bronzejunkie

Back in the 80's Fangoria got pretty popular especially the late part of the decade (The whole Freddy craze was a big part of it) and they sold back issues in an ad in every new issue. Issues 9 and 10 we're the two that sold out first from the companies own backstock. Another company that placed very cool AD's in the books back then was Fantaco Enterprises (out of Albany) selling horror memorabilia and old mags and comics, they priced the back issues of Fangoria at collector prices and issue 9 at one point (for I think an issue or two at the peek went as high as $350 and issue 10 went for I think $125 at its ultimate peak) in retrospect they really weren't that rare at all compared to the other issues around it just that the Starlog press didn't have any copies themselves anymore. Oddly the entire horror magazine collecting crowd used the fantaco ad as their personal price guide and I think thats why it went up so high. Now issue 10 isn't even remotely rare since ebay came up and issue 9 is a little bit rarer but you can certainly find one in at least VF shape on the bay with a quick search. Finding them in above 9.4 (which is my goal) is the real challenge as they were printed on horrible paper stock and the printing created lots of dinged corners from dull printing blades etc. Saying that there is a 9.8 sitting on ebay at the moment from Doug Sulipa but its in my mind horrifically overpriced, with patience you should be able to find a raw 9.8 on your own out in the wild and if your lucky you could find it for anywhere from $10 to $90(max) depending if the dealer knows the value or even cares, so good luck if your looking. There is a rather large group collecting them now regaining their childhood but it isn't very ruthless so prices aren't insane for pretty much any issue. The issues we're are hard to find for me are issues 15 and 22 and Bloody Best Of Fangoria 1-4(especially 1) in true 9.4 and higher (black covers), honestly I think they each ultimately cost me $20 each but lucking upon high grade copies was the challenge. Great way to collect, challenging but still cheap. It's rather fun run to put together and one filled with incredible nostalgia for me and if anyone out there in CGC Boards land has any nice high grade Fangoria's before issue 100 (or the last few issues 340-344) I'd love to hear about them (PM me if you could)

I found Fangoria pretty young (around 13 ish, so I missed this issue and really didn't get into them till about issue 65) But I had a many similar experiences trying to buy them. In retrospect as a parent I get it now as some of the covers we're brutal but looking back it was all in good fun. I even had one lady threaten to call the police because they we're so shocked that the grocery store she worked at would even consider selling such a lurid book in the first place let alone to me. (I got my older brother to buy it for me a minute later lol)

I found Fangoria pretty young (around 13 ish, so I missed this issue and really didn't get into them till about issue 65) But I had a many similar experiences trying to buy them. In retrospect as a parent I get it now as some of the covers we're brutal but looking back it was all in good fun. I even had one lady threaten to call the police because they we're so shocked that the grocery store she worked at would even consider selling such a lurid book in the first place let alone to me. (I got my older brother to buy it for me a minute later lol)

As a kid this was the holy grail of Fangoria issues, the infamous issue 9. I've been snapping them up for years on the cheap but its starting to climb in value again. (nothing huge but it's not $25 anymore) as a kid it was issue 1, 10 and this as the grails to get in your Fango collection. Now as I work hard to complete my high grade Fango collection I have discovered some issues are actually rare in high grade... I'm looking at you issue 22 and and 15. Anyway-- I present this new copy(to me) of Fangoria issue 9. All hail!

Been hunting high and low for a super sharp copy of this issue (Some of these fango's are super hard to get in anything over a 7.0-8.0), this one was nearly perfect in every way and just beautiful and I have Triston Pence to thank for it (along with a few other nice Fango's to he added to my collection).

Another Wrightson fanzine cover, not the best by any means but 'love me sum Wrightson' so had to have it. Fanzines are pretty damn interesting but a rabbit hole I don't think I really want to go down full time.

I have never owned this one before. Love me some Warren mags. Even if this is a prestige or graphic novel format.

Found a few things recently that I thought would be fun to share, first up... This beautiful Wrightson cover to one of the first price guides for Monster mags from the mid 70's. I honestly had never seen this piece of art before and had to own it the second I saw it. This may be one of my fave pen and ink Wrightson pieces I have ever seen. Considering its a fanzine and a thicker newsprint cover its in pretty sweet shape.

Complete my 9.4 run of X-men from 50-150 (so close). Finish my Warlock keys with an eye on trading up a few low/mid grade Thor 165's to get a sharper copy. Continue my NM run of Fangoria from issues 1-100 (way harder than you could ever imagine, they printed them on the worst paper). Upgrade a few of my lower number Famous Monsters and finish the few gaps in my high grade run of them. Hmmm... what else?... I'm currently fighting this incredible love for high grade Kirby covers from the mid to late 60's. Those Thors and FF covers just blow my mind but know the rabbit hole it'll take me down. Also-- stop buying every horror comic I can get my hands on. I have a problem and some form of 12 step program might be in order. (I took a break from comics for about 8 years and it hit me hard again this year, really loving being a collector again)

Another Winnipeg Collection copy and this one is minty fresh. The Thing in all it's glory! I can't tell you how much I love a sharp copy of early Fangoria.

