Top Shelf: SFX

Sometimes you read a great magazine so regularly that you begin to take its high standards for granted - only occasionally sharing the love when it interviews your favourite author.

But this month SFX shattered that complacency with a blockbuster issue featuring not only an overview of the 15 year build-up to the latest cinematic entry into the Indiana Jones franchise and known facts and rumours about Indiana Jones IV, but also a cool feature on old movie serials like Flash Gordon, King Of The Rocket Men, The Batman, Superman etc, a round-up of Jim Henson films and TV, and an extensive article on the latest Dr Who spin-off, Sarah Jane Adventures.

Other magazines have come along in recent months attempting to challenge SFX's position as the definitive, "go to" title for a pretty comprehensive round-up of everything you want to know about the latest geeky media - from comics and books to films, toys and TV. While these young upstarts might still be limping along, they don't seem to be a serious threat to SFX.

Although I've only subscribed to SFX for the last couple of years, I've been a loyal reader since that first Tank Girl-covered issue caught my eye in 1995 with its cheeky partial covering of the bottom of the 'F' in the title... so you thought it said: "sex".

While I'm at that stage in life where I'm losing interest in the more generic film magazines, SFX is a focused magazine I've grown to trust. While I don't always agree with the opinions of its writers and reviewers, I value them and respect their pedigree and will continue to read this magazine until I'm an old, grey geek.

In related news, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (Volume 1) has just become available for preorder in America at Amazon.com. It's a 12-disc set with an RRP of about $130 ($75.59 on Amazon), featuring seven feature-length episodes, 38 documentaries and various other extras (such as a historical overview of the series).

Volume 2 is due out in December and Volume 3 in Spring next year. No word yet as to when these will be available in the UK - but at least one volume will probably find its way onto my Christmas list!