"Monsters In Therapy" Series by Iain Burke

Here's a cool little retro-inspired screenprint series that I found while perusing Etsy. Monsters In Therapy by Iain Burke of Mummy's Hand perfectly encapsulates that tiny dark corner of self doubt that sometimes boils up in each of us.

And yes, even spooky monsters aren't immune to it, as each character questions themselves in a unique and truly humorous way.

I really love the 60's old-school monster illustration style of the entire series, paired with bold blocks of color and cool typography. Simple, spooky fun! Enjoy!

Check out the full 13-print series over at the Mummy's Hand Etsy shop!

  

Spinatures From Waxwork Records

I have been collecting cool horror film soundtracks on vinyl from Waxwork Records for quite a few years now, but I'm really excited for their newest release, Spinatures!

And what is a Spinature, you ask? A sweet new toy that actually sits and rotates (or spins, I guess?) on top of your record turntable! And guess what the first figure released was!?

You know I'm a sucker for anything Frankenstein, so this was a complete no brainer!! Or maybe  an abnormal brainer? Eh, sometimes the jokes just write themselves...

Will I pop him on my turntable and watch him spin? I haven't decided yet, but nonetheless it's one sweet collectible! 

And Waxwork just upped their game with the brand new release, The Bride of Frankenstein! (It goes well with their newest vinyl release, the absolutely stunning looking soundtrack to the same film! How could I not order both!?)

The Spinatures line is definitely going to be emptying my wallet in the near future, especially with the sneak peaks of future releases on the page. It looks like Michael Myers, Norman Bates, The Creature From The Black Lagoon, and the 3 masked trick-or-treaters from Halloween III. Sold!!

Retro Frankenstein Half-Mask From Spirit Halloween

So for the past few seasons, I would get really excited when I'd see the annual "Coming Soon, Spirit Halloween!" signs go up in vacant store fronts. And for the past few seasons, I would be disappointed in their offerings and walk out of the store a bit sad and empty-handed. There was just nothing there that I really wanted or needed for my particular haunt style. I just wasn't their target customer...

But fast-forward to this year, and after seeing the sign I figured I'd give it another shot. I entered the store with my son, keeping an open mind to see if there might be something, anything, that might catch my eye. But really, I went to see if I could get a costume for my son, since we are in fact having trick-or-treat this year!

As I perused the aisles, I skimmed past the usual trinkets and cheap props. But as I walked past the wall of masks, something really caught my eye...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Highbury Cemetery (@highbury_cemetery) on Sep 17, 2020 at 6:18pm PDT

This amazing, retro Frankenstein half-mask! I know it isn't much, but for the first time in a long while I said, "That is cool!" A nice homage to the plastic Ben Cooper half-masks that practically smothered me to death each Halloween when I was young.

I snagged the last one off of the rack, determined to make a Spirit Halloween purchase. I also grabbed a rather cool Fortnite character costume for my son (he was stoked!), and it looks like he's set for the big night. We're both ready to go!

And with the ridiculous amount of Spirit Halloween coupons I now have, I think I'm going to go back and snag the cool retro mummy, vintage devil, and classic cat half-masks, too.

This truly is a strange year!

Frankenstein (1931) Trailer

"Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!"

In honor of Mary Shelley's infamous Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus novel on it's 200th anniversary, I'll be sitting down to another viewing of James Whale's iconic 1931 film adaptation...and the most iconic version of the monster created by the hand of Dr. Henry Frankenstein.

"Frankenstein" Turns 200

It all began with a ghost-story contest, a parlour-game, a serious young woman of eighteen years old who had run away with her boyfriend, and some very stimulating company—and a thunderstorm which kept them indoors...


Happy New Year, everyone! On this day 200 years ago, Mary Shelley's now-infamous novel, Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus, is released...

Photo courtesy of wikipedia

Photo courtesy of Flavorwire

In honor of all things Frankenstein on this incredibly cold winter day, I'm going to bundle up and finally dive into my new copy of Frankenstein: The First Two Hundred Years, by Christopher Frayling. I can't wait to kick back and do nothing but read today!

Happy Birthday, Frank!!

A Late Halloween Gift Becomes An Early Christmas Present

It all began with a ghost-story contest, a parlour-game, a serious young woman of eighteen years old who had run away with her boyfriend, and some very stimulating company—and a thunderstorm which kept them indoors...


Around the time of Thanksgiving, my wife and son presented me with a box. They said that it was originally supposed to be a surprise Halloween gift, but that it had only just arrived today.

Puzzled, I opened it. Inside was a face that I instantly recognized!

Frankenstein: The First Two Hundred Years by Christopher Frayling was hot off the Reel Art Press presses and delivered straight to my door. I was totally surprised, as I didn't even know about this new book! Over 200 stunningly beautiful pages detailing everything Frankenstein, from the original New Year's Day release of Mary Shelley's iconic 1818 novel (and its many interpretations), to Karloff's iconic Universal film monster portrayal, through the fascinating, wider metaphorical use of the storyline, and up to the firm hold of all things Frankenstein in modern day pop culture.

I haven't had a chance to fully dive into this monster yet (see what I did there??), but I can't wait to take it all in. I didn't realize that Shelley's Frankenstein story will turn 200 this January 1st. What a great time to celebrate my favorite horror character!

A huge thank you to my family for this gorgeous late Halloween/early Christmas gift! This is going to the top of my reading list immediately after the holidays.

Frankenstein: The First Two Hundred Years is available now at Reel Art Press and Amazon.com.

Frankenstein's Grave - Canton, Ohio

Earlier this week, Fox 8 Cleveland ran a story about an infamous grave site at the West Lawn Cemetery in Canton, Ohio. When I saw their promo for "Frankenstein's Grave", I immediately set the DVR to record.

Yesterday, I had a free minute and was able to see the story:


Yes, they definitely played up the fact that the people buried there had some ominous past simply based on the Frankenstein name and they incorrectly called the monster "Frankenstein" (we all know that Frankenstein was in fact the doctor who created life from dead tissue). They also played up the fact that the grave site could be haunted, simply based on the name. It was a bit of a stretch, I think, to make more of a story than it really was. Nonetheless, it was interesting to see the main tombstone with the name "Frankenstein" emblazoned across the front.

And while I was watching the segment, I quickly realized that I had actually been to the West Lawn Cemetery two years ago with my camera for a Cemetery Sundays blog segment. With the immense size of the cemetery and the sheer amount of beautiful and sometimes damaged stones throughout the grounds, I simply missed the Frankenstein stone all together. 

You can still see all of my West Lawn Cemetery photos here and here.

Author and Canton historian Kimberly A. Kenney, who is interviewed in the segment, has written a book entitled, Canton's West Lawn Cemetery (OH) (Images of America), which can be picked up through Amazon.

Classic Monsters Linocut Book Project

Recently, I was digging around in my mom's basement and I found an old art project that I had done while I was a student in college. It was a book of three linocut prints done for a printmaking class in about 1996. I decided to do a book on classic movie monsters.

I started with the cover, which was completely covered front and back in black fur (I was in a black fur phase, because I also used it to cover a CD packaging cover project as well as a lowrider bicycle seat around the same time - I only got a C on the cd project, but I still have that sweet bike in my basement)...

The first spread was dedicated to my all-time favorite, Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster!

The second spread was Count Dracula, although I'm not sure why I went with Hammer's version, played by Christopher Lee. I guess I had something against Bela Lugosi back then? But I love Bela Lugosi, so Christopher Lee must have been the only reference material I had handy for a project that I was surely running late on...

And the final spread goes back to Boris Karloff, this time as The Mummy. And yes, I did glue real sand to the edges of the pages...

For each spread, I ended up doing a linoleum cut of each monster, printing each color sequentially. I then did the background spread for each, adding the printed pages for each, cutting out the print, and then assembling all the pieces together to form each page spread. I don't recall what grade I received on this project, but it must have been okay because I ended up getting a minor in printmaking. 

I spent many hours in the printmaking studio, including many hours of making screenprints of band shirts that we sold on the side to make money. Maybe I should have also gotten a minor in business!!

Aiden's Monsters

I picked this one up from Monster Brains and knew I had to pass it along.

Aiden Reed is a five-year-old boy battling Leukemia. He and his family are selling his monster drawings to help pay for his chemotherapy treatments.

You can read Aiden's story here, and you can buy his drawings at his Etsy store.

I'm in for a Frankenstein and a Wolfman.

Stay strong, Aiden!