Customer Reviews

The Best of Famous Monsters of Filmland, Vol. #1

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thought this was going to be the BEST of the Famous Monsters I read as a kid, but none of that classic material was included, and the imagination of former publisher James Warren and editor Forrest J Ackerman is sorely missed. This is just a re-hash of the few issues of the magazine published without them. The writing is a weak imitation of Ackerman's lively style, ripping off patented puns like "You Axed for It" and "Beast Wishes". Even the cover is a 5th rate copy of a painting from the original magazine. I hear the current publisher of this volume lost a lawsuit for stealing Ackerman's nom de plume, "Dr. Acula". The Famous Monsters of the '50s and '60s was a cool phenomenon once, but the '90s incarnation is a pointless anachronism, since only nostalgic baby-boomers like myself are interested, and there are so many superior efforts dealing with the subject on the market now. Famous Monsters without Forry Ackerman is like a Beatles reunion without John, Paul, George, or Ringo.

As the prior reviewer indicated this item is living proof that everything that Ray Ferry touches seems to contract a case of irritable bowel syndrome hence my suggestion that this product would probably make great TP. To add insult to injury..Amazon is now " offering " this garbage for $100. despite the fact that I received it as a free incentive when I made the mistake of subscribing ( only one time ) to the " new " FM. Anyone who knows the true story of FM knows that this is NOT THE TRUE FM which was edited by 4E Ackerman in the '50s & 60s & was revived recently. Ray Ferry snatched the rights to FM from old 4E & 4E won the court case but the legal fees required him to sell his world famous Ackermansion. Outside of the fact that this one hundred dollar magazine has no redeeming features or value whatsoever...a true FM fan will insure that Ferry finally get his just deserts by not purchasing this printed TP.....

For horror fans who have to have all issues for their collections, this one will pass as a "good" one to have, but it ain't great. Regular FMOF subscribers already have seen most, if not all, of what's between the pages. I could live without it.

This was the best monster film gulde I've ever read and I'm glad I got it

Some reviewers of this issue cry that former editor FJ Ackerman isn't included in it. Why should he be? This is a collection of great features from the new FM that Mr. Ackerman had nothing to do with. He quit the magazine in 1995 and the features in THE BEST OF FM, VOL #1 have nothing to do with him. Ackerman fans should go read old back issues. If they don't like the new FM, nobody is forcing them to read it. But discriminating fans of classic horror films will find this collection to be an outstanding, entertaining and informative read.