Monster (comics)

Last updated

Contents

Monster
ScreamMonsterComicPanel.jpg
Kenny Corman (left) and Uncle Terry from "Monster" in a panel from the 26 May 1984 edition of Scream! , art by Jesus Redondo.
Publication information
Publisher IPC Magazines
ScheduleWeekly
Title(s) Scream!
24 March to 30 June 1984
Eagle
1 September 1984 to 30 May 1985
Scream! Holiday Special
1986 to 1988
FormatsOriginal material for the series has been published as a strip in the comics anthology(s) Scream!
Eagle .
Genre
Publication date24 March  1984  30 May  1985
Main character(s)Uncle Terry
Kenny Conway
Creative team
Writer(s) Alan Moore
John Wagner and Alan Grant [a]
Artist(s) Alberto Giolitti
Jesus Redondo
Editor(s)Ian Rimmer
Dave Hunt
Reprints
Collected editions
Monster ISBN   9781781084533

"Monster" is a British horror comic strip character, appearing in titles published by IPC Magazines. The strip debuted in the weekly anthology Scream! on 24 March 1984, before continuing in Eagle until 30 May 1985. The opening episode was written by Alan Moore, with the remainder by John Wagner and Alan Grant; art was provided by Alberto Giolitti, and later Jesus Redondo. The story concerned a young boy called Kenny's attempts to get his deformed, abused uncle Terry help.

Creation

Senior editors Barrie Tomlinson and Gil Page were assigned to put together the anthology title Scream! for IPC, despite management reservations due to the illegality of horror comics in Britain since the passing of the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1955 and the negative publicity received by the controversial Action in 1976. The pair were forced to find a balance for the contents, which Tomlinson would later describe as making the comic "a bit frightening, without being a horror comic". [2]

Alan Moore, who had written "Skizz" and was working on "D.R. & Quinch" for IPC's 2000 AD , worked on the initial story and would write the opening episode before handing over to John Wagner and Alan Grant; Moore at the time was heavily committed elsewhere, also writing "Miracleman" and "V for Vendetta" for Quality Communications' Warrior , and was being tapped by DC Comics to work on Swamp Thing . [3] [4] At the time Wagner and Grant were such prolific contributors to IPC comics that managing director John Sanders insisted they use pen names for some of their work; [5] [6] for "Monster" the pair were credited as 'Rick Clark', which they would also use for - among others - "Invasion 1984!" in Battle . Art for the first episode was provided by Alberto Giolitti, head of the Giolitti art agency and primary artist on Eagle strip "Doomlord"; from the second episode Spaniard Jesus Redondo, whose British work included "Mind Wars" for Starlord . [1]

Publishing history

The Moore/Giolitti 8-page opening episode of "Monster" appeared in the launch issue of Scream! dated 24 March 1984 [b] , with the Wagner/Grant/Redondo team taking over from the second issue. [1] However, IPC's nervousness regarding the title saw constant management interference, necessitating many rewrites. After just 15 issues it was cancelled, officially due to the knock-on effect of the 1984 NUJ strike, though many believe that management wariness played a large part in Scream!'s demise. [2] [3]

Instead the comic would be merged with Eagle, which had been relaunched in 1982. Only two strips would make the transition to Eagle and Scream! - "Monster" and "The Thirteenth Floor". Due to the late decision regarding the cancellation of Scream! and the industrial action, the merged comic would not begin until September 1984, some three months after the last issue of Scream! had been published. "Monster" would run in Eagle until 30 March 1985, being dropped to make room for the contents of another cancelled title, the long-running Tiger . Text stories however continued to appear in annual Scream Holiday Specials until 1988. [1] Grant enjoyed writing the story, later describing himself as having a "soft spot" for "Monster". [8]

In 2016, the post-1970 IPC material owned by Egmont Publishing, including the contents of Scream!, was purchased by Rebellion Developments. [9] [10] Shortly afterwards, "Monster" was reprinted in a collected edition. Due to the original negatives for the story being lost, the story had to be remastered from scans of Scream! back issues. [3] [11] [12] [13]

