Monster Fun was originally a weekly British comic strip magazine for children aged seven to twelve. Published byIPC Media, it ran for 73 issues in 1975–1976, when it merged withBuster.[1] Focused on humorous monster strips and stories, the magazine was known for "The Bad Time Bedtime Books"minicomic inserts, created byLeo Baxendale.
The magazine was known for handing out free toys in its issues. The first issue, for instance, came with a freeplate wobbler[2] (anovelty item[3] 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).[4] The second issue had a "Freaky Spider Ring", the third a "Super Shaking Skeleton".
The comic was relaunched in April 2022, initially as a bi-monthly publication before moving to monthly publication.[5]
Monster Fun's debut issue was dated 14 June 1975.Monster Fun Specials were printed in 1975 and 1976.
The magazine merged withBuster to formBuster and Monster Fun after the 30 October 1976 issue.[1] Due to its ongoing popularity, theMonster Fun logo was printed onBuster's 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 titles. Almost all of the other original strips were reprinted in other titles in the 1980s and 1990s.
AfterMonster Fun's 1976 merger intoBuster, the stripsGums,Kid Kong,X-Ray Specs,Mummy's Boy,Draculass,Teddy Scare,Terror TV, andMartha's Monster Make-Up all made the merger.[6]
In February 1982 these merged magazines merged again withJackpot.Kid Kong was terminated on this occasion.
In June 1984 the magazine merged withSchool Fun. The comic stripGums was terminated on this occasion.
In 1988 the magazine merged withNipper.Mummy's Boy was terminated on this occasion.X-Ray Specs had the most longevity continuing untilBuster's end (4 January 2000) though as with the all but one of the lastBuster strips as reprints.
In September 2021 it was announced thatRebellion, publishers of2000 AD, would be relaunching the comic in April 2022, "revived and reimagined for today's kids".[7]
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.[8] The first issue in October 2021 was not part of the main sequence, as the publication's main subscription started from April 2022.
In March 2023, Rebellion announced that from June 2023, due to popular demand, the issues will be published monthly rather than every two months.[9]
Issues:
Monster Fun Halloween Special issue ("Halloween Spooktacular") was published in October 2021. Included in this issue wereFrankie Stein;Kid Kong;Draculass;Teddy Scare!;Gums;Sweeny Toddler;Harry & Gary;Evil Eye;Tokoloshe;Birdman, Chicken & Sparrow;Martha's Monster Make-Up;Hell's Angel;Gah! The Gobblin' Goblin;Wiz War;The Leopard from Lime Street;Hire a Horror;Jump Junior, Monster Helper;Creature Teacher;Scare Salon andGrimly Feendish.[10]
"Easter Special 2022", released in April 2022 (cover date 6 April - 31 May 2022). Included in this issue wereKid Kong,Steel Commando,Frankie Stein,Draculass, a stand-alone storyThe Story of Easter,Hire a Horror,Martha's Monster Make-Up,The Leopard from Lime Street andHell's Angel, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[11] A special, webstore-only edition, included an additional story (Sweeney Toddler).[12]
"School's Out Special 2022", released in June 2022 (cover date 1 June - 2 August 2022). Included in this issue wereKid Kong,Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 1),Frankie Stein,Draculass, a stand-alone storyThe Sun,Martha's Monster Make-Up,Hire a Horror,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 1) andHell's Angel, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[13]
"Summer Special 2022", released in August 2022 (cover date 3 August - 4 October 2022). Included in this issue wereKid Kong,Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 2),Frankie Stein,Draculass, a stand-alone storyHome Invaders,Martha's Monster Make-Up,Hire a Horror,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 2) andHell's Angel, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[14]
"Halloween Spooktacular 2022", released in October 2022 (cover date 05 Oct - 06 Dec 2022). Included in this issue wereKid Kong,Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 3),Frankie Stein,Martha's Monster Make-Up, a stand-alone storyThe Stain,Hire a Horror,Draculass,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 3), andHell's Angel, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[15]
"Christmas Special 2022", released in December 2022 (cover date 07 Dec 2022 - 31 Jan 2023). Included in this issue wereKid 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 storyClear and Present Danger,Hell's Angel,Martha's Monster Make-Up,Hire a Horror andThe Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 4), as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[16]
"Ghoulish Gaming Special", released in February 2023 (cover date 01 Feb - 04 Apr 2023). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded! (part 1) (a new story for this publication),Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 5),Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock (a new comic strip),Draculass,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 5) andHire a Horror, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[17]
"Twisted Time Travel Special", released in April 2023 (cover date 05 Apr - 06 Jun 2023). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded! (continuing the store from issue 6),Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 6),Draculass,Witch Vs Warlock,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 6) andHire a Horror, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[18]
"Spooky Subscriber Special", released in April 2023. This was an exclusive-to-subscribers, free, issue. The issue included 3 new stories (twoHell's Angel stories and oneMartha's Monster Make-Up story), along with stories from previous issues (from theHalloween Spooktacular 2021 to theHalloween Spooktacular 2022, plus aKid Kong story from theCor!! Buster Humour Special, originally published in April 2019). These republished stories included in this issue wereKid Kong,Hire a Horror, Martha's Monster Make-Up,Draculass,Frankie Stein andSweeny Toddler.[19]
