I Am Legend (39/54) - Je Suis Une Legende 1st French Hardcover(s) (1973)

While regular readers of this blog are already aware that the French were the first to issue a foreign translation of Matheson's novel in 1955, It would be almost 20 years before Denoël would release the book in hardcover. 

The book was illustrated by Jean Martin Bontoux (1927-2002), and in addition to the novel included three of Matheson's short stories: "The Children of Noah," "The Last Day," and "Shipshape Home."

What's interesting is the book exists in two distinct bindings, each using identical book blocks. The first features the simplicity of the original Présence du Futur releases (and a belly band trumpeting the original Bontoux illustrations). According to Robert Massin, the designer who came up with the look of the Presence du Futur line in 1954, "What we took for a rocket was only the shadow cast by a tennis ball photographed by François Molinard." 

The other edition has a black cover featuring one of the illustrations and a wraparound clear plastic jacket, and no external reference to Denoël. The spine of this edition states "CAL," which stands for Culture, Arts, Loisir (Culture, Arts, Leisure), which was a collection of 'Masterpieces of Science Fiction and Fantasy' published between 1973-1975 under the direction of Louis Pauwels. I Am Legend was one of the first three titles alongside Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles and Fredric Brown's Martians Go Home! Later volumes included two H.P. Lovecraft short story collections and Isaac Asmiov's Foundation trilogy. The collection was comprised of a grand total of 11 titles, all featuring a similar trade dress. 

The last time I saw Richard Matheson was in 2007, at a signing he did promoting the Will Smith film adaptation (and tie-in release) of I Am Legend. In addition to getting the movie tie-in signed, I hand-picked a few items from the archive to bring to get signed, including my advance proof of Bloodlines (since I played a small role in the creation of that book), and this illustrated CAL French edition of the novel. 

Bontoux provided the following two-page spreads, along with a few smaller spot illustrations. 

I've not been able to determine if one edition preceded the other; though I was glad to be able to determine the difference between the two publications.

 Check back next week for another item from the I Am Legend Archive!

Creature from the Black Lagoon (38/54) - Weird Worlds Issue #5 Poster (1980)

Children of the 70s may remember reading Scholastic magazines like Bananas and Dynamite. I have a lot of fond memories of those (particularly the Count Morbida features!), but my favorite such magazine debuted in 1978, and ran through 1981 (for me, that would be third through sixth grade): Weird Worlds!

The third issue featured this classic Creature pull-out poster by Alex Murawski. I've still got my copy, all these years later.

Be sure to check back next week for another item from my Creature collection!

Godzilla (37/54) - Godzilla -1.0 4k/Godzilla -1.0/-Color Blu Ray Japanese Box Set (2024)

I was so fond of last year's Godzilla -1.0 that I saw it three times in the theater, twice in color and once, as Godzilla -1.0/-C, in black & white. So as soon as it was announced for release in Japan on 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos audio, I pre-ordered it. This deluxe box set was the only way to get the -1.0/-C version, and as a Godzilla completist, that was the way I had to go. 

The four disc set includes the film on 4K UHD, the film on Blu Ray, the black & white version on Blu Ray (only), and a fourth disc of bonus materials. All content is Japanese-only, no English subtitles on the feature or special features. But being familiar with the narrative I was comfortable that I could enjoy the film without, as I have done in the past with other Japanese video releases.

Also included in the set is a full color booklet, with cast and visual effects photos.

This spread details the conversion from color to the monochrome version:

• Row A: Base color cut
• Row B: A monochrome cut with the color simply removed
• Row C: An original monochrome cut by ARTONE FILM
• Row D: Final cut with details adjusted

It's worth noting that an English-friendly version of the deluxe box set (offering English subtitles for the feature films only) was offered through the Official Godzilla store, but it sold out quickly. Prices surged on the secondary market, and a limited second edition has been announced, shipping in November. 

Check back next week for another item from my Godzilla collection!

I Am Legend (38/54) - Varulvarnas Natt [Night of the Werewolves] (1975)

My copy of Varulvarnas Natt is one of several in the archive that originated in the library of Richard Matheson, and as with those other copies, it is signed by him. 

Of all the variations of I Am Legend, authorized or not, one area that hasn't been widely exploited is replacing the vampires of the book with werewolves. Well, leave it to the Scandinavians!

In 1975, publisher Ryslig Midnattsläsning offered a Swedish translation by Gösta Zetterlund, in which that's exactly what was done (the first Norwegian edition from 1976 followed suit). The title Varulvarnas Natt translates directly to Night of the Werewolves. And just to confirm, there are distinct words for Vampires (vampyrernas) and Werewolves, so it's not just a case of a word being used interchangeably for both.

Here's the illuminating translation I did of the back cover copy:

I am the last man on earth! I'm not crazy! But I don't know how much longer I can endure!

Every night they surround my last stronghold, these werewolves from another world. In the darkness they shout out their insults. No matter how many I kill they're still after me. How long will it take before they get hold of me? ...

