Press Release: FANGORIA Announces New Web Initiative

Thomas DeFeo, President of The Brooklyn Company and Publisher of FANGORIA magazine, proudly announces the debut of the completely redesigned FANGORIA.com. A complete rethinking of FANGORIA’s online assets for the 21st Century, FANGORIA.com

represents a bold new vision from the most widely read horror-themed publication in the world.

In addition to new and expanded daily content that brings readers articles, news, blogs, exclusive movie trailers and clips and incisive reviews of the best in horror across all media (including film, television, comics, music, video games, collectibles and more), the Fango Faithful will also have an even larger interactive role with the advent of new features, including “Everyone’s A Critic,” which gives the readers a front page platform to voice their reviews and opinions on film, books and more, and “FANGORIA Crypts,”, where we’ll post pictures and information about the online communities’ personal horror collections and overall commitment to the FANGORIA lifestyle. Readers will also witness the launch of FANGORIA Graphix, an evolution of the previous FANGORIA Comics brand, which will release comics, graphic novels, prose novels and more, both in traditional and digital formats.

The award-winning FANGORIA Forums, one of the longest-running forums in the horror community, has also been greatly enhanced and updated, with a fast and friendly new interface and strikingly individual graphic look.

We are also proud to announce that the FANGORIA Gore Store has been completely redesigned with all new products and features, and is now the home to HORRORBLES, the official store of Fangoria Entertainment! Horrorbles has everything horror lovers want- from statues, props, masks and toys to cult videos, books, posters and T-shirts; from rare autographed items and hard to find model kits, to an incredible magazine back issue collection of everything from FANGORIA and FAMOUS MONSTERS to CREEPY, EERIE, CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN and many more. The Gore Store will also be offering new FANGORIA T-shirts and exclusive Fango products, downloadable digital versions of the comic book line, and, for the first time ever, downloadable digital versions of the entire 30-year run of FANGORIA magazine! FANGORIA online truly has it all!

The online initiative is just the first salvo in an onslaught of new creative energy from the FANGORIA Family. Expect much more in the near future from FANGORIA Graphix, FANGORIA Radio, FANGORIA Musick and the FANGORIA Weekend of Horrors conventions. FANGORIA . . . after 30 years, still your number-one name in horror.

Fangoria Graphix Update

I was talking to a few of my friends from The Scream Factory, who as you may have become the studio/proudction team under the Fangoria Graphix banner. One of the guys said that they'll be putting out a DEATH WALKS THE STREETS mini-series to be followed with an OGN sometime in 2009.

I keep asking my pal, Associate Editor Troy Brownfield, what else is coming, and he just laughs.

If The MJ Statue Caused A Ruckus...

Scream Factory is set to debut their Bump statue at Wizard World Chicago. Here's the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THE SCREAM FACTORY DEBUTS MASSIVE LIMITED EDITION BUMP STATUE AT WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO 2008 THE SCREAM FACTORY will be appearing at Wizard World Chicago, June 26-29 in booth 933, and will unveil a truly unique, amazingly massive and EXTREMELY limited collectible!

The ‘Treehugger’ statue is based on the monstrous characters from the hit mini-series BUMP, featuring a terrifying three dimensional recreation of one of the cannibalistic minions of supernatural serial killer Eddie Dill, shown in all its bloody glory.

The statue was sculpted, cast, individually hand-painted and completely produced by Special Effects legend Robert Kurtzman and his 'Creature Crew' effects team (who also handle the special effects for the film), based on designs from BUMP creator Mark Kidwell. The piece is an imposing 22" tall by 12" wide and 12" deep, and features a scalp with real hair!

This is a Wizard World Chicago 2008 debut, and is available in EXTREMELY limited quantities. These are not "mass-produced" works, Every statue has been completely hand-crafted by Kurtzman and his team in preparation for the film’s special effects sequences.

About BUMP (the film and comic book series):

Directed by Special Effects legend Robert Kurtzman (director of WES CRAVEN'S WISHMASTER, creator of FROM DUSK 'TIL DAWN and F/X guru behind ARMY OF DARKNESS, KILL BILL, RE-ANIMATOR and many many more) and starring Tobin Bell (Jigsaw from the SAW franchise), Sean Patrick Flanery (THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, YOUNG INDIANA JONES) and Ashley Laurence (HELLRAISER, HELLRAISER 2), BUMP is based on the comic series of the same name by writer/artist Mark Kidwell and is a supernatural tale of extreme horror, where even the confines of the grave aren’t able to contain the brutal spirit of serial killer Edgar Dill, and his legion of monstrous Treehuggers! For merchandise and more info on BUMP visit www.bumpmovie.com.

About The Scream Factory:

THE SCREAM FACTORY, an alliance of film, music, literary and comic book professionals, offers a stunning selection of quality horror titles online. We take fiendish delight in telling readers that they can find the offerings at www.wowio.com at absolutely no charge!!! Get your latest Scream Factory news at www.myspace.com/thescreamfactory and www.bumpmovie.com

The statue?

