Little Shoppe of Horrors #53 supplies a chilling, 148-page (high-stock) sojourn with keen emphasis on Val Guest/Nigel Kneale's Hammer breakout, The Abominable Snowman (of the Himalayas), based on Neale's television play, The Creature. As such, fans get a striking, front-cover portrait of The Abominable Snowman's scholarly protagonist, Peter Cushing's Dr. John Rollason, rendered by Steve Karchin; and to offset it, Paul Watt's sentimental back cover salutes the publication's diligent hosts, Richard Klemensen and Nancy Emdia (with guest-starring appearances from Cushing's Baron and Christopher Lee's Count), as Little Shoppe issues encircle them.
Also on the artwork end, fans are treated to Mark Maddox's hair-raising, inside-front cover of Oliver Reed's Leon Corledo from Curse of the Werewolf, and Lee Copeland's stunning, inside-back cover of Paul Douglas, Leslie Phillips and Walter Rilla from John Gilling's satirical The Gamma People. (Also, additional artwork graces this issue, which comprises nothing less than a virtual feast for the senses.)
In swinging back to Hammer's snow-beast classic, there's an interview with Cushing's versatile costar, Forrest (The Crawling Eye/F Troop) Tucker, and author/screenwriter Clive Dawson shares a glimpse into the unmade, yeti endeavor.
There are archival interviews, as well, with Cushing, Lee and scribe Anthony Hinds (aka John Elder); a revealing piece on monster-music maestro Paul Martell; a fond reflection on Hammer House of Horrors' Roy Skeggs; an essay on the irreverent reboot, The Horror of Frankenstein (with nice nods to Ralph Bates, Kate O'Mara and David Prowse); a queue of Hammer's 1970s productions; a visit with the mesmerizing Martine Beswick; an analysis of the making (and "unmaking") of the referenced Gamma People; a respectful glimpse at horror fanzines; plus "The Keith Dudley Report," Hammer updates and book reviews.
For the record, this is Richard and Nancy's final Little Shoppe, as they embark on retirement. Their bittersweet sendoff makes Issue #53 evermore endearing; so be sure to find a sentimental spot for it in your libraries, but more so, in your appreciative hearts.
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