Rebellion’s ongoing monthly children’s anthology Monster Fun will end with its next issue (#26), as it’s set to hit UK newsstands in just a few weeks. The news was published via John Freeman’s Downthetubes blog and shared on Monster Fun social media channels. The UK release date is December 4th, with a US release (via preview) scheduled for January 8th, 2025.
On Facebook and X, Monster Fun says:
“Thank you, dear reader, for all the frightening fun you’ve had over the years! It’s been a frighteningly good time, but unfortunately this December issue of Monster Fan will be our last.”
Farewell to Monster Fun with X
Monster Fun is a revival title from Rebellion’s Treasury of British Comic line, the eponymous IPC-published British children’s weekly magazine that humorously featured famous monsters for 73 issues from 1975 to 1976. The work was published. The current iteration of the title started as a bi-monthly title in 2022 and transitioned to a monthly title in 2023 in response to popularity. Series reprints of this title form the backbone of the Monster Fans collection of children’s graphic novels, which debuted this summer, and Rebellion recently launched a free comics marketing campaign in cities across the UK.
The opening message of the new issue from the fictional editor Helly goes like this:
“Hello Monster Funsters! “It’s the season of merrymaking, so I hate to bear bad news, but with a very heavy heart (yes, I know!), I have to tell you that this will be the last issue. “Monster Fun.” It has been an honor to entertain you all these past few years. Thank you so much for joining us each month, sending great photos to Gruesome Gallery, and leaving insightful feedback that has contributed to new developments in comics. Great creativity – we couldn’t have done this without you.
“I would also like to thank the macabre creators of the past and present for their wonderful stories. They will now be unbound and freed from the dungeons of the Rebels – what you are doing Keep up the good work, my talented horrors! Lastly, I would like to thank all the men, women, and goblins who helped put this comic together, especially the devil of diabolical design, Oz Osborn. I will.
“Scream later!”
The future of the Monster Fun Collection is uncertain, but the book is expected to be released in 2025. According to Freeman:
“…While Monster Fan will end as a monthly comic series with issue #26, it will continue to exist in the form of the Monster Fan graphic novel series, featuring great stories of beloved characters such as Steel Commando and the Leopard of Lime Street. 2025 will bring even more beloved series like Rex Power and Kid Kong. The fans will end on a high!” “
We have reached out to Rebellion for further comment.
Future Monster Fan stories may be serialized in the monthly Judge Dredd megazine before being republished in a deal with the thriving children’s graphic novel market under the Monster Fan Collection line. This year’s Megazine featured previously regenerated strips from 2000, including Pandora Perfect, Department K, and Cadet Rico. Plans were also announced to include a non-Dreddworld/2000 AD series (i.e. John Wagner and Dan Cornwell’s Rok of the Reds) in the near future.
Recognition in the children’s magazine market is difficult for any title (Photo from the local branch of WH Smith in London, credit: Dean Simons)
The UK newsstand market is tough for any title. Anthology comics used to be plentiful in the past, but since the 1990s their numbers have declined dramatically, to the point where you’ll only find a handful next to children’s puzzle magazines offering free toys. (Sometimes there are comics on the page). Currently Rebellion’s 2000 AD and Judge Dred Megazine (usually found in the adult section). DC Thomson’s Beano and Commando. Phoenix. And there’s only a ton of Panini Marvel US reprints left…if you can find them.
Something like this:
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