OK, that goes further than bending over doing laundry, doesn't it? ;)

(I'm joking...there's no way that this stirs up the same controversy)

Scream Factory Does WWChicago

Scream Factory will apparently be at Wizard World Chicago in force.

They're bringing Robert Kurtzman, special effects legend.

They're bringing Sean Patrick Flanery, star of Boondock Saints and the upcoming movie based on the SF property, BUMP.

They're bringing Jesse Blaze Snider, hit sensation from MTV's Rock The Cradle and writer of SF property, STRANGELAND.

They're all featured guests, too.

I'm just wondering if Jesse will be bellying up to the bar this year. Hanging out with him and the rest of the gang that went on to form Scream Factory was one of the highlights of the con last year. Of course, Troy Brownfield thought the highlight of the night was tied between the Koben Kelly saga and my bar tab.

Death Walks The Streets Trailer

Fangoria Going Bye-Bye?

Found a bit about Fangoria going through bankruptcy on their Wiki page and followed it to the source on Bloomberg.com.

Publisher Creative Group Files Chapter 11 in New York

Creative Group Inc., the publisher of Starlog and Fangoria magazines, filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 in New York on March 21, saying it owes $16.6 million on a secured bank loan and $15 million on subordinated notes.

Creative said it intends to use Chapter 11 to restructure the debt.

The New York based company also does animation, sound mixing and production work for film and television.

Creative was accompanied in the Chapter 11 filing by eight affiliates.

To read Bloomberg coverage, click here.

The case is In re Creative Group Inc., 08-10975, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

Hmmm. Personally, this makes me wonder even more about that warehouse problem they had that destroyed tons of their back catalog.

Scream Factory Update

I think I know what will be happening with those "missing Fangoria" series.

After contacting The Scream Factory, I've learned that the missing series (The Fourth Horseman, Shifter, and Recluse) will be addressed in Scott Licina's forthcoming exclusive interview at Newsarama.

However, after asking about who created the books, it was pointed out that Scott Licina and Mark Kidwell are the co-creators of Shifter (with Michael Madsen and Patrick Durham), and that Recluse is the creation of Mark Kidwell.

So, if The Fourth Horsemen isn't going to come riding over the horizon anytime soon, I'm pretty sure more will be heard from the others...

Press Release: SEAN PATRICK FLANERY JOINS ILLUSTRIOUS CAST OF “BUMP”

For Immediate Release

April 9, 2008

SEAN PATRICK FLANERY JOINS ILLUSTRIOUS CAST OF “BUMP”

Star of “The Boondock Saints” and “Young Indiana Jones”

attached in the role of “Brett”

Another casting coup today from producer Scott Licina, who is proud to announce that Sean Patrick Flanery, known to movie goers worldwide for his brilliant work in the cult classic film “The Boondock Saints”, will take on the role of Brett in the adaptation of the hit comic book mini-series, Bump. Mr. Flanery joins the previously announced Ashley Laurence (“Hellraiser”) and Tobin Bell (“Saw”), with special effects master and director Robert Kurtzman at the helm.

Sean Patrick Flanery brings a wealth of experience and broad acting ability to “Bump”. In addition to starring roles in “Suicide Kings” and “Powder”, he is also highly regarded for his work in television on shows including “The Dead Zone”, “CSI” and most notably for starring as the younger version of the legendary character in “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”.

All four original issues of the "Bump" comic are available online for free as one of the initial offerings from The Scream Factory, an alliance of film, music, literary and comic book professionals who have unleashed a stunning selection of downloadable quality horror titles at www.wowio.com. All of the titles are available on Wowio through the Smashout Comics publishing group.

Critics from the comic world enthusiastically embraced "Bump" upon its release this year.

“This story delivers in the scares department, which isn’t that easy to accomplish in comic book form.” – Ain’t It Cool News

“Well I gotta tell you, it’s as scary as hell. This is one series that I can’t wait to see more of.” – Zone Horror

“What’s truly special here is the quality. It’s top notch in a world where the rules of horror are pretty hard to follow while offering up something fresh and original.”

– Horror Year Book

For More Information:

Official Website: bumpmovie.com

Comic Books on MySpace: myspace.com/thescreamfactory

Email: contact@bumpmovie.com

So...Now We Know What Scream Factory Is...But...

...do we know where some of the previous Fangoria titles are that haven't been announced with Scream Factory thus far?

Of the original Fangoria Comics books, Bump, Beyond The Valley Of The Rage, and Strangeland are accounted for. What about The Fourth Horseman or Shifter?

On a related note, I had heard a rumor about a 80s horror movie fan-favorite actress being attached to Bump and, through the modern miracle of IMDB, confirmed that Ashley Laurence is, indeed, attached to the movie. You might remember her from a little horror classic named Hellraiser.

That's in addition to Tobin Bell (why do I always want to type KOBEN?), of Saw fame, attached to the role of the sheriff.

Busy and mysterious week for the former Fango guys just trying to make good...

Who Or What Is "THE SCREAM FACTORY"?

I saw this page in the Friends display of one of my top friends on MySpace, but he wasn't answering any questions about it...



I have the sneaking suspicion that it is related to this article, though.