TwoMorrows Publishing debuts RetroFan #1, a new full-colour magazine celebrating the Crazy Cool Culture You Grew Up With next week.
Do you remember when Saturday morning television was your domain, and yours alone? When tattoos came from bubble gum packs, Slurpees came in superhero cups, and TV heroes taught you to be nice to others? Those were the happy days of the 1960s, 70s and 80s – and that’s the pop culture era of RetroFan.
Editor Michael Eury (who also edits TwoMorrows’ acclaimed comic-book history magazine Back Issue) has authored over a dozen pop culture books, and felt it was time for a regular outlet for the same fun material.
“This quarterly magazine gives the stories-behind-the-stories of the stuff that made our childhoods so special,” says Eury, who had the honour of personally interviewing TV’s Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, for the first issue.
Eury has assembled some of the most knowledgeable columnists in each of his favourite pop culture realms to provide regular features as well.
“Many readers will be aware of their accomplishments, which include Emmy Awards, bestselling books, and Hollywood credits,” he notes, “but if not, they’ll soon become household names to RetroFanatics everywhere.” Those columnists include Martin “Pesky” Pasko (TV and comics writer and Daytime Emmy Award-winner), Andy Mangels (best-selling sci-fi author and award-winning pop culture historian), Scott Shaw (acclaimed cartoonist and Emmy Award-winning storyboard artist), and Ernest Farino (Emmy Award-winning visual effects designer, animator, and director).
“That’s the most impressive team assembled since Jim Phelps last rifled through his IMF dossiers,” claims editor Eury. “We’re dedicated to packing each page of RetroFan with more info, trivia, and enjoyment than you’ll find in any other mag.”
The debut issue also features The Phantom in Hollywood, Filmation’s Star Trek cartoon, a look at “How I Met the Wolf Man—Lon Chaney, Jr.”, goofy 1960s comic book Zody the Mod Rob, Mego’s rare Elastic Hulk toy, RetroTravel to Mount Airy, North Carolina (the real-life Mayberry), an interview with Betty Lynn (“Thelma Lou” of The Andy Griffith Show), Andy Griffith Show collectibles, inside a fan’s eclectic House of Collectibles, a Too Much TV Quiz, and a RetroFad remembrance of Mr. Microphone.
The second issue, shipping in September, focuses on Halloween through an interview with horror host Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, as well as the history of Ben Cooper Halloween Costumes, the Groovie Ghoulies cartoon series, View-Masters, and more spooky fun.
• RetroFan is a full-color magazine is 80 pages, and retails for just over £8 in UK comic shops ($8.95 US). It is available 20th June 2018 in both print and digital editions, through TwoMorrows’ website, in comic book shops through Diamond Comic/ Book Distributors, and in early July at Barnes & Noble stores and on Amazon.com
• Order Retrofan #1 from Forbidden Planet (using this link helps support downthetubes)
• Order Retrofan #2 from Forbidden Planet (using this link helps support downthetubes)
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Magazines, Star Trek