Brad Linaweaver's long resumé includes writing, acting, winning the Prometheus Award (for Best Novel with Moon of Ice, and a Special Award for co-editing the libertarian sf anthology, Free Space), editing, interviewing, massive knowledge of B-movie cinema, and now, magazine publisher. In 2006 the first issue of his magazine, Mondo Cult, appeared. Now, in the waning months of 2007, using words that probably should be printed in bold, red, jagged font, comes the BIGGER!, BETTER! BOLDER! second issue. Weighing in at 120 pages, this magazine is a cornucopia of pop culture to which the fan of old-time cinema, classic horror, screen legends within the inner circles of movie-making and far more, will return to again and again.

I confess to lacking much historical cinematic knowledge. My passion has been in the form of books, and thus I'll know far more about the pulp writers of the 1930s, than about cinema before the 1980s; and even then, I probably wouldn't win any trivial pursuit games on movies after the 1980s either. But, I can appreciate the passion of the writers in Mondo Cult for their art. And certainly, putting together such a massive issue as this one, with interviews of such disparate individuals as special effects master Ray Harryhaussen, actress Traci Lords (whom I believe I've only seen in the movie adaptation of Stephen King's Tommyknockers, again a testament to my limited movie knowledge, as in reading the interview she's been in considerable TV shows and movies), B-movie director Fred Olen Ray, and stunt-woman Kim Stys make for interesting reading. Not to be missed are the two essays by former Prometheus editor Bill Ritch, the first on the movie adaptation, V for Vendetta, and the second on the long-running TV series, Doctor Who; The former appeared online shortly after the release of the movie, and quick search via Google will bring up the original version.

Editor Jessie Lilley has managed a Herculean task putting together this issue, which includes reviews of books and movies (from a blockbuster hit like The Chronicles of Narnia to J. Neil Schulman's independent movie, Lady Magdalene's, as well as a vast variety of others: Scared to Death, 1776, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Tingler, Children of Men, and too many other titles to list here). There are scores of B/W photos (many of scantily clad actresses, a staple of B-movies in the horror genre, it seems), reproductions of movie posters, but nothing too gory or excessively outrageous.

The issue is dedicated to Linaweaver's friend Chuck Hamill, a fellow libertarian and sf fan. Mondo Cult also notes the passing of other greats, such as Robert Anton Wilson and Jack Williamson. Hopefully issue #3 will appear soon, but Linaweaver and Lilley face the prospect of topping this issue, which in terms of breadth of content would seem pretty near impossible.