I Am Legend (40/54) - FollettBound Platinum Library Bound Mass Market Movie Tie-In (2008)

 

When you've managed to source nearly every edition of a book that was released, stumbling across the slightest variations is very exciting.

For years, libraries have used services that produce a hardcover binding for paperback releases in order to increase their longevity in circulation. New library bound hardcovers can occasionally be found on Amazon, but for the most part, these enter the marketplace as library discards, but considering how most collectors feel about library discards in general, the bulk are likely sent off to landfills, or to foreign countries (where a surprising number of unsold books are donated). 

This copy is in surprisingly good condition. It doesn't look like it was in the hands of too many (if any) readers.

I'm still on the lookout for the subsequent Tor mass market release in a FollettBound edition. I saw someone post a copy on Facebook (as with the Tor paperback, both FollettBound editions have the same ISBN).   

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

Creature from the Black Lagoon (39/54) - NECA Universal Monsters 7" Creature (2023)

As I think I have mentioned previously, we're in the midst of a golden age of Creature merchandise. NECA's 7" figure is not only extremely articulated, it features three different Creature heads to choose from, as well as multiple hands.

And another thing NECA really focuses on is the packaging. I not only love the use of the original poster art on the front flap, but I also  appreciate the fact that rather than just use stills from the film, they use product photographs to decorate the packaging, demonstrating the full range of poseability the figure offers. 

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

Godzilla (38/54) - Bandai Spirits Ichibansho Godzilla vs. Destoroyah 1995 Hong Kong Landing Version (2023)

When it comes to Godzilla designs, you may have noticed that the variations on the burning/meltdown Godzilla from 1995's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is high on my list. This particular statue, sculpted by famed monster prototype sculptor Yuji Sakai, is one of my favorites. 

He stands about 9" tall, and almost twice that long, what it lacks in articulation is more than made up for in the sculpt, right down to the tongue!

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

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!