TwoMorrows Publishing is well known as the gold standard in comic and pop culture journalism, and their latest magazine, Cryptology, is sure to satisfy classic horror fans with an interest in comics, B-movies, and monsters.
Cryptology is in essence a Frankenstein’s Monster composed of all the elements that make Back Issue! magazine such a hit with Bronze Age comic fans and collectors, with a healthy does of articles that would fit perfectly in TwoMorrow’s RetroFan magazine.
In terms of formatting, Cryptology resembles Back Issue! more than RetroFan, with extensive articles and a more defined editorial focus. In fact, it would not surprise me if the new magazine was born out of the popularity of the Halloween issues of RetroFan, allowing “Monster Kids” to enjoy their favorite subjects more frequently than once a year.
The first issue is certainly tailored to comics fans with an extensive article about Bernie Wrightson’s work, accompanied by pages of rare color and black and white artwork, and a deep dive into Atlas and Marvel horror covers.
And it probably isn’t a stretch to say that if you are into horror comics, you probably also enjoy B-movies like The Mad Monster and The Munsters and/or The Adams Family. Speaking of the two TV families, the first issue of the quarterly magazine contains over twenty pages and three articles about the running feud over which program did it better, their toy lines, and their comic appearances. While a Munsters vs. Adams Family expose would certainly appeal to some nostalgic readers of RetroFan, there is no doubt that the articles are better suited for Cryptology, and they help to establish the type of fandom that the magazine will serve in future issues right off the bat.
Unlike other retro horror magazines, the focus never strays too far away from the comics medium, with the aforementioned section on Munsters and Adams Family comics, and another follow up to and article about Roger Corman’s House of Usher in the form of a look at the comic adaptations of the same popular Poe story.
Sticking to comics and artwork as the basis for Cryptology will serve TwoMorrows well in the future, further setting the magazine apart from classic horror competitors. Future issues previewed in issue one include an interview with comic artist Don Heck, a feature on the art of the Mars Attacks trading cards, and the Universal Monsters art of Alex Ross, all subjects that buyers of the first issue are sure to be interested in as well.
The first issue of Cryptology is currently available at finer comic shops and book stores everywhere and directly from the TwoMorrows website.
