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Fangoria
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103 posts in this topic

Being a kid whose wonder years was in the 80's, Fangoria was required reading for my younger brother and me. I was the comic one and he was the monster one and we devoured each other's reading material of choice. My mother and Aunt always purchased our new books for us and we had a very sizable collection from our uncles ( ASM, FF, FMoF, Starlog, Tarzan and Conan novels, etc.) but moms warned us that we would have to spend our own allowance for new comic and mag purchases. This was the 1st Fangoria I bought off the stands with my own money since my bro didn't have the cash:

 

Fang62.jpg

 

A few weeks ago I purchased this off eBay as a gift for my brother (his original collection is long gone) and was hit with a wave of nostalgia I haven't felt in a long time when pulling it out of it's envelope. The look on my brothers face was priceless. Other family members were puzzled and laughed at the gift but we exchanged knowing glances. They'll never understand.

 

Anyways, I only have two issues of Fangoria (one of them being #1 with Godzilla) and have decided to dive in and collect the issues from the 80's. Are there any other Fango collectors out there? What are some of your favorite issues? Are there any issues that are HTF? I hope we can get a good conversation going on this line .

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I have some Fangorias set aside for Signature Series. I always like to do comics if I can, but in some cases there are no comics to do. Then magazines are my next choice. Fangoria has some great opportunities for celebrity signed books. Love them!!

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Ironically I ran across a few Fangos from my childhood in a box a few days ago. I'll dig them back out and post a pic.

Mine were a little more loved and well read than yours is. hm

 

 

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Here are a few Fangos from my teenage years. These things were not collectible to me. These were research.

I was planning to be the next Tom Savini, and I lived and breathed Fangoria.

 

I also have a first print copy of Grande Illusions somewhere. My daughter (also a Savini nut) might possibly have it because I can't find it anywhere.

 

Good times... :cloud9:

 

119646.jpg.44450a28a89f78df33b3e561fd57742e.jpg

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I was a huge Fangoria collector as a kid. I still have every issue up to 114(I moved on to other film magazines as I went to film school) -- Saying that I read every issue like it was a film school bible, from amazing interviews with directors of the era to makeup artists to seeing forbidden images(at least for me) from the scariest flicks made at the time. Loved it!

 

I actually still buy the odd issue when I see them in super high grade and cheap. Some of the keys issues(or at least they used to be) are #1, #9(the mega key for decades, not so much now--I have like 8 of them now-lol) #10 was considered scarce for a bit as well.

 

Past that I remember #22, #37,#38,#39,#40, #41,#42 (I have no idea why, but they went for lots of cash back in the day even though they we're super common if you looked)

 

I know a few from the 60's we're worth a few bucks as well, but can't think of them right now.

 

On ebay I am starting to see prices rising on Fango's. Not a lot, but kind of reminds me when I was buying up Famous Monsters in the early 90's and everyone thought I was weird. Tons of people collected these books and are now starting to come back to them since they have money as adults.

 

Talking genre film magazines I am still trying to finish up my run of Cinefantastique's from the 70's on up. I find a lot of dealers have good deals on mid to higher grade horror/film like Fango runs if you ask. Just have to search them out.

 

Is that a Horrorfan issue I see? I think that is issue #4? But I may be wrong. Gorezone was very cool as well for a few years.

 

Other great horror film mags I collected...

 

Slaughterhouse(loved it, Best mag for young horror film makers-- only went five issues)

Deep Red(for the serious film and gorehound)

Fear(UK horror zine)

Film Threat(great indy film mag)

Toxic Horror(another from the makers of Fango, didn't last long)

Video Watchdog

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I think 9 and 10 we're considered rare because the Starlog warehouse ran out of them first. (maybe a lower print run, not sure) -- Then what happened is Fantaco Enterprises which was a mail order horror company from Albany(and also publisher) started doing these awesome one page AD's in Fangoria. They would sell back issues and I suspect they took advantage of the idea of the sellout and jacked the prices of their remaining copies through the roof.(slamming the terms RARE and SCARCE onto them) I remember at one time in I think 1989 #9 was going for upwards to $300.

 

So everyone who collected Fango used the Fantaco Ent. AD's as their own personal price guide and I guess thats where the rarity comes in.

 

Once again--These are not rare issues at all... In my opinion anyway.

 

But saying that-- They are still highly desirable based on all this history. Cool covers and look great in any horror film collection.

 

You're also right Jaded Savage--Deep Red was very underrated. I know some of those issues in the right markets can sell for a pretty penny as I think they're print runs we're really low.

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If you're talking Deep Red, ya gotta talk The Gore Score. Haven't been able to find a nice copy in years.

 

Weird how things work. First time I saw Deep Red #1 the cover was just incredible.......it was jaw dropping. I had to know more about it. Fangoria really didn't cover these type of movies. Their focus was more on American horror films and the numerous sequels at the time (Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, etc.). Sure they made mention of the foreign directors but being a kid and just discovering the genre, I wanted to know more on what Fango was covering. Deep Red and that cover changed that. These movies were really dangerous

 

Through Deep Red I discovered Argento, Fulci, and italian cannibal flicks. Through Deep Red I discovered the vision of Chas Balun. Such a voice and a connoisseur of all things splatter. Fango took me behind the scenes of my favorite franchises and kept me in the loop about upcoming american horror films. Mr. Balun turned me into a hardcore gore fanatic.

 

I know I have two issue of Deep Red somewhere. I gotta dig those up and post 'em.

Edited by Jaded Savage
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Gore score was the essential gorehound book back in the day. I have a dog eared copy myself. Fantaco published that as well I think.

 

Sad That Chas Balun died a few years back. He was a crazy voice of the gore generation. His 'Piece Of Mind columns we're great reading as well. Loved his Deep Red, I bet if you looked hard enough you could put together a run of them for a decent price these days. I might have to do that. I think I only have about four issues right now.

 

Remember how exciting it was as a kid seeing all those covers. Deep red, Fango... man, they we're amazing and I couldn't wait to just pour through them.

 

Good memories.

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Yeah, thats just the thing though. Being a kid back then I couldn't purchase those mags off the rack without being question by the store owner or my mom. Most of the time we had to sneak the Fangoria's in the house. Best way to do that was to buy a newspaper or a Mad and slide the Fango inside those. lol

Edited by Jaded Savage
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Ya, Savage-- I get that. My parents thought I might be a future serial killer based on all the posters on my bedroom walls. Every so often mom would have a hissy fit over a particular horror mag cover(like Gorezone #4 and #5--yikes) and just blow her top and make me take them all down-- haha

 

I had tons of trouble at school sneaking Fangos in at recess and showing the other kids like it was a porn mag. Many a Fango met it's maker by my teachers--haha

 

It's funny like I mentioned I used my horror mags like 'how to' books and ended up making a little 15 minute 16mm film in junior high. Total gore movie and was praised by my teachers for my creativity when i showed it to the school. It was packed with gore and blood and guts. But the very next day I had a stack of gore mags taken from me.

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