On this day, 8 May 1975: Monster Fun
Cover artwork: Robert Nixon
On this day, 8 May 1975 … Last week I mentioned a letter to Action from a reader who had counted up all the noses that had been drawn in a previous issue. Today I’ve noticed a letter to Monster Fun from reader Angela Wilson, of Edlington, who reports: ‘In issue number 20 of Monster Fun comic there were 618 teeth shown.’ Was this a thing? Some sort of educational exercise at school, perhaps, or a challenge set by parents to keep kids quiet on long car journeys? Whatever – it’s quite an interesting stat when you think about it. 618 teeth! That’s a lot of teeth to be drawn (and counted). Cover stars Gums and Frankie Stein can muster only one molar between them on the front of today’s issue, so either there’s a lot more to be bared inside or there’s been a deliberate dental downgrade since issue 20.
Which is a shame because there’s loads to sink one’s teeth into in this comic. The cover is an unusual one in that it leads on a mention for Frankie in the super soaraway Sun (don’t read it, pals). There are the usual classics within the strip line-up: X-Ray Specs, Martha’s Monster Make-up, Kid Kong, Mummy’s Boy, Gums, Draculass, Creature Teacher and The Little Monsters all stand the test of time really well. As does the crazy Badtime Bedtime Storybook – ‘Ten Little Renegades’ by, I think, Mike Brown – well worth the effort of printing, folding and cutting the scans below to read this one.
Teddy Scare: Doug Jensen? (artist)
X-Ray Specs: Mike Lacey (artist)
Martha’s Monster Make-up: Ken Reid (artist)
Kid Kong: Robert Nixon (artist)
Dough Nut and Rusty: Trevor Metcalfe (artist)
Mummy’s Boy: Norman Mansbridge (artist)
Badtime Bedtime Storybook: Ten Little Renegades: Mike Brown (artist)
Badtime Bedtime Storybook: Ten Little Renegades: Mike Brown (artist)
Major Jump Horror Hunter: Barrie Appleby (artist)
Freaky Farm: Jim Watson (artist)
Gums: Robert Nixon (artist)
Draculass: Terry Bave (artist)
March of the Mighty Ones: Mike White (artist)
Creature Teacher: Tom Williams (artist)
The Little Monsters: Sid Burgon (artist)
