The covers features gothic, fantasy artwork with witches, ghosts, scantily clad vampires, and the like by Joseph Vargo. Skimming the firm, but few pages, you will see more of this artwork. This would mostly appeal to fantasists, as opposed to hardcore horror fans.
The only horror industry new section is “Ebon Flow’ which covers rumors from the shadows in only 2pgs. There is a Movie Review section, which covers both theatrical and DVD releases. There are a few pages of Music Reviews of goth-rock and monster-themed metal. Recommended Reading is about 4 pages worth of fiction & non-fiction reviews. There are also a few video game reviews tossed into the mix.
Unfortunately, they had a couple unoriginal, if not copied, articles. “The Bone Church” features history and pictures of the Sedlec Ossuary (Issue 23) which I suspiciously recall seeing in a past Rue Morgue issue. “Unholy Terrors” covers the Theological Terror genre started by Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, and The Omen, all of which was also previously covered in Rue Morgue (23).
There are a few feature articles in each issue work taking a look at though. “Marie Laveau: Voodoo Queen” tells of an Afro-Indian girl and her rise to power in Louisiana in the late 1800s. “Freakshow” covers various acts and people touted by circuses (Issue 24). The “Black Dahlia” gives a brief case overview with some suspects covered. I also noticed that an Original Short Stories section started in Issue 24.
What sets this magazine apart are a few fun sections not usually covered in other mags. “The Cabinet of Doctor Arcana” has either puzzles or mazes in every mag. “Artist’s Spotlight” features a new artist and their gothic creations. “Madame Endora” is the resident Seer who provides wisdom on The Tarot, Chinese Philosophy, and Ancient Divinations such as Necromancy. “The Monster Files” investigates unusual sightings of monsters, ghosts, and aliens, along with the origins of their myths.
What holds this magazine back is the short 48 page length and minimal horror news in each issue. Also, the gothic artwork will only appeal to a certain group of readers. And most importantly, they need original articles not covered by other mags.
Cost: $25.00 Year (Quarterly, includes postage), $4.00 for Back Issues (postage not inc.)
Bottom Line: Recommended only for lovers of gothic artwork, music, and folklore. Others will want to pass.
Rating: 6.5/10
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