''Monster Fun'' was originally a weekly British comic strip magazine for children aged seven to twelve. Published by

IPC Media TI Media (formerly International Publishing Company, IPC Magazines Ltd, IPC Media and Time Inc. UK) was a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the United Kingdom, with a portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year. Most of its tit ...

, it ran for 73 issues in 1975–1976, when it merged with '' Buster''."Monster Fun,"
ComicVine. Accessed 21 September 2015. Focused on humorous monster strips and stories, the magazine was known for "The Bad Time Bedtime Books"

minicomic A minicomic is a creator-published comic book, often photocopied and stapled or with a handmade binding. In the United Kingdom and Europe the term small press comic is equivalent with minicomic, reserved for those publications measuring A6 (105& ...

inserts, created by

Leo Baxendale Joseph Leo Baxendale (27 October 1930 – 23 April 2017) was an English cartoonist and publisher. Baxendale wrote and drew several titles. Among his best-known creations are the ''The Beano, Beano'' comic strip, strips ''Little Plum'', ''Minnie ...

. The nominal editor was "Frankie Stein" (a play on

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ex ...

), a character who had previously appeared in the magazines ''

Wham! Wham! (briefly known in the US as Wham! U.K.) were an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981. The duo consisted of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They became one of the most commercially successful pop acts of the 1980s, selling more ...

'', ''

Shiver and Shake ''Shiver and Shake'' was a British comic magazine published every Monday by IPC Magazines Ltd. It ran from (issue dates) 10 March 1973 to 5 October 1974, when it merged with '' Whoopee!'' As often happens with British comics, many names of stri ...

'', and ''

Whoopee! ''Whoopee!'' is a 1928 musical comedy with a book based on Owen Davis's play, ''The Nervous Wreck.'' The musical libretto was written by William Anthony McGuire, with music by Walter Donaldson and lyrics by Gus Kahn. The musical premiered on Bro ...

''. Recurring artists included Robert Nixon, Thomas Williams, and

Trevor Metcalfe Trevor Metcalfe (born May 1939 in Brotton, Yorkshire) is a British illustrator and comic book artist. Known for his comic strips in IPC Magazines comics such as Sweet Tooth and Junior Rotter in ''Whizzer and Chips''. Influences include Leo ...

. The magazine was known for handing out free toys in its issues. The first issue, for instance, came with a free plate wobbler (a

novelty item A novelty item or simply novelty is an object which is specifically designed to serve no practical purpose, and is sold for its uniqueness, humor, or simply as something new (hence "novelty", or newness). The term also applies to practical items wi ...

consisting of an inflatable rubber bladder and a hand-operated pump; the bladder is placed under a plate, and inflating it makes the plate wobble). The second issue had a "Freaky Spider Ring", the third a "Super Shaking Skeleton". The comic was relaunched in April 2022 as a bi-monthly publication.

Publication history

Original IPC Run

''Monster Fun'''s debut issue was dated 14 June 1975. ''Monster Fun Specials'' were printed in 1975 and 1976. The magazine merged with '' Buster'' to form ''Buster and Monster Fun'' after the 30 October 1976 issue. Due to its ongoing popularity, the ''Monster Fun'' logo was printed on ''Busters cover until the summer of 1979. Despite its short run, ''Monster Fun Annuals'' were printed every year, cover-dated from 1977 until 1985, though all contained some reprint material. They were all distributed in the UK from the autumn of the previous cover-dated year. ''Buster and Monster Fun Specials'' were printed (with much reprint material) every year from 1977 until 1996, making them one of the most long-lived of IPC /

Fleetway Fleetway Publications was a magazine publishing company based in London. It was founded in 1959 when the Mirror Group acquired the Amalgamated Press, then based at Fleetway House, Farringdon Street, London. It was one of the companies that merg ...

titles. Almost all of the other original strips were reprinted in other titles in the 1980s and 1990s. After ''Monster Funs 1976 merger into '' Buster'', the strips ''Gums'', ''Kid Kong'', ''X-Ray Specs'', ''Mummy's Boy'', ''Draculass'', ''Teddy Scare'', ''Terror TV'', and ''Martha's Monster Make-up'' all made the merger. In February 1982 these merged magazines merged again with ''

Jackpot Jackpot or Jackpot! may refer to: * A prize, such as a progressive jackpot * Gardena jackpots, a poker variant * Jackpot, Nevada, a community on the Nevada–Idaho state border Comics * Jackpot (comics), several comic book characters * ''Jack ...

