Fantasy Zone was Marvel UK's attempt to re-enter the Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror media magazine market after they had sold the Starburst magazine to Visual Imagination a few years earlier.

 

Why Marvel UK wanted to launch the new format I don't know.  Maybe Marvel wanted to counter the launch of Starburst's first regular spin off, TV Zone Magazine which launched in September 1989.  With the Glut of new Fantasy Movies being launched, spearheaded by the new Batman movie, the time seemed right for the new magazine.

 

Aimed at a more broader audience than that of TV Zone the magazine was well written and contained a fair amount of text and benefitted by some good layouts.  However the main criticism was that the magazine did not feel very engaging and lacked a certain emotion in order to make the magazine work.

 

In total Fantasy Zone lasted only 6 issues.  The seventh (although misleadingly billed as the Sixth) was previewed but never appeared.  TV Zone, in comparison continued until 2008 and spewed a number of other magazines.

 

 

 

Issue 2

November 1989

Do Not Have Can You Help