Measures 8-11/32" X 10-15/16", 68 pp including covers -- b&w photos and illustrations -- Volume 1, Number 4 (July 1962), published by Spacemen Inc. (PA).
Group 9-2085
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!! -- BOTH FRONT & REAR COVERS ARE DETACHED FROM THE SPINE, AS WELL AS EACH OTHER!!! -- otherwise typical "well-read" condition for a movie "fan" magazine of over 60 years, with wear & chipping to edges & corners, plus creases, scratches, folds, indentations, tears, rub-wear, browning pages, soiling, foxing, etc -- overall condition POOR!
After the resounding success of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, publisher JAMES WARREN was anxious to create another movie magazine of equal popularity; and, together with FMOF mainstay FORREST J. ACKERMAN, the two of them decided upon a magazine devoted to science fiction films. And the logic for that decision was foolproof: the United States government was concentrating heavily upon winning the "space race" against Soviet Russia; shortly before the first issue of SPACEMEN had hit the newsstands, Project Mercury astronaut ALAN B. SHEPARD had become the first American to be launched into space, following Russian cosmonaut YURI GAGARIN by less than one month. In addition, "baby boomers" had discovered science fiction, and it had become a widely accepted genre in hardcover and paperback books, as well as comic books, movies, and television. But, surprisingly, SPACEMEN only lasted 8 regular quarterly issues, plus one annual. The "why" is only speculation; but it is entirely possible that the light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek form of writing that made FAMOUS MONSTERS so successful may have led potential readers of SPACEMEN to suspect that SPACEMEN would simply be more of the same -- and science fiction readers simply weren't interested in the puns and simplistic writing of FMOM. So SPACEMEN withered away; and, not so many years later, other science fiction movie magazines would rise to take its place, such as STARLOG and FILMFAX and OUTRE and others. But SPACEMEN holds the position of being probably the first serious continuous publication, devoted specifically to science fiction films -- and for that reason it's worth collecting.
Contents:
Cover Art -- illustrated by BASIL GOGOS
Inside Front Cover -- full page photo from the movie "GIRL IN THE MOON" (aka "FRAU IM MOND")
The Editors Space -- by FORREST J. ACKERMAN
Spacial Delivery (Letters from readers) -- With masthead illustration by JACK DAVIS
Shape Of Things To Come -- with photos from "COMMANDO CODY" ; "THE RED ANGRY PLANET" ; "SATAN'S SATELLITES" ; "AIR HAWKS" ; "SPACE MEN" ; "ROCKETFLIGHT WITH HINDRANCE" ; & "METROPOLIS"
Return Of The Saucers -- with photos from the movie "EARTH Vs THE FLYING SAUCERS"
Spacemen Of Distinction #1 -- with photo of COMMANDO CODY
Super Space -- with photo from the movie "THE INSIDIOUS DR. FU MANCHU"
They Came From Outer Space -- reproductions of pulp covers from "THRILLING WONDER STORIES" (August 1936) ; "WONDER STORIES QUARTERLY" (Summer 1930) -- with comparison photo from the movie "20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH" ; "FANTASY" (1939) -- with comparison photo from the movie "THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD"; ""FANTASTIC ADVENTURES" (April 1949) with comparison photo from the movie "KONGA" ; "THRILLING WONDER STORIES" (December 1941 -- with comparison photo from the movie "THIS ISLAND EARTH)
O'Henry's Comet: Tales With A Twist In Their Tale: The Man From Ariel -- by DONALD A. WOLLHEIM
Orbituary Department -- with photos from the movies "WAR OF THE WORLDS" ; "THE GOLEM" ; "MASTER OF THE WORLD" ; ""PLATILLOS VOLADORES" (aka "FLYING SAUCERS") ; "ROCKETSHIP X-M" ; "THE UNDERSEA KINGDOM" ; "THE BLOB" ; & "FLASH GORDON"
The Ace Of Space -- with photos from "FLASH GORDON" ; "FLASH GORDON'S TRIP TO MARS" ; and "FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE" ; plus double-page reproduction from a newspaper promotional article for "FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE"
"GIRL IN THE MOON" -- Part 2 (Conclusion) -- with photos from the movie "GIRL IN THE MOON" (aka "FRAU IM MOND")
Space Petrol (quiz)
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