Fantastic Films
Encyclopedia
Fantastic Films was a US film
magazine
specializing in the genre
s of science fiction
and fantasy
.
, 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.
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
.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
specializing in the genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
s of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
.
Publication
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 KindClose Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, and Cary Guffey...
, Star Wars
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
, 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
Back to the Future
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. The film tells the story of...
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.
Direction
Fantastic Films was intended as an alternative to competitors such as CinefantastiqueCinefantastique
Cinefantastique was a horror, fantasy, and science fiction film magazine originally started as a mimeographed fanzine in 1967, then relaunched as a glossy, offset quarterly in 1970 by publisher/editor Frederick S. Clarke...
and Starlog
Starlog
Starlog was a monthly science-fiction film magazine published by Starlog Group Inc. The magazine was created by publishers Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs. O'Quinn was the magazine's editor while Jacobs ran the business side of things, dealing with typesetters, engravers and printers. They got...
. 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
Just Imagine
Just Imagine is a 1930 science-fiction musical comedy directed by David Butler, to console audiences distressed by the Great Depression. The film is probably best known for its art direction and special effects in its portrayal of New York City in an imagined 1980...
.