Friday the 13th Part III is arguably the most pivotal sequel in the entire franchise. It’s the film that gave us the version of Jason Voorhees most people picture whenever they hear his name. Had Friday the 13th Part III not been shot in 3D—a format that was making a comeback at the time of production—3D special effects supervisor Martin Jay Sadoff may not have been working on set, and the Detroit Red Wings goalie mask he had on hand that inspired Jason’s now-iconic look would never have happened.
But Friday the 13th Part III is also the start of a long relationship between FANGORIA and the franchise, in more ways than one. If you’ve ever played a round of horror movie trivia, chances are you already know that Debbie (Tracie Savage) is reading an issue of FANGORIA magazine when drops of blood drip from the ceiling above her, staining the pages of the article “Twenty-five Years of Godzilla.” The mutilated corpse of her boyfriend, Andy (Jeffrey Rogers), is the source of the blood, and before Debbie can fully process what she’s seeing, Jason thrusts a large knife through the bottom of the hammock she was relaxing in, impaling her through the chest.
Debbie’s death is reminiscent of the way Jack (Kevin Bacon) goes out in the very first Friday the 13th film, with special effects famously crafted by the legendary Tom Savini. Before Debbie flips to the article about Godzilla, she skims an article titled “Tom Savini: New Master of Magical Makeup.” It’s a wonderfully meta moment, but today — the third Friday the 13th of 2026 — the connection between FANGORIA and Friday the 13th Part III is bloody kismet.
Hardcore horror trivia can (and will) point out that the articles Debbie reads are from FANGORIA Issue #1, with Godzilla on the cover, but the issue she holds when the camera films her face is FANGORIA Issue #13, with Dragonslayer on the cover. Coincidentally, that issue features an article about special effects artist Carl Fullerton and his work on Friday the 13th Part II, which canonically took place immediately before the events of Part III.
At the time of publication, FANGORIA Vol. 2 Issue #33 is out on newsstands, with Godzilla once again on the cover for Godzilla Minus Zero. As for the subscriber cover? Fango readers were dazzled with a gruesome kill from the Friday the 13th prequel series, Crystal Lake. Which means, on the third Friday the 13th of the year, FANGORIA magazine is unintentionally in complete alignment with our appearance in Friday the 13th Part III.
BUT WAIT! THE CONNECTIVITY DOESN’T STOP THERE!
When Debbie is choosing between which issues of FANGORIA to read, she holds them up to the camera, and we get a great look at the back cover. One issue boasts a beautiful ad for Fango’s sister publication, STARLOG. And in case you missed it, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of STARLOG, our sci-fi sibling has returned! So even the back of the Fango featured in Friday the 13th Part III, released in 1982, is concurrent with the Fango of today. BUT WAIT! THERE’S EVEN MORE!
Friday the 13th Part III is also home to one of the franchise's most famous behind-the-scenes photos: Richard Brooker reading “The Bloody Best of FANGORIA,” while covered in Jason Voorhees under-the-mask prosthetics (that's the image at the very top). The cover features images of Tom Savini applying makeup, as well as the rotted head of Pamela Voorhees on the shrine from Friday the 13th Part II. The image has inspired countless other monsters, creatures, and slashers on set to do the same… including two separate Jason Voorhees actors on the set of Crystal Lake.
So celebrate the third Friday the 13th however you can. It won’t happen again until 2037. Maybe even with us? Fire up Friday the 13th Part III, or if you have a participating Regal Cinemas near you, FANGORIA Staff Picks brings Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives back to theaters at Regal. Grab your popcorn, say your prayers, and prepare for a little Camp Crystal Lake carnage. Don't miss your chance to see Jason on the big screen in 2026. Tickets are available by clicking here, and don't forget to snag your exclusive Staff Picks patch!