''. ''Kid Kong'' was terminated on this occasion. In June 1984 the magazine merged with ''

School Fun ''Buster'' was a British comic which began publication in 1960, originally published by IPC Magazines Ltd under the company's comics division Fleetway, then by Egmont UK Ltd under the same imprint until its closure in 2000. Despite missing is ...

''. The comic strip ''Gums'' was terminated on this occasion. In 1988 the magazine merged with ''

Nipper Nipper (1884 – September 1895) was a dog from Bristol, England, who served as the model for an 1898 painting by Francis Barraud titled ''His Master's Voice''. This image became one of the world's best known trademarks, the famous dog-and- gra ...

''. ''Mummy's Boy'' was terminated on this occasion. ''

X-Ray Specs X-ray specs or X-ray glasses are an American novelty item, purported to allow users to see through or into solid objects. In reality, the spectacles merely create an optical illusion; no X-rays are involved. The current paper version is sold und ...

'' had the most longevity continuing until ''Busters end (4 January 2000) though as with the all but one of the last ''Buster'' strips as reprints.

Rebellion revival

In September 2021 it was announced that

Rebellion Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...

, publishers of '' 2000 AD'' would be relaunching the comic in April 2022, "revived and reimagined for today's kids". Unlike the original IPC run, the Rebellion revival will be published every two months, rather than weekly. Characters who will appear within the comics include Frankie Stein, Kid Kong, Draculass, Sweeny Toddler, Gums, Teddy Scare, and The Leopard from Lime Street. The first issue in October 2021 was not part of the main sequence, as the publication's main subscription started from April 2022. Issues: #

''Monster Fun'' Halloween Special issue ("Halloween Spooktacular") was published in October 2021. Included in this issue were ''Frankie Stein''; ''Kid Kong''; ''Draculass''; ''Teddy Scare!''; ''Gums''; '' Sweeny Toddler''; ''Harry & Gary''; ''

Evil Eye The Evil Eye ( grc, ὀφθαλμὸς βάσκανος; grc-koi, ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός; el, (κακό) μάτι; he, עַיִן הָרָע, ; Romanian: ''Deochi''; it, malocchio; es, mal de ojo; pt, mau-olhado, olho gordo; ar ...

''; ''Tokoloshe''; ''Birdman, Chicken & Sparrow''; ''Martha's Monster Makeup''; ''Hell's Angel''; ''Gah! The Gobblin' Goblin''; ''Wiz War''; ''

The Leopard from Lime Street ''The Leopard from Lime Street'' was a comic strip appearing in the British comic '' Buster'' from 1976 to 1985. Written by Tom Tully,Grimly Feendish Grimly Feendish (alias The Rottenest Crook in the World) is a British comic book character created by Leo Baxendale in 1964, who originated in Baxendale's comic strip ''Eagle-Eye, Junior Spy'', published in the magazine ''Wham!''. He is Eagle-Eye' ...

