Only four days to the big day. Or, maybe the big meal is more appropriate. Here’s another lead in to the holiday most celebrated with food, Thanksgiving. It’s the last rest we’ll have before the shopping season and Christmas are past.

Dig in.

Garfield’s celebrity leads to a bad case of jealousy for a neighborhood cat in The Cat With No Name. Copying the fat cat’s mannerisms only gets the no-name tabby into more trouble than he can handle. All for naught.

Thanksgiving hits the Tryptophan as a dream sequence makes Garfield the unwanted guest of honor.

Thanksgiving Daze takes full advantage of our after-meal drowsiness. In For Garfield it’s a nightmare he’s fully aware of, or is he? Only writer Mark Evanier knows for sure.

The Great American Smokeout is held the third Thursday in November each year to encourage smokers to quit their habit.

Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Smokeout is a 24-hour marathon of non-puffing. According to studies those who go 20 minutes without smoking see a decrease in their heartrate and blood pressure. After 12 hours, the body begins to cleanse the carbon monoxide from the last cigarette ingested. After one day, the risk of heart attack decreases along with heart disease and stroke.

Those holding out for two days experience a more profound sense of taste and smell. By day three, nicotine is leaving the body and withdrawal may occur. Symptoms may include nicotine cravings, anxiety, irritability, depression and weight gain.

To observe, of course, don’t smoke for the 24-hour period.

The first Great American Smokeout was held Nov. 16, 1977, in San Francisco’s Union Square.

To learn about the evils of smoking, watch Superman take on the villain responsible for the death of over 400,000 people each year. According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking. For every smoker-related death, 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness.

Approximately seven-million people die from smoking each year worldwide.

The cover is the only thing with a Thanksgiving theme as Alf roasts the network that spurned him.

ALF, or Alien Life Form, aired on NBC from Sept. 22, 1986 to March 34, 1990. By the time the cover-dated April, 1991, Alf 40; issue hit specialty shops and newsstands, the network had already cancelled the series.

Marvel would keep the title going for another 10 issues before ending Alf at number 50.

Alf (1988) 40

While primed with a holiday cover – of sorts – already, the book could also fall into St. Paddy’s day category with Leprechaun Job as the first story.

The Tanner’s Uncle Seamus comes to visit, giving ALF visions of a pot of gold in his dreams. Whether a waking dream or real life, ALF is unable to restrain Seamus and secure his possible fortune.

ALF is left with a parting gift that only causes the Tanners more trouble.

That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles is a Melmacian history lesson tempered with a dash of Zorro. The tale does little to lessen the ire of Lynn who finds her homemade treat has vanished.

ALF was the brainchild of Tom Patchett and puppeteer Paul Fusco. The four seasons produced 99 episodes including three one-hour episodes, one of which was ALF’s Christmas Special.

A sequel to the final episode entitled Project: ALF (aka Project: ALF, Part 2) aired in 1996 as a made-for-television science fiction film. Though NBC was the home of ALF during its initial run, ABC hosted the furry cat lover in the United States and the CHCH-TV in Canada on February 17.

Only puppeteer Fusco and Beverly Archer appeared from the original series. With the Tanners absent, viewership was down.

When NBC took ALF off the air, it did so with a cliff-hanging:  To Be Continued on the screen. Initially NBC had promised an extra episode to tie up loose threads, but decided against a 100^th show. Viewers were left with ALF under a Melmacian spaceship as the series faded from television.

By the end of the second-part of Consider Me Gone, ALF has been awarded ambassadorship to Earth, giving the series the closure denied it originally.

Penciler Fred Ray must have seen the storm clouds on the horizon with his prophetic cover for Superman 12. Within six months the United States would be part of the global conflict now known as World War II.

The nameless sailor and soldier share the cover with Superman, but it’s those in the flanking uniforms who will are honored today, Veterans Day.

Being the title character, Superman, in his alter ego as Clark Kent, opens the book on vacation. He and Lois Lane are on a cruise ship when they meet Nan Wilson who has inherited an island. Intrigue follows when it is discovered the island is being used as secret submarine base by hostiles.

Superman (1939) 12

In the second story, Clark Kent’s article on deaths that appear to be suicides are proved wrong when Superman takes over in the Suicide Murders.

Another propaganda story in The Grotak Bund has Superman saving America from sinister foreign powers. In this story, The Grotak Bund is working to hinder the American defense system by sabotaging factories.

