Monster Fun

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Monster Fun
Monster Fun #1 (14 June 1975)
Publication information
PublisherIPC Magazines Ltd
ScheduleWeekly
FormatOngoing series
Genre
Publication date14 June 1975 – 30 October 1976
No. of issues75
Creative team
Artist(s)Robert Nixon, Thomas Williams, Trevor Metcalfe, Mike Lacey, Ken Reid
Editor(s)""

Monster Fun is a weekly British comic strip magazine for children aged seven to twelve. Published by IPC Media, it ran for 73 issues in 1975–1976, when it merged with Buster.[1] Focused on humorous monster strips and stories, the magazine was known for "The Bad Time Bedtime Books" minicomic inserts, created by Leo Baxendale.

The nominal editor was "" (a play on Frankenstein), a character who had previously appeared in the magazines Wham!, Shiver and Shake, and Whoopee!.[1] Recurring artists included Robert Nixon, Thomas Williams, and Trevor Metcalfe.

The magazine was known for handing out free toys in its issues. The first issue, for instance, came with a free plate wobbler[2] (a novelty item[3] consisting of an inflatable rubber bladder and a hand-operated pump; the bladder is placed under a plate, and inflating it makes the plate wobble).[4] The second issue had a "Freaky Spider Ring", the third a "Super Shaking Skeleton".

The comic is set to be relaunched in April 2022.

Publication history[]

Monster Fun's debut issue was dated 14 June 1975. Monster Fun Specials were printed in 1975 and 1976.

The magazine merged with Buster to form Buster and Monster Fun after the 30 October 1976 issue.[1] Due to its ongoing popularity, the Monster Fun logo was printed on Buster's cover until the summer of 1979.

Despite its short run, Monster Fun Annuals were printed every year, cover-dated from 1977 until 1985, though all contained some reprint material. They were all distributed in the UK from the autumn of the previous cover-dated year. Buster and Monster Fun Specials were printed (with much reprint material) every year from 1977 until 1996, making them one of the most long-lived of IPC / Fleetway titles. Almost all of the other original strips were reprinted in other titles in the 1980s and 1990s.

After Monster Fun's 1976 merger into Buster, the strips Gums, Kid Kong, X-Ray Specs, Mummy's Boy, Draculass, Teddy Scare, Terror TV, and Martha's Monster Make-up all made the merger.[5]

In February 1982 these merged magazines merged again with Jackpot. Kid Kong was terminated on this occasion.

In June 1984 the magazine merged with School Fun. The comic strip Gums was terminated on this occasion.

In 1988 the magazine merged with Nipper. Mummy's Boy was terminated on this occasion. X-Ray Specs had the most longevity continuing until Buster's end (4 January 2000) though as with the all but one of the last Buster strips as reprints.

In September 2021 it was announced that Rebellion, publishers of 2000 AD would be relaunching the comic in April 2022, "revived and reimagined for today's kids".[6] A Monster Fun Halloween Special issue was published in October 2021.

List of strips[]

Original strips[]

  • Arts Gallery (drawn by Mike Lacey)
  • Brainy and his Monster Maker
  • Cinders
  • Creature Teacher (drawn by Thomas Williams)
  • Dough Nut & Rusty (drawn by Trevor Metcalfe)
  • Draculass (1975–1976; continued in Buster until 1977) (drawn by Terry Bave)
  • Grizzly Bearhug
  • The Invisible Monster
  • Kid Kong (1975–1976; continued in Buster until 1982) (drawn by Robert Nixon)
  • Major Jump Horror Hunter
  • March of the Mighty Ones
  • Martha's Monster Make-up (1975-1977) (drawn by Ken Reid)
  • Monster Hits Jokes
  • Mummy's Boy (1975-1976; continued in Buster until 1988), (drawn by Norman Mansbridge)
  • Tom Thumbscrew
  • X-Ray Specs (1975-1976; continued in Buster until 2000) (drawn by Mike Lacey)

Later strips[]

  • Gums (1976; continued in Buster until 1984) (by Roy Davies and Robert Nixon)
  • Frankie's Diary
  • Freaky Farm (drawn by Jim Watson)
  • The Little Monsters
  • S.O.S. Save Our Stan as well as many pull-out posters
  • Teddy Scare (1976; continued in Buster until 1977) (by Barrie Appleby)
  • Terror TV (1976; continued in Buster until 1978) (drawn by Ian Knox)

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Monster Fun," ComicVine. Accessed 21 September 2015.
  2. ^ Monster Fun #1 (14 June 1975).
  3. ^ Stringer, Lew (3 December 2010). "Blimey! It's another blog about comics!: Free Inside! - Part 5". Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. ^ Kibble-White, Graham (2005). The Ultimate Book of British Comics. Allison & Busby. p. 175. ISBN 9780749082116.
  5. ^ Buster #19761106 (6 November 1976).
  6. ^ Tantimedh, Adi (20 September 2021). "Monster Fun: Rebellion Launches New British Kids' Comic in April 2022". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
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