The great Robert Englund graced our Nostalgia & Comics store in Birmingham this week and Dave from N&C tells me that he was a real delight, utterly charming his fans and staff alike and telling them some great stories while signing copies of Hollywood Monster. I’m quite jealous, would have been wonderful to meet him, he’s one of the few real icons of the modern fantastic film genres, not simply because of the number of works he has been involved with but because he treats the genre and the fans with respect, takes it seriously but still brings a sense of knowing fun to it at the same time, and that’s something we love him for. Thanks to Robert for being such a charming guest and to the fans who came along to meet him. (thanks also to Dave and the N&C crew for the pics; click for the larger ones on our Flickr page, where you can find more photos)

(while Robert was usually charming and polite he did have to take firmer action with those who tried to cut in front of the line at the signing)

One, two, Freddy’s coming for you, three four, better lock your door... Yes, folks, we have horror icon Robert Englund coming soon. Englund has been well known and beloved of SF and horror genre fans for many years, appearing in a large number of productions from playing the good alien in the original V mini-series to the knowing nods and winks of the silly and highly enjoyable Zombie Strippers and voice acting for some great superhero animations like The Spectacular Spider-Man and The Batman. Of course to legions of fans, especially those of us who grew up on the 80s horror boom, Robert will always be forever linked with the razor fingered Freddy Kreuger, the monstrous slaughterer of teens who strikes in their dreams who has gone on to become a huge icon of the genre, taking his place alongside the venerable array of famous monsters of filmland (to borrow a phrase from the late Forry Ackerman), thanks in no small part to Robert treating the role with respect to deliver such a memorable monster (not least in the clever and disturbing New Nightmare where he played both himself as the actor playing Freddy and Freddy as ‘real’ too).

Robert will be appearing in the Manchester Forbidden Planet (65 Oldham Street, Piccadilly) on Thursday November 26th from 4 to 6pm, then at our Nostalgia & Comics store in Birmignham on Monday November 30th from 4 to 6pm, so please do come along and enjoy a rare chance to meet one of the genre’s truly iconic stars (we accept no responsibility for cuts sustained if shaking hands). Please note that there will be a fee for autographs.