Years ago, before the technology was at our fingertips (and now that we do, anyone who uses electronic translation will tell you that what gets spit out automatically may not be contextually accurate), I was able to have a friend in Norway provide a translation of the last line of the book for me (as I often check foreign editions to see how the phrase "I am legend" is translated, when specifically used. It blew my mine when he wrote back telling me that the translated line read:

The long night of the werewolves was over...

Now that I can do so, I'm very interested in reading a translation of this edition to see how the shift to werewolves is handled, as so much of the original novel deals with the superstitions around vampires. 

And for the record, the next Swedish translation of the novel wouldn't surface for another 35 years, which reverts to a more faithful translation.

Be sure to check back next week for another item from the I Am Legend Archive!

Creature from the Black Lagoon (37/54) - Archie Comics Judgment Day Variant Cover Limited 2nd Edition (2024)

Most folks aren't aware that the Creature from the Black Lagoon made two cover appearances on Archie comics in the early 60s: Jughead #79 and Laugh #130. Ten or so years ago, low grade copies could be found at reasonable prices. These days, when they do turn up, the prices are outrageous. Hence, I don't have either of those in my collection.

I am the proud owner of a recent homage cover variant from a new Archie horror comic, Judgment Day. Unfortunately, I missed out on the 1st edition, which was limited to 50 copies (and an additional 25 'metal' copies that were only available in a two-pack bundle), but I was able to pick up one of the 2nd edition (limited to 75 copies) for the collection.

I would be remiss not to include the original Creature cover for comparison (note the absence of body parts — thanks a lot, Comics Code!):

Here's the back of the homage variant, with a nice foil label with the statement of limitation:

And just for laughs (Laugh?), here's the Creature's 2nd original Archie cover appearance:

Be here next week for yet another oddity from my Creature collection!

Godzilla (36/54) - Super7 Stern Godzilla Pinball Machine Edition Figures (2024)

Stern just released a Godzilla pinball machine celebrating the big G's 70th Anniversary. While that may be too pricey for the majority of us, Super7 has also launched a pair of Pinball Edition figures with new paint schemes and nice, original pinball playfield card art.

I was immediately drawn to the purple-hued Mechagodzilla, and once they got me with that, I decided it wouldn't be right not to complete the pair. 

Check back next week for more from the Godzilla collection!
 

I Am Legend (37/54) - 25-copy Limited Edition lenticular Last Man on Earth Vinyl Single (2024)

Earlier this year, a company mounted a Kickstarter campaign to fund a 3D conversion of The Last Man on Earth. Naturally, I was a backer. 

At the top tier, one of the included rewards was this single-sided, 10" vinyl single of the Last Man on Earth theme. Only 25 copies exist, and one of those now resides in the I Am Legend Archive.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to mention actress Franca Bettoia, who portrayed Ruth in the film. Franca passed away on September 13th at the age of 88.

                    

Franca Bettoia 1936 - 2024

 Be sure to return next week for another item from the I Am Legend Archive!

Creature from the Black Lagoon (36/54) - Jada 6" Creature from the Black Lagoon and Exclusive Glow Variant (2023)

It certainly seems like the past several years have seen an abundance of Creature Action Figures after years of nothing. I'm sure this is in part due to the collectibles market today, but I also have to give credit to Universal's Licensing department.

Jada Toys jumped into the ring in 2024 with a 6" line of Universal Monsters, including Dracula, Frankenstein and his Bride, and the Creature (nudging The Mummy and Wolfman out of the top four spot — oddly enough they did do a Wolfman and Invisble Man, but still no Mummy?).

Jada went out of their way to accessorize the Creature, including an alternate head sculpt, a clutching claw, a fossilized claw, a speargun and a net (they're not the first to include such accessories, though considering they never make human figures to face off with the monsters, I always wonder if Dracula and his crew are supposed to use these tools against the Creature). 

The open mouthed, 'I just caught my girlfriend swimming with some scuba diver' portrait...

...and a more casual portrait.

Of course, in keeping with Creature history, a store-exclusive Glow Variant was not far behind, with the same features and accessories, just molded for a glowing good time.

 Check back next week for another item from my Creature collection!

Godzilla (35/54) - Godzilla Discovers America (1988)

I only recently heard about this book, and was pleasantly surprised to stumble across a copy at a local Flea Market. 

Godzilla Discovers America is an odd storybook with photographs of Godzilla vacationing in America. The book includes a Toho copyright, though it's hard to believe they would have approved a license for the book. 

It does feature two dozen staged photos of Godzilla at a variety of landmarks.  

Some are more clever than others, and there's an odd inclusion of Cokra — a giant cockroach.

Cockroaches aside, I give the authors credit for putting effort into the fabricating of each image. They clearly took thought, not to mention time and effort, to realize. It very easily could have been done in a much more slapdash manner, and it's a more worthy product as a result of the effort that went into it.

It makes for an odd yet interesting take on the big G as he travels from New York to San Francisco before returning to Japan.

Be here next week for another item from my Godzilla collection!