The Astounding B Monster

"...anyone who thinks Plan 9 is the worst movie ever made just hasn't seen enough movies." -- Marty Baumann

• The Astounding B Monster
• www.bmonster.com
• By Marty Baumann
• mbaumann@bmonster.com

s its name suggests, The Astounding B Monster is an electronic publication devoted to that mainstay of late-night television, the B movie. The Monster is produced by Marty Baumann, a B movie connoisseur and a veteran journalist, musician and designer. Marty was involved in creating the formidable USA Today Web site, and here he puts his talents to use as a one-person publisher, handling all of the writing, design work, etc.

Marty's Monster covers the broad spectrum of B movies, with individual categories devoted to Sci Fi, Horror and Cult. There is also a catchall section appropriately titled More, as well as a letters-to-the-editor section called Mail, a Profile of a B movie director, and an Archive of past issues. Each of the movie categories generally focuses on one main theme, such as a particular director or actor, bolstered by mini-reviews of related movies. For instance, the Sci Fi section of issue #3 focuses on From Hell It Came, a movie about a tree demon, and then goes on to profile flicks that also featured denizens from the soil, such as Day of the Triffids and The Quartermass Experiment.

The Profiles are straightforward Q&As with B movie directors, while More is devoted to whatever else is going on with the Monster, such as musings on the most astounding disembodied head.

Overall its hard to find a fault with the B Monster. Marty is an accomplished writer who not only knows his stuff but who is also devoted to sharing it with others. He deftly captures the essence of the B movie with a flavorful style that's long enough to be satisfying and interesting, yet short enough so that reading on screen doesn't become tedious. Even the review criteria applied to movies -- which are graded on acting, atmosphere and fun -- seem perfectly suited to the B genre.

The site itself is impeccably designed, with crisp, clean and quick-loading graphics complemented by an intuitive navigation system (the Archive is especially well done). Although there are no multimedia files or animated images, the rich graphics add enough spice to keep the Monster dazzling without chewing up bandwidth. Each page also ends with selection called Blurbs, which showcases "hyperbolic gems from the brazen B movie posters of the past."

Some of the Monster's material is rehashed from related print magazines, such as quotes from pro-wrestler-turned-Tabanga-monster Chester Hayes, so avid fans of the B genre might be covering familiar ground. But most readers will find the information here a pleasant mix of newfound facts and old, late-night favorites.

Simply a wonderful site. And as it turns out, I'd seen From Hell It Came about a hundred years ago but had forgotten all about it until I came across the B Monster...what a joy! Two thumbs up, Marty! -- Craig E.

Site Index | Request a Review | Feedback

News of the Week | On Screen | Gallery | Other Cool Sci-Fi Stuff
Off the Shelf | Sci-Fi Site of the Week | Games | Interview | Home