Fantastic Films issue 1 |
|
| Editor | Irving Karchmar |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science Fiction, Fantasy |
| Frequency | Varied per year |
| First issue | 1978 |
| Final issue | 1985 |
| Company | Blake Publishing Corp. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Fantastic Films was a US film magazine specializing in the genres of science fiction and fantasy.
Fantastic Films began regular publication in 1978 under the banner of Blake Publishing Corp. Issue no. 1 featured an April 1978 publishing date and the cover is adorned with stills from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Wars, and The Day the Earth Stood Still.
The magazine was initially published on a bi-monthly basis, but, as it grew in popularity, switched to 9 issues per year. The publication continued for 7 years, covering all of the major science fiction and fantasy films of the day. The final issue, number 46, was published in 1985 and features Back to the Future on the cover.
The Editor for the first three years was Irving Karchmar, who gave up day to day operations to become President of Blake Publishing Corp. Thereafter, art director Michael Stein also took up the reins of editor.
Fantastic Films was intended as an alternative to competitors such as Cinefantastique and Starlog. The magazine set itself apart by featuring extensive interviews with actors and behind-the-scenes personnel. The magazine never featured editorials or reviews but did have a rather lengthy Reaction section that allowed readers to send in their letters. In addition, the magazine featured a Fantastic Films Archive Series, a retrospective section that highlighted classic sci-fi films of the past ranging from popular titles like The Day the Earth Stood Still to more obscure fare like Just Imagine.