Major Publications, also known as Major Magazines, was the publisher of the satirical magazine ''
Cracked'', the most durable imitator of
''Mad'' magazine. Founded by Robert C. Sproul in 1958, the company generally imitated other publishers' successes in various genres, such as
Westerns, men's
adventure, and the
Warren Publications
Warren Publishing was an American magazine company founded by James Warren, who published his first magazines in 1957 and continued in the business for decades. Magazines published by Warren include '' After Hours'', ''Creepy'', ''Eerie'', ''Famo ...
mid-1960s revival of
horror comics.
Even as the company chased publishing trends, its long-running flagship title was ''Cracked'', which the company published from 1958 to 1985.
The company also published a number of monster-themed magazines, imitating publications like ''
Fangoria
''Fangoria'' is an internationally distributed American horror film fan magazine, in publication since 1979. It is published four times a year by Fangoria Publishing, LLC and is edited by Phil Nobile Jr.
The magazine was originally released i ...
'' and ''
Famous Monsters of Filmland''. Editor
Terry Bisson recalled:
History
''Cracked''
''Cracked''
's first editor was
Sol Brodsky
Soloman Brodsky (April 22, 1923 – June 4, 1984) was an American comic book artist who, as Marvel Comics' Silver Age production manager, was one of the key architects of the small company's expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate. He ...
. Over the years,
Bill Ward and
John Severin were regular contributors to most of the company's publications. The production manager throughout the 1960s was Charles Foster.
In addition to the flagship title, Major put out a number of publications under the ''Cracked'' umbrella, including ''Cracked Collector's Edition'', ''Giant Cracked'', and ''Super Cracked''. Many ''Cracked'' contributors worked on these titles.
''Web of Horror''
The most notable of Major's black-and-white horror magazines was ''Web of Horror,'' edited by Bisson, which published three issues from 1969 to 1970.
Bruce Jones Bruce Jones may refer to:
* Bruce Jones (actor) (born 1953), British actor
*Bruce Jones (American football) (1904–1974), American football player
*Bruce Jones (comics) (born 1944), American comic book writer
*Bruce Jones (surfboards) (?–2014), ...
made his professional debut in ''Web of Horror'' #3, writing and drawing the six-page story "Point of View."
Wayne Howard contributed to issue #1.
Syd Shores penciled "Blood Thirst!" in #1 and "Strangers!" in #3.
Ralph Reese
Ralph Reese (born May 19, 1949) is an American artist who has illustrated for books, magazines, trading cards, comic books and comic strips, including a year drawing the ''Flash Gordon'' strip for King Features. Prolific from the 1960s to the 1 ...
was a regular contributor to ''Web of Horror''. Other contributors included
Bernie Wrightson,
Michael Kaluta, and
Jeff Jones.
Bisson left after issue #3, leaving the editorial chores to Wrightson and Bruce Jones. As Wrightson recalls,
Sale to Globe Communications
In 1985, founder Sproul sold the company's assets to
Globe Communications
''Globe,'' a supermarket tabloid based in Boca Raton, Florida, covers politics, celebrity, human interest, and crime stories, largely sensationalist tabloid journalism.
History
''Globe'' was first published in North America on November 10, 195 ...
, which moved the operations to Florida and continued to published ''Cracked'' and some of its affiliated magazines under the Major Magazines name. Globe sold the assets to
American Media in 1994.
Titles published
* ''Cracked'' titles:
** ''Cracked'' (212 issues, Feb./Mar. 1958–July 1985) — sold to Globe Communications
** ''Biggest Greatest Cracked'' (21 issues, 1965–Fall 1986)
** ''Cracked Collector's Edition'' (58 issues, 1973–February 1985)
** ''Cracked Digest'' (5 issues, Oct. 1986–Oct. 1987)
** ''Cracked Goes to the Movies'' (1 issue, 1971)
** ''Cracked Shut-Ups'' 2 issues, 1971)
** ''Extra Special Cracked'' (9 issues, 1976–Winter 1986)
** ''Giant Cracked'' (48 issues, 1965–Winter 1989)
** ''King-Sized Cracked'' (20 issues, 1967–Summer 1986)
** ''Super Cracked'' (32 issues, 1968–Fall 1986)
* ''Monster Howls'' (1 issue, 1966) — Humor-Vision imprint
* ''Monsters Attack'' (5 issues, 1989–1990) — Globe Communications imprint
* ''Pow Magazine'' (3 issues, 1966–1967) — Humor-Vision imprint
* ''Web of Horror'' (3 issues, Dec. 1969–Apr. 1970)
References
Notes
Sources consulted
*
*
{{refend
Defunct comics and manga publishing companies
Magazine publishing companies of the United States
Publishing companies established in 1958
1958 establishments in New York (state)
1994 disestablishments in Florida