 |
 |
 |
And, because of that love of the visual arts; in the mid-1970s, there was one magazine alone whose arrival on our living room carpet I always anticipated.
That magazine was the New English Library's Science Fiction Monthly.
Science Fiction Monthly was not a comic - and therefore has no business being on this blog - but it did have a comic strip in it, one I recall little of other than that it swiped copiously from Barry Smith's classic adaptation of Conan's Red Nails.
The rest of the magazine was a mighty thing indeed, huge in size, making a Marvel Treasury Edition look tiny, and packed with stories and art.
I actually don't remember that much about the fiction it featured. I seem to recall there being a tale about the Pied Piper that may have used the idea of it all being down to ergot poisoning. And there was another one about acid rain. There may also have been one or more old Tarzan stories reprinted in it.
Another highlight for me was an interview with Space: 1999 special effects maestro Brian Johnson who later went on to work on the The Empire Strikes Back and Alien.
Most of all, it was a good showcase for artists like Bruce Pennington, Chris Foss, Tim White and Roger Dean whose output supplied it with a whole string of eye-catching covers.
Later in its life, it switched from the broadsheet format to a smaller tabloid form which, bearing in mind that its main selling point was the giant size of its artwork, probably wasn't the best of ideas.
Was the magazine any good?
As far as I can make out, not according to anyone else. Personally I don't recall enough of it to say - plus I was only ten at the time - but I do remember the pretty pictures and, as I'm a comics fan, pretty pictures are good enough for me.
If you want to see more fabby covers of Science Fiction Monthly, you can see them right here.
And if you remember the mag and want to say so, you can do that in the comments box below.
On the other hand, if you don't remember the mag and want to say so, you can do that too in the comments box below.
I do remember the mag and I want to say so ;-)
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I've still got a few copies knocking about. As you say it had some mind-blowing artwork ( man! ) but the rest of it could be forgettable. However, that issue with the giant skull on the cover features a coolly eerie short by Ray Bradbury ( illustrated by John Bolton )which is worth the price of admission...
Do you have the one with Brian Johnson talking about Space:1999? I seem to remember it featured a large picture of a Hawk spaceship. As an eleven year old, I found it very exciting. If I ever have the money to buy my own spaceship, it'll definitely be a Space: 1999 Hawk.
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't got that one unfortunately... but it sounds very cool. I loved Space:1999 as a kid. Well, I loved series one, the second series being somewhat of a Star Trek-aping technicolor yawn...
ReplyDeleteAnd weren't the Moonbase Alpha transporter ships called Eagles, not Hawks...?
The transporters were called Eagles but, in one episode, Moonbase Alpha was attacked by their military equivalent, which were called Hawks, as seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZb8ACy-ZUs
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Stevie, ol' boy.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you too, Kid.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post - I'd forgotten all about these
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember these very well. I loved these as a girl and had every copy, which I used to keep under my bed. Which is probably where you stole yours from. Hello there, this is your sister trying to make contact. Let me know if you would like to come and stay for Chrimbo this year (2014). Sorry to disturb the comic flow.....
ReplyDeleteDear, mystery Anonymous person. Please see my subsequent email. :)
ReplyDeleteThe comic strip was "The Size of Things to Come" by Malcolm Poynter (and, it has to be said, Barry Smith and others are certainly referenced in there). I'm now wondering how many episodes there were in Vol 2 of this mag. I've only seen a couple but there were certainly more…And I'm also left wondering if this is the same Malcolm Poynter who became a relatively big cheese as a sculptor and artist…hopefully with less swipes than in his younger days!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Ilya. I must admit to knowing nothing at all about Malcolm Poynter, so I can shed no light at all on his subsequent activities.
ReplyDelete