sense before glue.

Will Murray looks at James Bama’s paintings that were used as box covers for these Aurora kits. It’s interesting to note that the initial pictures were not based on the models and that had to be changed later to keep purchasers happy who wanted something closer to the kits which does make sense. Oh, you also get to see a fair selection of Bama’s work, including some Doc Savage pictures here.

Rod Labbe’s interview with Lara Parker, who played Angelique Bouchard Collins in the original ‘Dark Shadows’ is done in reverse, starting off with her latter novelist career and working backwards with some sharp insights into books, the Tim Burton film and other things.

Mike Eury looks at ‘Jawsmania’ and how the shark influenced a generation. It’s rather weird that it was only with two cartoon shows that sharks were presented in a good light.

I did think Scott Shaw!’s piece was just going to be about Jay Ward’s 17 episode 1967 series ‘George Of The Jungle’ but he extends beyond that to their other productions. For such a short-lived animation series, it’s amazing how many remember it and we did have a showing in the UK. Just watch out for that tree.

I’m not so sure if I would agree with Ernest Farino about the 1963 film ‘The Haunting’ being the most scary horror film. I think I found ‘The Legend Of Hell House’ (1973) if not on par but more scary, although I did see this one first. Looking at some classic films is something that Retro Fan’ should include in its remit, especially in a Halloween issue.

OK, just from a change in Halloween, Scott Saavedra looks at sit-com dads and their roles there, starting off with Ward Cleaver in ‘Leave It To Beaver’ and you can find out what he did for a living here. However, as Saavedra goes over the other dads, he omits one famous one, Gomez Addams who really brought on liberty to his children and how to explode train sets.

Three series that didn’t get any presence in the UK are also covered. The animated ‘Mad Monster Party’ (1967) is covered by Rick Goldschmidt while Andy Mangels looks at both live action ‘Monster Squad’ (1976) and animated ‘Drak Pack’ (1980-82). All children fare and taming scary creatures for youngster consumption.

Don’t leave it too long to get if you want your Halloween complete. Treat or trick.

GF Willmetts

October 2021

(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page magazine. Price: $ 9.95. (US). ISSN: 2576-7224. Direct from them, you can get it for $  (US))

check out website: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=133&products_id=1608