Plot summary

12-year old Kenny Corman buries his abusive father in the back garden of the family's ramshackle house in Burfleet, after finding him killed by something mysterious in the attic. [14] Exploring, he discovers his deformed, freakishly strong uncle Terry has been kept chained up in the loft; with his mother Joan (Terry's sister) having already died, Kenny is left responsible for looking after him. Terry's upbringing has left him with a very limited understanding of the outside world; when Thacker, one of his father's acquaintances turns up looking for money owed to him, Terry interprets it as an attack and kills the man. Kenny buries the body but realises staying in the house will raise problems, especially after a storm causes the bodies of his father and Thacker to resurface. The pair go on the run, while police inspector Halley investigates the Corman household, and a manhunt starts. Kenny meanwhile tries to impress on Terry that killing is wrong, and resolves to find his uncle help for his murderous temper. The pair of fugitives reach Aberdeen, as Kenny has heard of a doctor who specialises in the area is living in Cromarty, but Terry kills two men who try to capture them soon after they arrive, and a poacher soon afterwards as the police close in. [15]

Kenny is separated from Terry and hospitalised when a boat the pair are using overturns. He tries to explain the story to the authorities, who believe Terry drowned. However, he resurfaces and meets a doctor, who pretends to help Terry before attempting to sedate him, leading to the monster killing him. The police restart their dragnet as Terry searches for Kenny, his wanderings taking him to Blackpool where he is finally injured and captured after killing more. Halley is able to persuade Kenny to persuade Terry to go quietly to prison, where he can be cared for without harming others, while the boy is sent to a council children's home. Terry is sentenced to life in a maximum security hospital, while Kenny is set to move to Australia and live with an aunt. However, the van transporting Terry crashes, leaving him roaming the Southampton area and attempting to find a way to follow Kenny to Australia by boat, but is discovered by the crew during the journey. Terry befriends a young crew-member called Mitch but gets loose as the ship nears port, falling into shark-infested waters - but makes it ashore alive and begins searching for Kenny. He befriends a Bushman called Digger, who takes him in but later finds out the truth about Terry from a newspaper; realising he has no malice, Digger persuades Terry to abandon the search for Kenny and live with him, staying off the grid in peace. [16]

Collected editions

TitleISBNPublisherRelease dateContents
Monster 9781781084533 Rebellion Developments 13 July 2016Material from Scream! 24 March to 30 June 1984, Eagle 1 September 1984 to 30 May 1985, Scream Holiday Special 1986 to 1988

Reception

Reviewing the collected edition for Down the Tubes, Ian Wheeler felt the story was "one of the best British comic strips ever created", praising its mix of adventure and pathos. [17] D. Emerson Eddy felt that "Monster" didn't quite live up to the early promise of Alan Moore's opening episode, but overall felt it was still an "entertaining serial". [18]

Notes

  1. Credited as 'Rick Clark'. [1]
  2. The cover date was actually the last day on which the issue was on sale, so the issue would have been published the previous Monday [7] [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>2000 AD</i> (comics) British comic magazine

2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic magazine. As a comics anthology it serialises stories in each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. Since 2000 it has been published by Rebellion Developments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wagner</span> American-born British comics writer (born 1949)

John Wagner is an American-born British comics writer. Alongside Pat Mills, he helped revitalise British comics in the 1970s, and continues to be active in the British comics industry, occasionally also working in American comics. He is the co-creator, with artist Carlos Ezquerra, of the character Judge Dredd.

<i>Crisis</i> (British comics) British comic

Crisis was a British comic anthology published by Fleetway Publications from 17 September 1988 to October 1991, initially fortnightly and later monthly. Designed to appeal to older readers than other Fleetway titles in order to take advantage of a boom in interest in 'adult' comics, Crisis featured overtly political and complex stories; one issue was even produced in conjunction with Amnesty International.

<i>Battle Picture Weekly</i> British weekly comic

Battle Picture Weekly was a British weekly boys' war comic published by IPC Magazines from 8 March 1975 to 23 January 1988, when it merged with the new incarnation of Eagle after 644 issues. Most stories were set in World War II, with some based on other conflicts, while factual features also focused on warfare.

Judge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in September 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Judge Dredd's locale Mega-City One.

