More classics From The Tomb

A new issue of horror comics fanzine From the Tomb (No.23) has just been published. As ever, this 76 page mag features great value. The cover for this issue is a striking Al Feldstein image, - a painted reproduction of one of his classic EC Comics covers of the 1950s. A few highlights of this issue are features on voodoo in comics, items on artists John Bell and Al Williamson, and a lengthy well illustrated article on the very gory comics from Eerie Publications of the 1970s. (One of those strips from that publisher is reprinted in full.) Reproduction of the artwork is clear, and the mag features 20 pages of full colour, - perfect to show the lurid detail of the horror comics covers of the past.

What I like most about From the Tomb is its enthusiasm for its subject matter. Although it focuses on comics of the past, there's little if any complaining that "comics aren't like they used to be". In fact, editor Peter Normanton goes out of his way to review contemporary small press horror comics, showing that the genre is still alive and well. Even better, this issue reveals that Peter has been busy compiling The Mammoth Book of Best Horror Comics for publishers Constable & Robinson, - a 550 tome packed with complete horror comic stories from decades past to more modern times. The book will be in bookshops in January or can be ordered from Amazon here.

From the Tomb No.23 costs £4.95 from comic shops (and I've seen it in Borders too) or can be ordered from publisher www.soaringpenguin.co.uk