Russo, Lou :: L. Russo Comic Book artwork

Vampirella, Eerie, Creepy, Warren, Forrest Ackerman by Lou Russo

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Artwork Details

Title:	Vampirella, Eerie, Creepy, Warren, Forrest Ackerman by Lou Russo
Artist:	None Specified
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	410
Likes on CAF:	4 5
Comments:	4
Added to Site:	8/15/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Famous Monsters, Forry Ackerman, and my dad! For me, there are two types of commissions�the one you do reluctantly because you need the cash and the ones you can�t wait to get to. This one was the latter. A friend of a friend wanted a picture of Forrest J. Ackerman and (almost) all the monsters that appeared on the cover of the first 100 issues of Famous Monsters Magazine. I loved the idea and ran with it. It is the type of piece I would hang on my wall if the client decided he didn�t want it. Ackerman, also known as �Uncle Forry,� the �Ackermonster,� and many other names, was the founding editor and principal writer of the magazine �Famous Monsters of Filmland.� He was also the co-creator of the character Vampirella, a leading expert on science fiction and horror films, and an avid collector of film memorabilia, among other things. �Famous Monsters� (FM) was THE publication for all of us �monster kids� in the �60s, �70s, and early �80s. Ackerman would be involved with the magazine�s entire original run and would also work on publications like �Monster World� and �Monsterland.� Famous Monsters was published by James Warren, who also published Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella, and many other titles. If you are looking to recapture the �magic� of Famous Monsters, I suggest reading �Scary Monsters Magazine� and �Castle of Frankenstein� which are both currently on newsstands.
Now step one with all these types of art pieces for me begins with a list. Usually, I prefer the client to supply the list, so that I don�t leave out any of their favorites (which has been known to happen!) I received a list about three months ago for this project. I even added a few monsters that didn�t make the original list. One set of names caught my attention immediately for many reasons�Abbott and Costello! For those readers who are unfamiliar with them, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were a famous comedy duo, not just two guys in a Toby Keith song. Like Laurel and Hardy before them, Abbott and Costello had amazing comedic timing. The duo started in radio, and later worked in film and television. During World War II, they were the highest paid entertainers on the planet. By the end of their career, they had made nearly 40 films together. Sadly, such comedy duos are a thing of the past. Growing up, I watched a LOT of Abbott and Costello movies (along with Johnny Weissmuller�s Tarzan) with my dad on Sunday afternoons. He loved the two guys from New Jersey that asked the famous question �Who�s on First?� Of course, my favorite films of theirs were the �monster� ones! �Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein� (1948) was the first of a series of monster-themed movies for the duo. That picture marked the end of Universal�s Classic Monster franchise, and it was a huge financial success for the production company. If you haven�t seen it, it is a wonderful film that has some very funny and suspenseful moments. This film, more than any other, was a �monster kids� dream and I would watch it repeatedly!
Another connection with this piece to my dad came when I �researched� photos of Forrest Ackerman. I found a great photo of Ackerman surrounded by movie props and collectibles wearing a guayabera shirt, of all things. For the unfamiliar, the guayabera shirt is the national shirt of several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Guayaberas are distinguished by two vertical rows of ornate pleat stitching that run the length of the shirt accompanied by multiple pockets. If you have never worn one, they are very comfortable! I think my dad had at least 20 of them�one in every color they made! In fact, it was the only shirt I think I ever saw him wear, aside from his Sheriff�s uniform. So, rendering Uncle Forry in his guayabera, with his thin mustache and thick glasses, reminded me of how my father looked later in life.
Finally, the inspiration for this composition came from Creepy Magazine #1 (1964). Below is a list of who�s who or what�s what. Or as Abbott and Costello might say, �Who�s on first�� Enjoy!
Vampirella
Cousin Eerie
Uncle Creepy
Demon Mask from issue #2
Phantom of the Opera (Chaney)
Ghouls eye from issue #4
Tower of London, Karloff
King Kong
Zacherley
Rondo Hatton
Gorgo
Godzilla
Curse of the Werewolf
Togos Frankenstein
Vincent Price (cloaked)
Bride of Frankenstein
Renfield
London After Midnight
Dracula (Lugosi)
Amazing Colossal Man
Werewolf (Henry Hull)
Cyclops
Sayer of the Law
Mummy, Karloff
Mr. Hyde
Ymir
Gomez Addams
Herman Munster
Creature from the Black Lagoon
The Fly
The Reptile
13 Ghosts
Dr. X
Curse of the Demon
Frankenstein Conquers the World
Wolfman (Chaney)
Barnabus Collins
Invasion of the Saucer Men
Frankenstein, Karloff
Green Slime
Planet of the Apes
Dracula (Lee)
She Creature
Dr. Phibes
Blacula
Galligantus
Frankenstein (Lee)
Linda Blair, Exorcist
I was a Teenage Werewolf
Gargantuas Sanda
Gargantuas Gaira
Tor Johnson

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About the Owner

	L. Russo
Joined:	November 2009
Last Login:	August 2025
Ebay Id:	lrusso3472
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Marc Pecorella
Member Since 2007

Posted on 8/15/2023

Excellent piece! Very well done and memorable. What I grew up with for sure---

L. Russo
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 8/15/2023

Marc Pecorella wrote:

Excellent piece! Very well done and memorable. What I grew up with for sure---

Thank for the kind words. This one was a labor of love!

Chris C
Member Since 2004

2 - Posted on 8/16/2023

This is an amazing piece. Love the composition, love the easter eggs, love the care and attention to detail. A love letter to Famous Monsters. So great.

L. Russo
Member Since 2009

Posted on 8/17/2023

Chris C wrote:

This is an amazing piece. Love the composition, love the easter eggs, love the care and attention to detail. A love letter to Famous Monsters. So great.�

Thank you for commenting! That means a lot to me! It was my love letter to Famous Monsters and something for all those monster kids who grew up reading it. Childhood memories!

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