The Munsters and Fantastic Four have SO MUCH in common!

TVComicsShowFlashback
Written By Chris Well

Did the monster family sitcom actually borrow elements from the first Marvel Comics series?

Revealing the uncanny similarities between the influential comic book legacy and the monstrous (but beloved) television sitcom!

Back in the early 1960s, Marvel Comics kicked off with the debut of the Fantastic Four comic book series. Just a couple of years later, The Munsters TV show also launch. Were the creators behind The Munsters influenced by the breakthroughs at Marvel? I talk over the parallels with Fantastic Four, X-Men, The Hulk, and more that make me wonder…

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Ellery Adams talks Invasive Species: Horror in the Neighborhood
Ellery Adams talks Invasive Species: Horror in the Neighborhood

There’s a monster in the neighborhood. And she lives next door. “Circe meets Stranger Things. Throw in a helping of Desperate Housewives and that’s my book.”

Exploring the World of Robert E. Howard
Exploring the World of Robert E. Howard

Webmaster Ståle Gismervik on his website The World of Robert E. Howard—The Father of Sword & Sorcery. (Including how REH wrote so much more than just that one genre.)

Godzilla vs Lit (again): Dracula, Romeo & Juliet, Greek myths, more
Godzilla vs Lit (again): Dracula, Romeo & Juliet, Greek myths, more

The comic book series expands the drama where kaiju stomp on more figures from literature. “Get ready to explore exciting new and old territory Godzilla’s never gone before.”

Shanora Williams: “Expect chaos, adventure, humor, and spicy chemistry.”
Shanora Williams: “Expect chaos, adventure, humor, and spicy chemistry.”

Dungeons & Dragons meets The Wizard of Oz in the darkly hilarious romantasy Mayhem and the Mortal when a woman hires an assassin to save her sister from an evil sorcerer. (Chaos ensues.)

Hold the Ring: Fighting Hellboy, The Hulk, The Munsters, more
Hold the Ring: Fighting Hellboy, The Hulk, The Munsters, more

Horror, SF, and fantasy characters that come out boxing and wrestling, including Hellboy, The Hulk, and Herman Munster. Plus that boxer from the man who gave us Conan the Barbarian.

Felicia Day: Greek Mythology, Women’s Power, and her new Graphic Novel
Felicia Day: Greek Mythology, Women’s Power, and her new Graphic Novel

The actress shares how reading to her little girl led to The Lost Daughter Of Sparta. “The youngest sister of Helen of Troy had one line on her and that was it. I had an idea—and it was very personal to me.”

Predator: What’s the future for the sci-fi monster movie series?
Predator: What’s the future for the sci-fi monster movie series?

The sci-fi/horror/action monster movies came back in a big way—but can they continue? “Where I’m at with Predator now, is, Oh my God, there are so many exciting things we can do.”

Get to know Milestone Comics in new editions with Static, Hardware, Icon, more
Get to know Milestone Comics in new editions with Static, Hardware, Icon, more

Classic Milestone superheroes are available again in new collections—plus a brand-new comic book. “There wasn’t a company like Milestone before, and there hasn’t been one like Milestone since.”

Q&A: Why Heroic Signatures makes “the best damn Conan comics” and more
Q&A: Why Heroic Signatures makes “the best damn Conan comics” and more

How Heroic Signatures is bringing new life to the sword-wielding legend. “We had no other goal other than to just make the best damn Conan comics we could that would appeal to Conan fans.”

That “Godzilla” song—How many cover versions are there?
That “Godzilla” song—How many cover versions are there?

In the 1970s, rock band Blue Oyster Cult released their light-hearted tribute to Japan’s legendary monster. Since then, there have been MANY cover versions, including rock, bluegrass, rap, and more.

SF & Fantasy TV: Free on Tubi
SF & Fantasy TV: Free on Tubi

Here’s a list of just SOME of the TV shows you can watch free on Tubi. (These are just titles that had my interest—either because I like them or have heard good things.)

Remembering Charles R. Saunders—the father of “Sword & Soul”
Remembering Charles R. Saunders—the father of “Sword & Soul”

The late author created a version of Sword & Sorcery steeped in African myth and history. A new biography helps us better understand the impact he left behind. 

John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Keith David talk 1982’s ‘The Thing’
John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Keith David talk 1982’s ‘The Thing’

New documentary The Thing Expanded‍ ‍explores the history of the 1982 horror classic—with more than 30 interviews! In-depth analysis will feature memories, facts, and theories about the movie.

Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy #4: Can They Make it Work?
Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy #4: Can They Make it Work?

Universal has people excited that Fraser and Weisz are coming back. But can the next sequel respect the original Mummy trilogy—and also build something workable for the future?

X-Files: 17 Comedy Episodes—which ones made YOU laugh the most?
X-Files: 17 Comedy Episodes—which ones made YOU laugh the most?

While X-Files regularly touched on horror and conspiracies and the like, there were also several episodes that made us laugh. (Including some I just want to watch again and again.)

Chris Well

Chris Well been a writer pretty much his entire life. (Well, since his childhood.) Over the years, he has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio, and books. He now is the chief of the website Monster Complex, celebrating monster stories in lit and pop culture. He also writes horror comedy fiction that embraces Universal Monsters, 1960s sitcoms, 1980s action movies, and the X-Files.

https://chriswell.substack.com/
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