<i>Scream!</i> (comics) British weekly comic

Scream! was a weekly British comics periodical published by IPC Magazines from 24 March to 30 June 1984. A horror comic anthology comic, the title lasted for 15 editions before being merged with another title, Eagle.

<i>Starlord</i> (comics) British weekly comic

Starlord was a British weekly boys' science fiction comic published by IPC Magazines from 13 May to 7 October 1978, when it merged with 2000 AD after 22 issues. The comic was created by Kelvin Gosnell, and was originally intended as a fortnightly sister title for 2000 AD with higher production values and an older audience, but late changes in production saw it converted into a weekly.

<i>The Thirteenth Floor</i> (comics) British comic book story

"The Thirteenth Floor" is a British science fiction strip character, appearing in titles published by IPC Magazines. The strip debuted in the weekly anthology Scream! on 24 March 1984, before continuing in Eagle until 28 February 1987. The stories were written by John Wagner and Alan Grant; art was provided by José Ortiz. Since 2016 the property has been owned by Rebellion Developments, who have revived the strip in several specials. The plot was set in a tower block called Maxwell Tower, controlled by an experimental sentient computer called Max located on the 13th floor of the flats. Max himself narrated the strip, and as befitting a computerised custodian of hundreds of people, was quite chatty and light-hearted. However, he was also portrayed as having a programming flaw; programmed to love and protect his tenants, he could remorselessly kill anyone who threatened or even just annoyed them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doomlord</span>

Doomlord is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by IPC Magazines. The character featured in British comic stories published in the weekly anthology Eagle from 27 March 1982 to 14 October 1989. The strip was initially a photo comic written by Alan Grant and John Wagner as Eagle experimented with the format. While "Doomlord" was popular with the readership, the photo stories had a more mixed reception, and from 24 September 1983 "Doomlord" turned into a conventional picture strip, with art from Eric Bradbury, and ran until October 1989. The story began with a Doomlord - a powerful alien - judging the human race's right to exist. Over the course of the strip three different Doomlords - Zyn, Vek, and Enok - acted as protagonist.

<i>Tornado</i> (comics) British weekly comic

Tornado was a British weekly boys' adventure comic published by IPC Magazines from 24 March to 18 August 1979. The comic was partly created as a way to use up stories already commissioned for the other titles, and was marred by a difficult production. Tornado sold poorly and was merged with 2000 AD after 22 issues.

Brendan McCarthy is a British artist and designer who has worked for comic books, film and television. He co-wrote the film Mad Max: Fury Road. He is the brother of Jim McCarthy.

Jesús Redondo Román is a Spanish comic artist who has been published in many countries, including Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloodfang</span> British comic book character

Bloodfang is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by IPC Magazines. The character featured in British comic stories published in the weekly anthology Eagle from 9 June 1984 to 30 March 1985, written by John Wagner and Alan Grant and drawn by Jim Baikie, Carlos Cruz González and Vanyo. The story followed the eponymous tyrannosaurus rex, initially in prehistoric times and then later in the year 2150.

British girls' comics flourished in the United Kingdom from the 1950s through the 1970s, before beginning to decline in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. Publishers known for their girls' comics included DC Thomson and Fleetway/IPC. Most titles appeared weekly, with the content primarily in picture-story format. The majority of the stories were serialized, with two or three pages per issue, over eight to twelve issues. They were marketed toward young teen girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major Eazy</span> British comic book character

Major Eazy is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by IPC Magazines. Eazy featured British comic war stories published in the weekly anthology Battle Picture Weekly from 10 January 1976 to 10 June 1978, written by Alan Hebden and drawn by Carlos Ezquerra. Set during World War II, the strips follow Eazy, an unconventional British Army officer with a laidback attitude.

<i>Death Wish</i> (comics) British comic book story

"Death Wish" is a British comic strip published by IPC Magazines, Fleetway Publications and Rebellion Developments. It debuted in the first issue of the weekly anthology comic Speed on 23 February 1980, and was created by writer Barrie Tomlinson. Art was provided by Vanyo. The story revolved around racing driver Blake Edmonds, who was horribly disfigured in a plane crash and, donning a distinctive mask, embarked on a career of undertaking dangerous stunts in the hope of finding one that killed him - hence the strip's title. Later stories saw Blake transition to becoming a troubleshooting daredevil hero, and incorporated fantastical elements - including an appearance by Dracula. From September 1987, the strip was retitled "The Incredible Adventures of Blake Edmonds".