# "Easter Special 2022", released in April 2022 (cover date 06 April - 31 May 2022). Included in this issue were ''Kid Kong'', ''Steel Commando'', ''Frankie Stein'', ''Draculass'', a stand-alone story ''The Story of Easter'', ''Hire a Horror'', ''Martha's Monster Make Up'', ''The Leopard from Lime Street'' and ''Hell's Angel'', as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art. A special, webstore-only edition, included an addition story (Sweeney Toddler). # "School's Out Special 2022", released in June 2022 (cover date 01 June - 02 August 2022). Included in this issue were ''Kid Kong'', ''Steel Commando'' (continuing the story from issue 1), ''Frankie Stein'', ''Draculass'', a stand-alone story ''The Sun'', ''Martha's Monster Make Up'', ''Hire a Horror'', ''The Leopard from Lime Street'' (continuing the story from issue 1) and ''Hell's Angel'', as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art. # "Summer Special 2022", released in August 2022 (cover date 03 August - 04 October 2022). Included in this issue were ''Kid Kong'', ''Steel Commando'' (continuing the story from issue 2), ''Frankie Stein'', ''Draculass'', a stand-alone story ''Home Invaders'', ''Martha's Monster Make Up'', ''Hire a Horror'', ''The Leopard from Lime Street'' (continuing the story from issue 2) and ''Hell's Angel'', as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art. # "Halloween Spooktacular 2022", released in October 2022 (cover date 05 Oct - 06 Dec 2022). Included in this issue were ''Kid Kong'', ''Steel Commando'' (continuing the story from issue 3), ''Frankie Stein'', ''Martha's Monster Make Up'', a stand-alone story ''The Stain'', ''Hire a Horror'', ''Draculass'', ''The Leopard from Lime Street'' (continuing the story from issue 3), and ''Hell's Angel'', as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art. # "Christmas Special 2022", released in December 2022 (cover date 07 Dec 2022 - 31 Jan 2023). Included in this issue were ''Kid Kong'', ''The Spider Who Loved Me!'' (a story submitted by a reader in a competition, and scripted and illustrated by some of "Monster Fun"'s regular contributors), ''Steel Commando'' (continuing the story from issue 4), ''Frankie Stein'', ''Draculass'', a stand-alone story ''Clear and Present Danger'', ''Hell's Angel'', ''Martha's Monster Make Up'', ''Hire a Horror'' and ''The Leopard from Lime Street'' (continuing the story from issue 4), as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.

List of strips

Original strips

* ''Arts Gallery'' (drawn by Mike Lacey) * ''Brainy and his Monster Maker'' * ''Cinders'' * ''Creature Teacher'' (drawn by Thomas Williams) * ''Dough Nut & Rusty'' (drawn by

) * ''Draculass'' (1975–1976; continued in '' Buster'' until 1977) (drawn by Terry Bave) * ''Grizzly Bearhug'' * ''The Invisible Monster'' * ''Kid Kong'' (1975–1976; continued in '' Buster'' until 1982) (drawn by Robert Nixon) * ''Major Jump Horror Hunter'' * ''March of the Mighty Ones'' * ''Martha's Monster Make-up'' (1975-1977) (drawn by Ken Reid) * ''Monster Hits Jokes'' * ''Mummy's Boy'' (1975-1976; continued in '' Buster'' until 1988), (drawn by Norman Mansbridge) * ''Tom Thumbscrew'' * ''

'' (1975-1976; continued in '' Buster'' until 2000) (drawn by Mike Lacey)

Later strips

* ''Gums'' (1976; continued in '' Buster'' until 1984) (by Roy Davies and Robert Nixon) * ''Frankie's Diary'' * ''Freaky Farm'' (drawn by Jim Watson) * ''The Little Monsters'' * ''S.O.S. Save Our Stan'' as well as many pull-out posters * ''Teddy Scare'' (1976; continued in '' Buster'' until 1977) (by

Barrie Appleby Barrie Appleby is a British comics artist who works mainly for Scottish publisher D. C. Thomson & Co., drawing strips such as Dennis the Menace and Roger the Dodger for ''The Beano'' since the 1970s. He has also drawn Cuddles and Dimples for ' ...

) * ''Terror TV'' (1976; continued in '' Buster'' until 1978) (drawn by Ian Knox)

References

{{Buster 1975 comics debuts 1976 comics endings Fleetway and IPC Comics titles Children's magazines published in the United Kingdom Comics magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines established in 1975 Magazines disestablished in 1976 Defunct British comics British humour comics Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom