Long-running British horror magazine Little Shoppe of Horrors, who is currently celebrating their 53rd year in operation, has debuted their 52nd issue: a massive, 270 page celebration of Gorgo, the iconic giant monster movie from the UK. Three years in the making, the magazine packs several interviews, behind-the-scenes photos, and info about tie-in merchandise, aiming to the the end-all, be-all recount of Gorgo and all related media/merch stemming from the film. Orders are now available for US readers via the magazine’s official website for those looking to add to their roster of classic monster movie magazines like G-FAN or Famous Monsters of Filmland. For our UK readers, it is recommended by the publisher to order through Hemlock Books.
The issue features front cover art by beloved monster artist Mark Maddox and Steve Ditko-inspired back cover art by professional comic book artist Neil Vokes. Additionally, there’s over 11 full page color paintings of Gorgo, including Basil Gogo’s iconic cover for Famous Monsters of Filmland #11. Other artists featured include Bob Eggleton, The Gurch, Tim Hammell, Alistair Hughes, Ron Lizorty, Stewart McKissick, Adrian Salmon, Mike Schneider, and William Stout. Genre film director Joe Dante (Gremlins) writes the introduction to the book, adding “Like nothing you’ve seen before!”
If that’s not enough, there’s also over 625 images that have been collected and assembled for this issue, most of which have never been seen before.
©Little Shoppe of Horrors
Gorgo ©Amazon MGM Studios
The official solicitation states:
“In 1961, mama Gorgo tore London apart while going to save Gorgo Junior. For film goers of that period, it was a gorgeous, colorful, knockout. For M-G-M, and particularly the King brothers, (or as they were originally known – the Kozinsky brothers) Maury, Frank and Hymie, it was a successful trip into the ‘man-in-a-suit-asaurus’ realm that Toho had instigated with their original 1954 Godzilla.
In this massive study of Gorgo, you’ll learn all the inside info on how it came to be. Not just from the previous Eugene Lourie articles by Paul Mandell, or Lourie’s auto-bio, but lots of never seen or read production information and comments/stories from crew members and the King brothers themselves.
AND, you’ll have the fascinating, full story, of the King/Kozinsky Bros., from their early ‘slightly’ gangster-like businesses, to very successful independent movie producers (Dillinger. Gun Crazy. The Brave One (Academy Award® Winner). In the movie Trumbo, John Goodman plays Frank King to perfection.
Stephen R. Bissette on the Gorgo (and Konga & Reptilicus) Charlton comic books.
Lee Kaplan writes about the models and toys based on Gorgo.
Hundreds of behind the scenes photos, NEVER SEEN before, showing how all the monster and effects scenes were filmed and achieved by Academy Award®-winning SPFX director Tom Howard, and photographed by another award winner- Freddie Young.”
©Little Shoppe of Horrors
Gorgo ©Amazon MGM Studios
As legendary as the film is to kaiju fans, there has not been a true recount of the film and its entire history in the modern day, including related tie-in media and merchandise… until now. In the age of the internet where things are digital, Little Shoppe of Horrors keeps things old school by sticking to print, while giving the younger generations access and information about these classic films that have endured for decades. Stay tuned for more updates on all things giant monsters on Kaiju United.