<i>The Dracula File</i> British comic book story

"The Dracula File" is a British comic horror strip published by IPC Magazines and Rebellion Developments. It debuted in the first issue of the weekly anthology comic Scream on 24 March 1984. The story was written by Gerry Finley-Day and later Simon Furman, and was drawn by Eric Bradbury. The story featured Count Dracula escaping from the Eastern Bloc at the height of the Cold War before appearing in modern-day England, with KGB Colonel Stakis in pursuit. Scream was short-lived, being merged into Eagle in June 1984 after only 15 issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D-Day Dawson</span> British comic book story

"D-Day Dawson" is a British comic war story published in the weekly anthology Battle Picture Weekly from 8 March 1975 to 22 January 1977 by IPC Magazines. Set during World War II, the story follows Steve Dawson, a sergeant in the British Army left with an inoperable bullet next to his heart after being shot during the D-Day landings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mind Wars</span> British comic book story

"Mind Wars" is a British comic science fiction adventure story published in the weekly anthology Starlord from 20 May to 7 October 1978 by IPC Magazines.

<i>Eagle</i> (1982 comic) British comic

Eagle, sometimes referred to as The New Eagle and known at various points in its life as Eagle and Scream!, Eagle and Tiger, Eagle and Battle, Eagle and M.A.S.K. and Eagle and Wildcat, was a British boys' adventure comic published by IPC Magazines from 27 March 1982 to January 1994. A revival of the famous Eagle, the title was initially a weekly publication until turning into a monthly in May 1991. The title was finally cancelled in January 1994, after 505 issues.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Holland, Steve (2002). The Fleetway Companion. Rotherham: CJ & Publication.
  2. 1 2 Tomlinson, Barrie (24 September 2017). Comic Book Hero. Pitch. ISBN   9781785313585.
  3. 1 2 3 Flood, Alison (8 January 2016). "Alan Moore's early comic Monster to be republished". The Guardian.
  4. Rimmer, Ian (11 September 2023). "Greetings, Mortals". Monster. Rebellion Developments. ISBN   9781781084533.
  5. Bishop, David (5 February 2008). "Interrogation: Alan Grant, Part Two - Partners in (Future) Crime". Judge Dredd Megazine . No. 267. Rebellion Developments.
  6. "The John Wagner and Alan Grant Interview". 29 July 2022.
  7. Carroll, Michael (21 February 2020). "Dateline: 26 Feb 1977". Rusty Staples. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  8. Badham, Matthew (12 October 2011). "Four-Colour Classics: Scream! - Not for the Nervous!". Judge Dredd Megazine . No. 316. Rebellion Developments.
  9. "The Return of the IPC Youth Group". 11 September 2019.
  10. "Rebellion Buys Fleetway Archive - Roy Of The Rovers, Oink, Tammy, Battle, Whizzer And Chips And More". bleedingcool.com. 25 August 2016.
  11. "Alan Moore and John Wagner's Monster, to be Reprinted from 2000AD". 8 January 2016.
  12. "Syndicated Comics". 8 January 2016.
  13. "2000 AD to Publish Moore, Wagner and Heinzl's 'Monster'". 8 January 2016.
  14. Alan Moore  ( w ), Alberto Giolitti  ( a )."Monster" Scream! (24 March 1984). IPC Magazines .
  15. John Wagner and Alan Grant  ( w ), Jesus Redondo  ( a )."Monster" Scream! (31 March to 28 April 1984). IPC Magazines .
  16. John Wagner and Alan Grant  ( w ), Jesus Redondo  ( a )."Monster" Eagle (1 September 1984 to 30 May 1985). IPC Magazines .
  17. "In Review: Monster, from Scream! Comic". 8 September 2016.
  18. "CLASSIC COMIC OF THE WEEK: Monster by Alan Moore and team". 23 November 2020.