Bruce Campbell goodness!!!-- Doug Sulipa sold me this and it's from the Winnipeg Collection. Another hard one to get in NM due to the black cover. Dang!-- Dat Evil Dead cover is soooo coool!!!

I am back on the Fangoria wagon-- Been quietly buying the odd high grade issue (which has been a real chore to find anything in the 9.4 and up range) so many people just outright lie about condition. I am stunned at how many people call a fango near mint when it would be lucky to be a Fine plus to VF minus. But yesterday i scored something that has taken me 5 years to find in the wild... A truly Near Mint copy of The Bloody Best Of Fangoria. They aren't worth much at all and I have considered at least 30 over the past few years and finally found a copy that met my goals. The black cover added to Fangoria's horrible and cheap printing practises in the 80's makes finding a good spine next to impossible. I have picked up a few big books over the years for my comic collection but this piddly little 12 dollar issue has got to be the one that made me the happiest to finally find after all these years. Now to dig up a pristine issue 15 and 22-- anyone? So if anyone has any or knows any dealers/collectors with NM or better copies of Fango pre issue 90, I would love to hear about it. Thanks in advance.

I’d love to see this doc as well. Anyone have a link- legal preferably

I bought a few X-men Byrne slabs from Andy on the bay and he was more than happy to help me find more books for an absolute killer deal after that from his stock. I can not recommend this dude more. I will be buying more for sure.

I'd love to see and or own some these myself. Loved fantaco!

3D comics we're a huge thing to me when I first started collecting-- My first real idea that comics we're worth money was finding an Overstreet Price guide as a very young kid at a local bookstore that had an article on 3D comics (I have since learned this article actually pumped the prices up of all 50's 3D comics) -- I had no idea what a 3D comic even meant until I found a copy of Three Dimensional Alien Worlds in I think '84. I'm stoked to see this thread-- When I get back home (On a long work trip) I'll crack out some of my 3D babies.

cant wait!

Can't wait to see your adventure unfold on here...

Sleazoids are insane, Both good and bad-- I imagine trying to put together a high grade run would near impossible.

If anyone is interested there is an incredible book that came out about a year back called 'Xerox-Ferox'. It is a massive 800 page history (in interview format) of all the great horror fanzines and magazines. It really woke me to how cool Fango's and other horror zines we're and are. Any fan should snap a copy up if they can find it.

I grew up in Lethbridge Alberta and back in the mid 80's it was a pretty one horse town (Great place to be FROM) anyway-- A new mall opened and they had indoor water slides on the north side. My brother and I went berserk and just had to go, eventually Mom and Dad relented and took us. It was pretty much the greatest afternoon for a 10 year old kid until-- We walked back to the car through the mall and my brother and I experienced a near out of body experience when we saw a little store in there called COMIC CITY. The vision of walking in the front doors still sits with me. First time I saw bagged and boarded books, first time I saw racks upon untold racks of comics from new till all the way back to the 50's. It was surreal. They had a Hulk#1 in VG (wow!!!). Runs of pretty much every Marvel book, even the expensive ones(in lower grades) those glorious Byrne Xmens on the walls for huge bucks to a kid like me. GI Joes for as far as the eye could see. Miller Ronin posters. TMNT was hitting huge and it was cool. Zeck Punisher posters. Indy books. Gawd, it was a gold mine of new things to this kid-- The owner(Neil) talked me into buying a copy of Kamandi no1 for the massive sum of $2.50 and it started my Kirby addiction. But the thing that really blew me away was this... He showed me the somewhat R-rated cover to Three Dimensional Alien Worlds. I had no idea what a 3D comic was and he said I had to buy it to find out. I couldn't afford it and the other books I had but it sent my mind reeling into that 'Must Have' state. (kind of insane he would try and sell this book to a 10 year old in retrospect) But-- I walked out of there a comic collector for life. I ended up getting that issue of Alien Worlds along with all the horrific Pacific titles by bruce Jones. Great memories.

I am just in love with this purchase of yours. What an amazing deal as well. Congrats. You deserve it. Your devotion to FM is always inspiring to me. Never stop posting.

Basil is the greatest.

Hepcat-- These copies are very nice. Nothing like a high grade FM! I love the white covers like the 61, do you have a nice copy of the Scream and Scream Again issue? Gawd, I love that issue.

Batko-- You always have the nicest FM's. I have to add in, I have seen or purchased about ten of these back in the 80's &90's and all but one had a split or at the very least the beginnings of the dreaded split. Great buy Batko you must be happy!