Author-designer Mark Voger talks about his forthcoming book, “Son of Monster Mash.” It’s the long-awaited sequel to his Rondo Award-winning book “Monster Mash” (2015). Both are from TwoMorrows Publishing. Now in pre-orders, “Son of Monster Mash” drops Oct. 21.
Q: Why “Son of Monster Mash,” why now?
A: When “Monster Mash” came out in 2015 and did OK, people said, “You gonna do another monster book?” I thought no, there are other things I need to do first. But it was an intriguing idea. I knew, even back then, that if I ever did a sequel, the title would be “Son of Monster Mash.” When such an on-the-nose title presents itself, you have no choice but to use it.
Q: How is “Son of Monster Mash” different from its predecessor?
A: I’ve had 10 years to ponder this. What would be in it? Movies were always the wellspring from which monsters emerged — even the ones with strong literary precedents like “Frankenstein” and “Dracula.” Without the movies, us dopey monster nerds in the Fifties and Sixties might never have known these characters. The movies gave us an all-important visual, which is what sucked us in, of course.
So where the original 2015 “Monster Mash” was about the Monster Craze as a phenomenon — the toys and model kits and masks and magazines — “Son of” takes a deeper dive into the movies. It covers the silent era; the Universal classics of the Thirties and Forties; the 3D and teenage monster movies of the Fifties; Roger Corman‘s Poe cycle of the Sixties; the Hammer color remakes from England; the kaiju from Japan.
I also present my interviews with some who played movie monsters like Haruo Nakajima (Godzilla); Ricou Browning and Ben Chapman (the Creature From the Black Lagoon); David Hedison (the Fly); Gary Conway (the Teenage Frankenstein); Robert Clarke (the Hideous Sun Demon); Ingrid Pitt (Le Fanu’s Carmilla); Robert Quarry (Count Yorga); Martine Beswick (Sister Hyde); and Kyra Schon (Karen the zombie girl in “Night of the Living Dead”).
Q: In what ways is “Son of Monster Mash” similar to its predecessor?
A: It revisits the same period. I promised myself that “Son of” would clearly be a companion book, but without redundant editorial or images … with one exception. The dominant image on both covers is Keith Ward’s iconic pen-and-ink spot illustration “Shock Monster” (which I’ve re-inked and colorized with all due reverence). It was catalog art created to sell a rubber mask, but it came to represent so much more. It is simultaneously horrific and cartoony — creepy and kooky — like the Monster Craze itself. I made him purple for the “Son of” cover.
Certain characters and themes recur from the previous book. Zacherley, “The Addams Family,” “The Munsters,” Barnabas Collins and the Zanti Misfits all return, but in new contexts. There’s still lots of collectibles and comics, plus my usual somewhat excrutiating first-person reflections. Design-wise, the books look like twins.
That said, “Son of” is a standalone. You don’t need the first book, though why be without it? It’s my belief, my hope, that “Son of Monster Mash” does both things: It reflects the 2015 book, but strikes out on its own. I’ll be happy just to live to see the day.
Q: Is there a third monster book on the horizon?
A: Too soon! Maybe?
‘Son of Monster Mash: Return to a Time When Monsters Ruled Retro Culture’
Written and designed by Mark Voger | TwoMorrows Publishing
Hardback | Full color | 192 pages
ORDER AT: TwoMorrows | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
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