Cryptology (2026)

"Don’t turn your back for even a second, for I, the Cryptologist, have returned from the mire to bring you the latest issue of my despicable magazine! For fans of Neal Adams’ horror comics, I’ve got a wealth of his dark imaginings to share with you, plus never-before-seen things to pique your interest. Once you’ve savoured that, you’ll be fascinated to see Batman’s perilous encounters with the macabre, before I disclose some surprising actors who couldn’t resist the lure of the horror movie—one of them being Humphrey Bogart! Spiderbaby’s very own Beverly Washburn will venture into my lair to discuss her time in horror, as a prelude to my setting loose the spiders that terrorized cinema screens, comic books and the pulps. And before you go, I’ll throw in more of those lurid paperback covers along, with your regular dose of B-movie masterpieces and another selection from the Hammer archive. So if you enjoy the dark side, I dare you to step on into my creepy magazine with editor Peter Normanton, solely cooked up for you retro horror fans!”

"Just when you thought it was safe to venture into the water again, I, the Cryptologist, have plunged into the depths to bring you the Creature from the Black Lagoon! You lucky people will see glimpses of his three mind-blowing films, along with the lady behind this magnificent specimen, none other than Milicent Patrick herself. We’ve got comic books from the black lagoon, along with models and memorabilia galore, and the amazing prehistoric history that spawned the creature. If this isn’t enough, you’ll meet some of my old horror host buddies who first introduced classic spine-tingling films for television. I’ve also thrown in The Golem, from silent cinema right up until The Limehouse Golem, plus the comic books to boot. Bill Stout will be popping by to reminisce on the putrid carrying-on in The Return of the Living Dead; sounds like fun to me! Our gruesome pre-Code comics retrospective continues, and it wouldn’t be Cryptology if we didn’t dig into one of those old Hammer horror movies. So if you dare, pick up this new issue of my creepy magazine by editor Peter Normanton, the perfect read for you retro horror fans!”

“In this issue, I, the Cryptologist, raise Steve Ditko’s otherworldly artistry from the depths to showcase an eerie selection of his extra-dimensional terrors. Then we begin a two-part celebration of 1944’s House of Frankenstein, a veritable monsterfest if ever there was one. If that’s not enough, we’ll meet up with some delightful leading ladies of horror, among them Hazel Court, Brinke Stevens, Barbara Shelley, Martine Beswick, and Ingrid Pitt—but be careful not to fall head over heels for their charms; you might (not) live to regret it. If you do escape those cinema sirens, the darkly mirthful creations of Charles Addams will be here to raise a guffaw or two. Our spine-tingling foray into pre-Code horror comics continues, and as you’ve come to expect from Cryptology, there will be more Hammer horror treasures, along with other forgotten terrors from the past. If you never get your fill of chills, acquire this latest issue of Cryptology, the only read for retro horror fans!”

“13 is your lucky number, for I, the Cryptologist, am giving you a bonus-size 100-page horrorfest, lauding a true master of the macabre, Boris Karloff, along with his cohort, the Frankenstein monster. We begin with a look at Boris’ later films, then plunge into some of the darker moments of his well-remembered Thriller series. Our two-part celebration of 1944’s House of Frankenstein, the ultimate monsterfest of its day, herein reaches its climax. The origins of ol’ Frankie are revealed, before looking at some of his most gruesome appearances in the cinema and beyond. There’s a horribly fascinating interview with Marvel Comics’ artist Val Mayerik (who depicted the creature in his 1970s solo comic book series), and a selection of those infamous model kits from the distant past. Fans of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein won’t be disappointed—I have uncovered an entire treasure trove of his sumptuous artwork for your delectation, along with digging up the creature’s pre-Code comics appearances. Fire, bad, but Cryptology, good! Don’t miss this oversized issue of my horrible little magazine, the consummate read for retro horror fans!”

“This issue, take a roller coaster ride through the fiery pits of Hades, to share time with some of its most despicable manifestations. Eddie Campbell discusses that milestone in graphic novels From Hell, while comic book artist Glenn Fabry reminisces on his tenebrous sojourn with Hellblazer (in a crossover with Back Issue #174, also shipping this month from TwoMorrows). The Gates of Hell as presented by Lucio Fulci in his heinous film trilogy from the 1980s will be pried open, before throwing a hellborne torchlight on Steve Bissette’s groundbreaking anthology Taboo (would you believe it was banned in the UK?). Before the gates of the underworld are finally closed, we will meet up with Marvel Comics’ Son of Satan, and take a cinematic look at The Exorcist and The Entity. If yours is a fascination for Roger Corman, look no further, for I, your trusted friend the Cryptologist, have exhumed a couple of his classics: The Little Shop of Horrors and Bucket of Blood. Then there’s just enough time to take you on a trip to Blood Island (via the 1960s series of Filipino fright films), and savor another of Hammer’s horrors. Even Mr. Scratch wouldn’t miss this hell-bound issue of Cryptology, the perfect read for retro horror fans!”