There was a huge monster craze in the United States from the late 50s and continuing into the early 70s. It all began when local TV stations started airing monster movies at midnight and lead directly to the publication of Famous Monsters of Filmland. After that, you could see the trend quickly escalate to The Outer Limits, “The Monster Mash,” Rat Fink, The Munsters and Dark Shadows. 

Monster mania probably ended in 1973 when a young Linda Blair used a crucifix as a dildo in the original Exorcist movie. But while it lasted, the groovy age of monsters was a happy time when all monsters hung out in the same timeline. According to journalist and pop-culture historian Mark Voger, it was a time when all monsters were best friends who shared thrilling adventures like the superheroes in the Justice League of America. 

And now, 50 years later, editor James Palmer presents his version of the Justice League of Monsters—a fearsome fighting force for freedom, made of the ghastliest ghouls and goblins of man’s imagination come to life. Membership includes (in slightly altered versions) the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein’s monster and Count Dracula. 

Together with Moira Harker, a world-renowned monster hunter, this extraordinary league of gentlemen fight all sorts of creatures and spirits—including the Last Reich, a group of zealots who continue to aggressively promote Nazi politics. More generally, the League of Monsters simply call themselves occult researchers. 

The anthology begins with a prologue-like story by Palmer called “Gods and Monsters.” It efficiently introduces readers to the world of Monster superheroes. The League’s headquarters is a rambling Victorian mansion on the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. They are mostly autonomous but have a working relationship with a shadowy government organization. It’s the early 50s and Harry S. Truman is the President of the United States. “The world,” says wolf man Ned Nyland, “is a weird and deadly place.” 

The five remaining stories are silly and preposterous in a good way. If you enjoy Universal monster icons and over-the-top antics you’ll probably like what you get here. Personally, my two favorite stories are by Russell Nohelty and Adrian Delgado. 

“Not Another Haunted House Story” follows Hank Clerval (Frankenstein’s monster) and Gill, the missing-link fish-man, to Portland in a Brave and the Bold-like adventure. It’s not the best story in the book, but it’s an excellent character study of the modern day Prometheus. Even though he’s saved the world countless times along with his colleagues, Hank can’t shake his monstrous origins. These days he’s compassionate and erudite, but he still has trouble with first impressions. “I only look like a monster,” he says. 

“Fear the Queen of Fangs” is about the rise of Sobekneferu, the first female pharaoh of Egypt and the crocodile god’s chosen herald. Flanked by a squad of gun-bearing crocodile-headed men, her goal is to kill President Truman and resurrect the dead city of Crocodopolis. Her outlandish plans are smashed by Dracula (wielding a submachine gun!) and features a thrilling superhero-like fight between a wolf man and a rhino man. It’s the final story in League of Monsters and it’s a crazy way to end the book. 

[ League of Monsters / Edited by James Palmer / First Printing: July 2023 / ISBN: 9798852078407 ]