One of the many things that eats away at you as you get older is the nagging and, at times, overwhelming idea that the world used to be much simpler. While it almost certainly isn’t true, the daily grind and seemingly never-ending list of responsibilities that consume every waking hour sure make it seem like everything was much easier, and way more fun, when you were young. And Retrofan, the magazine that’s dedicated to, and celebrates, the fads, fashions and geek culture of yesteryear feeds, reinforces and gives credence to the notion that everything used to be much better than it is now.

Look, I know that nostalgia can be a powerful and incredibly selective amnesiac and that it has a tendency to rose tint all that it touches, but it can also bring the past back to life and allow you to wallow in, and enjoy, memories that you’d thought were long forgotten and lost forever.  That’s exactly what, thanks to its all-knowing and always on point dedicated team of writers, Retrofan does.

It’s written by fans for fans and drags everything that made being young in the sixties, seventies and eighties so much fun back into the spotlight and leaves all of the baggage, misery and bad stuff behind. Retrofan absolutely encourages you to slip on your retro-tastic rose tinted shades and that’s one of the main reasons why it’s so much fun and such a pleasure to read.

This time around, Retrofan and its dedicated staff of unapologetic geeks and uber-fans deliver a virtual cornucopia of articles that solemnize and explore the minutia and history of the Americana that I, and a couple of generations before and after me, grew up adoring.  Which means that this issue is packed full of engaging, interesting, endearing and brilliantly written articles about MAD Magazine, The Flintstones, Mars Attacks, ElectraWoman and DynaGirl, Six Million Dollar Man Collectables, Honey West, the home of Popeye and much, much more.

I’ve said it before and I know that I’m almost certainly going to say it again, Retrofan is just about the only periodical that, as soon as it arrives, I fervently read from cover to cover. Why? Because it’s probably my favourite magazine in the world, that’s why. And if that doesn’t tell you just how good it is, then I don’t know what else to say. Miss it at your peril… Tim Cundle