"Dino-Scare Special", released in June 2023 (cover date 07 Jun - 04 Jul 2023). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded! (continuing the story from issue 7),Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 7),Witch Vs Warlock,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 7), aGlobal Ghoulies picture (in the style of Ken Reid) andMartha's Monster Make-Up, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[20]
"Horror Holiday Special", released in July 2023 (cover date 05 Jul - 01 Aug 2023). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded (continuing the story from issue 8),Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 8),Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 8),Global Ghoulies andHire a Horror, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[21]
"Petrifying Pets Special", released August 2023 (cover date 02 Aug - 05 Sep 2023). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded (continuing the story from issue 9),Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 9),Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 9),Global Ghoulies andFrankencritter, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[22]
"Freaky Fairy Tales Special", released September 2023 (cover date 06 Sep - 03 Oct 2023). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded! (continuing the story from issue 10),Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 10),Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock,The Leopard from Lime Street (continuing the story from issue 10 and concluding the story arc),Lost in the Woods (game),Global Ghoulies andHire a Horror, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[23]
"Halloween Spooktacular 2023", released October 2023 (cover date 04 Oct - 31 Oct 2023). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded,Steel Commando (continuing the story from issue 11 and concluding the story arc),Draculass,Witch Vs Warlock,Crabbe's Crusaders (a new serial),Global Ghoulies,Franken Critter,Martha's Monster Make-Up,Hire a Horror andAll Hallows Scream, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[24] (Note: from this issue, the issue number was shown along with the cover dates)
"Spooky Space!", released November 2023 (cover date 01 Nov - 05 Dec 2023). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded!,Draculass,Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock,Crabbe's Crusaders (continuing the story from issue 112 and concluding the story arc),Global Ghoulies andWelcome to Garzag's Galactic Guzzle-Pit!, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[25]
"Christmas Special 2023", released December 2023 (cover date 06 Dec 2023 - 02 Jan 2024). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded!,Peaches Creatures (a new strip),Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock,Rex Power (a new strip)),Global Ghoulies andFrankencritter, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[26]
"Monstrous Motors!", released January 2024 (cover date 03 Jan - 06 Feb 2024). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded!,Peaches Creatures (part 2, continuing from the last issue),Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock,Rex Power (Episode Two, continuing from the last issue),Global Ghoulies andHire a Horror, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[27]
"Manic Movies!", released February 2024 (cover date 07 Feb - 05 Mar 2024). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded!,Peaches Creatures (part 3, continuing from the last issue),Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock,Rex Power (Episode Three, continuing from the last issue),Global Ghoulies andFrankencritter, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[28]
"Beastly Books!", released March 2024 (cover date 06 Mar - 02 Apr 2024). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded!,Peaches Creatures (part 4, continuing from the last issue),Martha's Monster Make-Up,Witch Vs Warlock,Rex Power (Episode Four, continuing from the last issue),Global Ghoulies and new stripMolly's Mummy, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[29]
"Nasty Nature!", released April 2024 (cover date 02 Apr - 30 Apr 2024). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel,Space Invaded!,Peaches Creatures (part 5, continuing from the last issue),Martha's Monster Make-Up/Draculass (the title for Martha is scribbled out with a piece of paper with the Draculass logo pasted over it), new stripZorthrax the Unforgivable (a character from issue 13'sWelcome to Garzag's Galactic Guzzle-Pit!),Rex Power (Episode Five, continuing from the last issue),Global Ghoulies andFrankencritter, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[30]
"Sinister Science!", released May 2024 (cover date 1 May - 04 June 2024). Included in this issue wereGums,Kid Kong,Hell's Angel, a stand=alone storyForest of Fear,Space Invaded!,Peaches Creatures (part 6, continuing from the last issue, concluding the current story arc. A note on the final panel says "Peaches' Creatures will return!"),Witch Vs Warlock,Rex Power (Episode Six, continuing from last issue),Global Ghoulies,Martha's Monster Make-Up, as well as puzzles and reader-submitted art.[31]
The comic continued on a monthly basis, with new strips added occasionally (for example, #20 was advertised in issue 19 as containing 3 new strips: Sir Render, The Fright-Shift ('Hire a Horror Presents') and Sally Astro).
‡Sweeny Toddler (has only appeared in the Halloween Spooktacular 2022, a story was also available in the web-store exclusive edition of issue 1) (originally inShiver and Shake,Whoopee!,Whizzer and Chips andBuster)
‡Teddy Scare! (from the originalMonster Fun run and laterBuster)
