Published by Raleigh, North Carolina-based TwoMorrows Publishing, RetroFan is a bimonthly magazine that serves as a vibrant, full-color “grab bag” of 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s pop culture. Launched in 2018 and originally edited by comic book historian Michael Eury (with Ed Catto taking the editorial helm in 2025), the publication moves beyond the company’s traditional focus on comic book history to explore a broader nostalgic landscape of vintage television, toys, movies, and fads.
Each 84-page issue typically features eclectic “fun, fab” columns from pop culture experts like Andy Mangels and Scott Shaw, covering everything from Saturday morning cartoons and classic sitcoms to monster movies and celebrity interviews. With its tagline, “The Crazy, Cool Culture We Grew Up With,” RetroFan has established itself as a premier glossy periodical for enthusiasts of the “Silver” and “Bronze” ages of entertainment, available both in digital formats and physical retailers like Barnes & Noble.
TwoMorrows Publishing is a highly respected US-based publisher founded by John and Pam Morrow in 1994, initially as an offshoot of their advertising agency in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company quickly distinguished itself by focusing on providing in-depth coverage of the history and creators behind comic books and retro pop culture. Their mission is to create a lasting record of this unique American art form, documenting the careers and accomplishments of creators from the Golden, Silver, and Bronze Ages of comics, often attracting a readership that skews older and appreciates the medium’s history. The company prides itself on offering detailed, well-researched content with a fun, positive slant, having earned multiple Eisner Awards for their publications.
The company’s publishing venture began in 1994 with the launch of the Jack Kirby Collector, a fanzine dedicated to the work of the legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby, following his death. This initial success rapidly led to the expansion of their magazine line, which today includes several long-running and highly regarded titles. Key magazine publications include Alter Ego (focusing on Golden and Silver Age comics), Back Issue! (covering comics from the 1970s onward), Comic Book Creator (celebrating creators), and RetroFan (exploring general retro pop culture). In a unique diversification, they also publish BrickJournal, a magazine catering to LEGO enthusiasts.
Beyond their magazine lineup, TwoMorrows has a prolific output of trade paperbacks and hardcovers that further cement their role as preservers of comics history. Noteworthy book series include the comprehensive American Comic Book Chronicles, which provides a detailed, decade-by-decade history of the medium, and the Modern Masters series, which focuses on the careers of contemporary comic book artists. They also publish “Companion” books on specific publishers or characters and “How-To” books for aspiring creators. Despite being a small operation, relying on numerous freelance editors and contributors, TwoMorrows remains a premier source for fans and researchers seeking high-quality, specialized material on comics and pop culture history.
Edition number 1 released in June 2018 featured an article on the Phantom in Hollywood, an interview with Lou Ferringo, Star Trek’s cartoon, Mego’s rare elastic Hulk figure, a featured Andy Griffith collection and more. Each magazine explores all reams of 1960’s through the 1980’s TV and pop culture.
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