Ink Stains 186: Grymalkin 3

Grymalkin 3: 1979ish
Publishers/editors: Mike and Gay Brewer

Welcome to the first Ink Stains of 2025! An eventful year in many ways, some I can't even bear to talk about. On the brighter side, I now have the first of two eye operations done, with the hopes of never having to wear those damn glasses again! So far, so good. But, I digress...this month's entry is the third issue of Grymalkin. This is another of the wonderful half size zines of the time, alongside such greats as CPL, No Sex, The Comic Reader, and The Wonderful World of Comics, among others. Also, like many zines of the era, it is populated with conventions sketches from the pros, as well as interviews fan fiction, and other enthusiastic contributions. I wasn't able to track down the editor brothers, so unfortunately, it's only me this time! 

To the left you can see a typically stylish illustration by P. Craig Russell (you can see my interview with him in the main column index here on my site), the subject of an interview in this issue of Grymalkin that runs about 2 pages. It is followed by a fan fiction piece entitled The Blue Plague from Robert Oliver Jr and Mario Giguere, as well as a very short story/sorta poem from Joseph M. Shea called A Conspiracy of Sadness (with a cute little illo from Kenneth Smith paired with it). Close by is a con sketch from George Perez, seen below, as well as a dramatic illo from Marshall Rogers, which follows.

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Above you see an illustration by the late and very much missed David Heath Jr (editor of the previously mentioned No Sex) for the Ken Hahn story, Mindsucker. That masthead brings back memories of all that press type from long ago!

Below you see a centerspread illo from Mike Ray that looks like it was intended to be a cover. Now, if you remember the artists from back then, you might get a strong Mike Roberts vibe from this...wonder if is him under a pen name? I don't even know if Roberts is still with us. A nice illo, regardless.

Up next is a story from Allen D. Cockrell that goes by the name of Requiem Passing. It is accompanied by a nicely halftoned full page illustration from Bruce Conklin, seen below. There is also a nifty little Frazetta sketch you can see in the pdf.

The next story is by Harry Bose, called From the Moon to the Earth, and has an illo by Earl Johnson Jr adorning it. It is followed by Another Day at the Office, a little sf comedy skit by John Kelly. Unrelated, but beside it, is a fairly dynamic sketch by the great Howard Chaykin, seen below.

E-Man makes an appearance in sketch form from Joe Staton next, and a Jim Starlin interview follows that. Before the editorial on the last page is a Jerry Collins sketch, seen below. Jerry was in soooo many issues of No Sex, I remember David liked his stuff a lot.

That is Grymalkin we see exiting the building, who will take it's place next month...only the Shadow....

Rick Harrison

What a drama queen! As I was saying, thanks for tuning in this month and please stop by next month. Thanks this time, yet again to the big man, the king of kings, master of all he surveys, Manny Maris, for the zine this time! Check out the pdf to see much more art, all the stories, etc!

Ken Meyer Jr
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