On this day, 14 June 1975: Monster Fun
Cover artwork: Robert Nixon
On this day, 14 June 1975 … ‘It began one day when what appeared to be gigantic prehistoric beast reared up to menace a sleepy English village.’ So began March of the Mighty Ones – an adventure serial in which an army of giant film-prop monsters are sparked into life – but it is only one of a whole comic-ful of beasts and horrors descending upon British homes and newsagents in this, the very first issue of the wonderful Monster Fun, which would pound the streets for just sixteen scream-filled months between June 1975 and October 1976.
There are so many interesting origin stories in today’s comic that I’m not sure to which I should give most attention. Where did Ray get his X-Ray Specs? Or Martha her Monster Make-up? How did Kid Kong and Draculass come to these shores? How and why was the hideous Creature Teacher brought in to control form 3X of Massacre Street School? What was the very first of Leo Baxendale’s Badtime Bedtime Storybooks? Why does Frankie Stein have such great ideas for gags and giggles?
The answers to all these questions and many more, are below. I love this comic. Monster, monster fun.
Kid Kong: Robert Nixon (artist)
Kid Kong: Robert Nixon (artist)
X-Ray Specs: Mike Lacey (artist)
Martha’s Monster Make-up: Ken Reid (artist)
Dough Nut and Rusty: Trevor Metcalfe (artist)
Grizzly Bearhug … Giant: Andy Christine (artist)
Art’s Gallery: Mike Lacey (artist)
Badtime Bedtime Storybook: Jack the Nipper’s Schooldays: Leo Baxendale (artist)
Badtime Bedtime Storybook: Jack the Nipper’s Schooldays: Leo Baxendale (artist)
Badtime Bedtime Storybook: Jack the Nipper’s Schooldays: Leo Baxendale (artist)
Draculass: Terry Bave (artist)
Brainy and his Monster Maker: artist unknown
March of the Mighty Ones: Mike White (artist)
Major Jump Horror Hunter: Ian Knox? (artist)
Creature Teacher: Tom Williams (artist)
Creature Teacher: Tom Williams (artist)
Creature Teacher: Tom Williams (artist)
The Invisible Monster: Sid Burgon (artist)
Cinders: Norman Mansbridge (artist)
