FANGORIA Compendium on Kickstarter Preserves 45 Years of Horror Journalism

FANGORIA Compendium on Kickstarter celebrates the complete history of horror through a monumental 300-plus page hardcover book and comprehensive digital archive spanning 1979 to 2015. First in Fright: The FANGORIA Compendium has raised over $438,000 from 4,286 backers, preserving four decades of horror journalism when human storytelling and printed words face depreciation on nearly all fronts. This campaign delivers both physical and digital preservation of FANGORIA magazine's original 344-issue print run alongside exclusive rewards never available outside this Kickstarter project.

Comprehensive Book Chronicles Horror's Defining Moments

First in Fright: The FANGORIA Compendium guides readers through pivotal events shaping today's horror landscape. The blood-soaked genre history spans from the golden age of slashers through the indie horror revolution and every major moment between. The editorial team meticulously curates issue profiles commented on by horror's biggest names, preserving coverage of underseen cult classics alongside the genre's most celebrated titles.

Expert Contributors Led by John Carpenter

John Carpenter writes the foreword for this all-star compilation. Dozens of contributors lend unique voices including filmmakers, stars, special makeup effects artists, horror experts, and current and former FANGORIA contributors. The book features all-new conversations with leading directors, writers, actors, and effects technicians discussing their horror contributions and FANGORIA's influence on their work. Current and former magazine editors share never-before-published stories about what went into making FANGORIA over the years, while modern horror luminaries and scholars provide insights.

Contemporary Essays Illuminate Genre Evolution

Essays throughout offer contemporary perspectives on genre trends, themes, and important horror history moments with knowledge and insight only FANGORIA can deliver. These features track horror filmmaking's evolution and explore ways it has intersected with FANGORIA's own history across generations. The content serves fans who followed Fango from Volume 1 Issue 1 and those newer to the club equally.

Premium Physical Production Quality

The physical edition uses full-color printing on 80-pound gloss text sheet throughout, produced with sewn hardcover binding. All signed editions include special signature pages tipped into the book's beginning. The Kickstarter first edition remains exclusive to this campaign. Future retail versions, if created, will feature smaller page counts, different covers, and exclude special rewards like slipcases. Stretch goal achievements upgraded the book to oversized 9-inch by 12-inch dimensions for all tiers, adding almost 20 percent more content.

FANGORIA Digital Archive Creates Searchable Horror Database

The companion digital archive represents the pinnacle of horror preservation, chronicling FANGORIA Volume 1's entire print run spanning all 344 issues. This initiative goes beyond simple PDF collections to create a fully indexed and searchable database of every name, detail, and information iota found in the magazine's original pages.

Advanced Search Capabilities Enable Deep Research

The archive functions as definitive academic resource for serious genre fans. Full contents of each issue can be searched by keyword, issue number, and month/year, then read in original form. The interface breaks down by issue, topics, titles, cast, and crew, allowing users to easily access personally important stories. Fans can track every time FANGORIA covered most-loved franchises, count interviews printed with favorite directors, or follow specific character histories. These advanced search features provide unparalleled access to 25,000-plus pages of archival content straight from the Fango vault.

Seamless Integration Between Book and Archive

The FANGORIA Digital Archive integrates directly with First in Fright: The FANGORIA Compendium through special Archive Codes printed on book pages. As readers flip through and want to read more about certain actors, interviews, or topics, these codes allow deeper online exploration. The Compendium and Archive function as ultimate companion project, letting backers seamlessly switch between formats and maximize both resources.

Remastered Pages and Enhanced Accessibility

The team scans and remasters all pages to remove defects and clean up content, presenting issues in formats as close to original print state as possible. Backers receive unlimited access to all classic Volume 1 issues with ability to download one complete PDF set readable forever. Access lasts as long as the archive remains online, with no follow-up costs or subscriptions required. The team aims to provide access to qualifying backers by the book's shipping date or sooner.

GOREZONE Magazine Archive Addition

The $400,000 stretch goal achievement adds all 27 GOREZONE magazine issues printed from 1988 to 1994 to the digital archive, making them available to all backers when the book ships. This expansion further cements the archive's status as comprehensive horror journalism resource.

Exclusive Kickstarter Rewards Beyond the Book

All backers of the print copy receive the digital edition at no additional charge. Depending on pledge tiers and add-ons, backers can score exclusive items never available again outside this campaign.

FANGORIA Vinyl Album Features Horror Score Legends

The one-of-a-kind brand-new LP contains original music tracks by horror score composition's biggest names. Harry Manfredini from Friday the 13th and House, John Harrison from Creepshow and Day of the Dead, and additional artists curated by FANGORIA editors contribute to this exclusive album.

Remastered FANGORIA Issue Number One

Certain tiers include a remastered print copy of the issue that started everything. This special FANGORIA number one reprint will never be available anywhere else, offering backers the magazine's origin point in restored quality.

FANGORIA Covers Poster and Collectible Pins

The campaign assembles the 100 best FANGORIA covers on one exclusive high-quality poster printed on glossy paper in both A2 and One Sheet Movie Poster sizes. Backers select the top covers through voting. The collectible enamel pin set includes three pins featuring the FANGORIA logo, FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards logo, and the first magazine issue.

