Rebellion’s ongoing monthly kids anthology Monster Fun will end with its next issue (#26), due to hit British newsstands in mere weeks. The news was disclosed via John Freeman’s Downthetubes blog and shared on Monster Fun social media channels. The UK edition is dated for December 4 with the US release (via Previews) scheduled for January 8, 2025.
On Facebook and X, Monster Fun said:
“Thanks for the years of monstrous fun, readers! It’s been a ghoulishly good time, but sadly this December’s issue of Monster Fun will be the final issue.”
Monster Fun was a revival title from Rebellion’s Treasury of British Comics line whose namesake ran as an IPC-published British kids weekly for 73 issues between 1975 and 1976, featuring humorous takes on famous monsters. The current iteration began as a bimonthly title in 2022 before shifting to a monthly due to popular demand in 2023. Reprints of series from the title have formed the backbone of the Monster Fun Collection of kids graphic novels that debuted this summer and Rebellion recently mounted a free comics marketing campaign in cities across the UK.
The new issue’s opening message from fictional editor Helly will say:
“Hello Monster Funsters! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, so I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but with a very heavy heart (yes, I have got one!), it falls on me to tell you that this will be the final issue of Monster Fun. It has been a privilege to entertain you for the last few years and I would like to thank you so much for joining us every month, sending in your marvellous pictures for our Gruesome Gallery and leaving some insightful feedback, which helped bring the comic to new creative heights – we couldn’t have done it without you all.
“I would also like to thank our creepy creators both past and present who have produced some brilliant stories. They will now be unshackled and set free from the Rebellion dungeons – Keep doing what you do, my talented terrors! Finally, thanks to the guys, girls and goblins who have helped to put the comic together, especially the diabolical design demon, Oz Osborne.
“Scream you later!”
The future of the Monster Fun Collection is unclear – but books are still slated for release in 2025. According to Freeman:
“…although Monster Fun will be ending as a serialised monthly comic with Issue 26, it will live on in the form of the Monster Fun graphic novel range, which includes brilliant new versions of beloved characters including Steel Commando and The Leopard From Lime Street. 2025 will bring more beloved series into the range like Rex Power and Kid Kong – so, say Rebellion, “Monster Fun will be ending on the highest of highs!” “
We have reached out to Rebellion for further comment.
It is possible that future Monster Fun stories may be serialised in the monthly Judge Dredd Megazine before republishing them in trade for the flourishing kids graphic novel market under the Monster Fun Collection line. This year the Megazine has taken on former 2000AD Regened strips like Pandora Perfect, Department K, and Cadet Rico; as well as announced plans for non-Dreddworld/2000 AD series to be included in the near future (i.e. John Wagner and Dan Cornwell’s Rok of the Reds).
The UK newsstand market is a tough gig for any title. Long ago it featured a heap of anthology comics but since the 1990s it has shrunk dramatically – with a mere handful holding the line next to kids puzzle magazines offering free toys (which do occasionally have a few pages of comics). Currently Rebellion’s 2000 AD and Judge Dredd Megazine (usually in the adult section); DC Thomson’s Beano and Commando; The Phoenix; and a plethora of Panini Marvel US reprints are all that remain…if you can find them.
