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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Tuesday, October 19, 2004
The best way I can explain the "what" behind CRAZY HIP GROOVY GO-GO WAY OUT MONSTERS #32 [TwoMorrows; $5.95] is to run a letter from its readers page.
Dear Editors,
Having read your magazine recently (Oct. 2003 issue), I came away totally confused! This appears to be done in the style of old monster magazines from the fifties and sixties. All the photographs and articles seem to be referring to films that do not or never did exist! What's this all about!
Ignatz Ditherbaum
Outtacon, Tex.
Dear Iggy,
Your letter disturbed us to say the least. It seems you have somehow lost your sense of time and place. You are living in the year 1964. Our current president is Lyndon B. Johnson. You might consider seeking immediate medical care as you are obviously suffering from some kind of mental disorder that has you believing you're living in the future! Our best wishes for a speedy recovery - and in the meantime, keep reading CHGGGWOM as it might help you get a grip on reality. Good luck, - ed.
I was seriously underwhelmed by Pete Von Sholly's first issue of CHGGGWOM. Whether I didn't get the joke or he failed to tell it well enough matters little to me at this junction. Because *this* issue of the magazine had me laughing out loud.
Von Sholly has fine-turned the concept, humor, and production of the magazine. The inside front cover ad for "Horrora" hot-rod monster models conjured up youthful summers building kits from both Aurora and "Big Daddy" Roth. A "Wanky Winklehausen" pre-production drawing for his unfilmed THE CLASH OF EVERYTHING FROM EVERYTHING ELSE had me giggling with delight.
The perilous puns of editor "Horry J Gackerman" seem far less labored than in the previous issue. The CHGGGWOM "filmbooklet" of BE AWARE OF THE BLOAT was such a low-rent version of the old FAMOUS MONSTERS filmbook that it couldn't fail to amuse me. I wish I had come up with the idea first.
The issue has "interviews" with monster maker "Jack Pus" and Sinbad sidekick Harufa:
"Seven long journeys being chased by monsters and treated as a comical sidekick joke by a Caucasian man masquerading as an Arab was plenty enough for me"
It also has fabulous fake ads, a funny letters column, and the absolutely brilliant "Attack of the Pepe People!" I was 12 years old again, watching old monster movies with Ghoulardi, and flipping through an issue of FAMOUS MONSTERS during the commercials. It was nostalgic candy for my ancient brain.
CHGGGWOM isn't perfect. Some of the gags still fall flat and some run too long. But there's no denying the improvement between this issue and the previous one. On our scale of zero to five, I'm awarding CHGGGWOM an impressive four Tonys.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with a full-sized TOT.
Tony Isabella
<< 10/18/2004 | 10/19/2004 | 10/20/2004 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
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Medina, OH 44256
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