FANGORIA Trading Card Set

Special packs contain 8 FANGORIA trading cards featuring different covers from the magazine's print run plus all-new original artwork. Each pack includes one special holo-foil card as part of the 40-card series. There are 32 cover cards and 8 foil cards total. The VIP Invitation tier includes the full set, while other tiers provide 1 to 4 packs. Additional packs are available as add-ons for completing collections. These new cards are created specifically for this campaign and are not related to FANGORIA Horror Collector Cards.

VIP Launch Party Invitation

The highest tier includes VIP invitation to the FANGORIA Compendium launch party held in greater Los Angeles on a date to be determined. Attendees enjoy food, beverages, and opportunities to meet talent behind the book and request signatures.

Stretch Goals Enhance Every Backer's Reward

The campaign achieved multiple stretch goals improving the final product. At $75,000, an exclusive blood red ribbon was added for saving places. At $100,000, 16 additional pages accommodate a backer-voted list of best horror films ever made. At $150,000, nine bookmarks featuring FANGORIA covers were included. At $200,000, special crimson gilded page edges were added to all physical editions. At $250,000, rare content from deep within the FANGORIA Vault was unlocked, including behind-the-scenes photos, press kits, alternate cover sketches, slides, and rarely or never-seen treasures added to the digital archive. At $300,000, 16 more pages were added ranking favorite film creatures, killers, and creepy spirits. Additional mind-blowing stretch goals await revelation if existing goals continue being reached.

Why FANGORIA Compendium on Kickstarter Matters for Horror Preservation

Since 1979, FANGORIA established itself as the single most respected authority in horror journalism. The magazine delivered the first word on all things horror to millions of fans through deep behind-the-scenes coverage, penetrating interviews, elaborate FX tutorials, and wealth of insight about the horror world. This project preserves FANGORIA's history and creates the first true comprehensive FANGORIA chronicle for champions of the magazine and horror genre at large. For serious fans, scholars, and future generations researching horror cinema's evolution, FANGORIA Compendium on Kickstarter ensures this irreplaceable cultural resource survives in both physical and digital formats accessible for decades to come.

Campaign Update — November 23, 2025

The FANGORIA Compendium on Kickstarter continues to surge, now sitting at US$ 567,574, backed by 5,728 horror fans with 4 days left.

This week brought several big developments. First, the campaign unlocked a major stretch goal: GOREZONE is now officially part of the Digital Archive, giving all backers access to 27 classic issues from 1988–1994. Every supporter will receive the appropriate archive access code when the book ships.

The team also introduced the next milestone — an exclusive 15-month FANGORIA calendar (Oct 2026–Dec 2027), included with all physical orders if the goal is reached.

Due to overwhelming demand, both the Slasher Edition and De-Composer Edition have been restocked. Original supporters retain their guaranteed numbering within the initial limited sets, while the newly added copies form a second numbered batch. The contents and pricing remain identical.

Finally, FANGORIA opened a lottery for 10 additional VIP Launch Party invitations. Backers who want a chance to upgrade can email the support team and will be selected at random, with a 24-hour confirmation window.

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FAQ About The FANGORIA Compendium on Kickstarter

When Will I Receive My FANGORIA Compendium?

The team will send a survey to all backers at the campaign's conclusion including entry fields for mailing addresses where physical rewards should be sent. The survey also includes fields for backers whose tiers include getting their name in the book, allowing them to specify how their name should appear or even substitute a friend's name instead. Standard fulfillment timelines will be communicated through campaign updates as production progresses.

Will FANGORIA Compendium Be Available Outside This Kickstarter?

The first edition of First in Fright: The FANGORIA Compendium and many bundle items will never be made available outside this campaign. Features like the slipcase and certain stretch goals remain exclusive to the campaign. While the creators currently have no plans to offer the book outside Kickstarter, any future retail version would have a smaller page count, different cover, and exclude many exclusive features that Kickstarter backers receive.

Is the List of Contributors Final?

Not at all. The team continues working to add many more voices to make this book a truly comprehensive horror history. Additional contributor names will be announced throughout the campaign and up until the book goes to press. Horror community members interested in adding their voices to First in Fright: The FANGORIA Compendium can reach out to support@FANGORIACompendium.com.

When Can I Access the FANGORIA Digital Archive?

Work on the FANGORIA Digital Archive has already started, with plans to make issues accessible as soon as possible. The goal is providing access to all qualifying backers by the book's shipping date or even sooner. The team is building a new archive interface while scanning and remastering all pages to remove defects and clean up content. If stretch goals related to expanding the digital archive are achieved, those features may not be finished by initial access but will be implemented through regular updates.

What Are the Full Book Specifications?

First in Fright: The FANGORIA Compendium is a high-quality book, full color throughout, produced with sewn hardcover binding and at least 300 pages, though this length increased through stretch goal achievements. Interior paper weight is 80-pound gloss text sheet. All signed editions have special signature pages tipped into the book's beginning. After achieving the first stretch goal, the book was upgraded to oversized 9-inch by 12-inch dimensions for all tiers. The Leather Edition uses real leather for its cover.