The 'fake' covers of Filmfax

[Mike]

The most 'difficult' magazine, for me, to get is
Filmfax magazine.

It is so hard to even find the real cover online.

The website www.filmfax.com/ hasn't been updated since 2001.

Furthermore, distributors make their own covers in order to sell new issues.

Some examples follow.

'Fakes' have no bar codes.

[Mike]

The real cover is


The 'fake':

[Mike]

The real cover is


The 'fake':

[Mike]

The real cover is


The 'fake':

[mrbelette]

Thanks now I understand why there was so much covers for the same issues ! It's still really hard to get hold of any of them anyway. When exactly each issue is released ? And why the real contents of the issue doesn't exactly match the titles on the fake cover ? Issue 123 was supposed to have been published in april 2010 and now it seems it was in october 2009. Also the description of the contents on the left are not exactly the same that appear on the cover on the right for that same issue. All this is really confusing ! And what about the 2010 issues ? Does that mean Filmfax ceased publication this year ? I'm lost !

[Mike]

Very good questions.
I wish I had the answers.

What follows is my beliefs and opinions
and info I found online.
Of course, I have no 'inside' information.

I believe that the 'fake' covers are made by
- Filmfax or
- Distributors
because there must be a picture to sell the product.

Distributors like Diamond, comixology
need the cover of a magazine months in advance of its publication date.
The 'fake' covers is a convenient solution.

When exactly each issue is released ?
Issue 123 was supposed to have been published in april 2010 and now it seems it was in october 2009.

# 120 came out June 1999
# 121 came out October(?) 1999
# 122 came out January 2010
# 123 came out April 2010

# 124 is supposed to be on sale at the end of July 2010 (no fake or real covers for that yet)

My dates are wrong.
I'm going to update the Filmfax listing.

And why the real contents of the issue doesn't exactly match the titles on the fake cover ?

Also my mistake.
I copy the contents from various distributors' sites.
I guess some articles didn't make it to the final printed magazine.

Does that mean Filmfax ceased publication this year ?

Not yet.
Filmfax is written off as dead every year until a new issue appears!

It's still really hard to get hold of any of them anyway.

It's almost impossible to get the new Filmfax if you live in Europe.
I bought some from ebay years ago but after 9/11 shipping cost has triple.
I'm not willing to pay $10 for a mag and $10 for shipping
and (in some times) never get my magazine.

[mrbelette]

Thanks for all your answers. I managed to get issue number 123 but it was a really difficult task to achieve and really expensive indeed. Too bad anyway cause I really like the reading !

[mrbelette]

Hello

Being in France if I'd still want to order Filmfax online could you tell me what would be the best site on the net where to buy it ? Thanks

[Mike]

Being in Europe myself I should have known the answer.
But I do not.

The question was posted on Classic Horror Film Board some days ago
but went un-answered.
If the Americans don't know where to buy Filmfax, nobody does.

You can't buy it on EBAY (nobody sells new issues);
Amazon doesn't have it;
It 's not in any of my favorite, tested and trusted e-shops:
Cinema Store, FAB press, Hemlock, Oldies.

If you want to try your luck I found online 2 options:

From Netherlands
http://decomicshop.nl/
Cost is around 10 euro plus 7.50 shipping

From USA
http://www.milehighcomics.com
cost around $10 plus $7 for shipping

I have never buy anything from them and I don't know how good is their service.
But 15-17 euro for an issue of Filmfax is not a good price (if you ask me)

GOOD LUCK

[hairybeast]

What about
http://www.archonia.com

They are in Belgium

[Mike]

Archonia has PayPal!
I like that.
You have to search under US COMICS to find Filmfax.
Looks very good store.
If anyone will buy from them please drop us a line here.

Update:
They have a French store also:
http://www.archonia.com/comicshop/fr/

[mrbelette]

Thanks for your answers. I only found a mention of Filmfax issue 124 on the french archonia site but it tells of a publication date being the 28th of july and the cover that illustrates the article is the cover of the already available issue 123 ! That's all for now I'm afraid

[mrbelette]

I went to http://www.archonia.com/comicshop/fr/

They list issue 124 which is supposed to be available on the 28th of July with the cover of issue 123 and issue 125 which is supposed to be available on the 28th of october with a fake cover but NOT the one you posted !

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It's exactly the same with http://decomicshop.nl/

[Mike]

The "Captain America & The Red Skull" cover is from issue #123.
Articles on:
Sara Karloff
2001 A Space Odyssey
Arch Hall Jr.
W.D. Richter
John Badham

[Mike]

Issue #124 has "The Gill Man" on the cover
Articles:
A reprint the two-page MECHANIX ILLUSTRATION Creature article from 1954,
CHILD BRIDE,
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY part 2,
Part 2 of Sally Todd,
Interview with actor Booth Colman,
CAPRICORN ONE,
BUCKAROO BANZAI,
Dr. Frank Baxter,
Interview with Johnny Ginger,
What If INDIANA JONES Encountered a NAZI UFO?