Safe Job gives Superman a breather with a simple detective story. The hero discovers a robbery at the Chalmers Real Estate Company was an inside job.

Lex Luthor brings the book to a close in The Beasts of Luthor, 13 pages of science-fiction inspired artificial animal husbandry. Lois and Clark team for a story on a scientist from the island of Baracoda where giant animals are manufactured. It becomes known its all part of a plot using the animals to conquer the world.

Originally known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day is observed annually on Nov. 11 to honor military veterans. It is held on Nov. 11 in part to remember the close of World War I that ended at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918.

It was named Veterans Day in 1954.

Superman was excused from the second world war under the excuse he was powerless against magic which could be wielded against him in Europe.

In reality, he didn’t exist and if he had, would have been able to stop the fighting in one day. It was also decided he would not be featured in either of the theaters so as not to take away from the real men fighting and giving up their lives.

Yet, America’s greatest (fictional) hero has long been featured with and honoring the real heroes.

Though on sale Nov. 19, 1946, the cover of Comics Cavalcade issue 18 is the only reference to Thanksgiving.

Wonder Woman and Octavia of Venturia are kidnapped by the power-mad Manilus in the opening story, The Menace of the Rebel Manlings.

Manilus, a former lab assistant, has been dosed with Vitamin Z gas. The resulting effect was an enlargement of his brain. Apparently, an enlarged brain causes delusions of grandeur and the wish for world domination.

Comics Cavalcade 18

The full story has been reprinted in Wonder Woman:  The Golden Age Omnibus volume three.

The Galloping Greenbacks is a Flash vehicle, co-starring Winky Moylan, Blinky Boylan and Noddy Toylan.

Uncle Josh was afraid of money. When short, the old guy would go into a trance and wake up flush with cash. Of course, that led to paranoia and a fear of being sent to jail should his gain be illegal. Signal the Flash and the end to a mystery.

Green Lantern is the final headliner in The Meaning of “D.”

A wealthy man is convinced he owns everything, but must steal something beginning with the letter “D,” to save his wife. It’s up to Green Lantern and Doiby Dickles to foil the phony fortune teller.

The book is rounded out by six Mutt & Jeff one-page gags, features and Hop Harrigan in Seek and Hide! Or The Airmail Trail. Harrigan is the creation of Jon Blummer. He was one of the busiest characters of the Golden Age appearing in All-American Publications, radio serials and film serials.

Comic Cavalcade was published from 1942 to 1954.

The anthology series featured Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Flash as the heavy hitters with filler stories sprinkled between. Comic Cavalcade moved from the form fitting figures of the mystery men to funny animal stories in 1948 when super heroes fell out of favor.

To entertain your guests, or host, here are a few Turkey Day facts: approximately 45 million turkeys are sold for Thanksgiving annually. That’s over 18-percent of the total turkey population raised each year.

California consumes the most fowls with 675-million pounds on the day.

The total calorie intake for a common Thanksgiving meal is 2,500. The average recommended calorie intake for one day is between 1,600 and 2,400.

A chunk of that may be from desserts eaten. Apple is the favorite, unless from the south where pecan takes top billing. On average, 18.9-million pies are purchased for Thanksgiving.

October ended in a gluttony of a sugar-saturated reign of cosplay. There will be more sweets ahead as ovens bake a mixture of apples and pumpkins surrounded by dough and confectionary goodness. But, there’s still a day set aside specifically for the dieter’s downfall: National Candy Day.

Short of finding someone twirling a pole, we’re calling on Wonder Woman’s Golden Age sidekick Candy. Etta Candy.

Sensation Comics (1942) 2

Miss Candy debuted in the pages of Sensation Comics issue two during the winter of 1942. The baby daddies were William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter.

Candy was drawn more with a compass than ruler. Marston gave her an oversized sweet tooth that led to an oversized waistline. She was also given a quick wit and sharp tongue as part of her sassy demeanor.

Candy’s father and mother were, get this, Hard Candy and Sugar Candy, respectively. They resided on the Bar-L Ranch in Brazos County, Texas. Brother Mint Candy served in the armed forces during World War II.

Etta became a sidekick of sorts. She and fellow sorority members at Holiday College teamed with the amazon throughout the Golden Age of comic books in various adventures.

With a new writer, Robert Kanigher, during the Silver Age, Etta’s page count dwindled. Not until the 1980s did she return as the weight-conscious whiner Kanigher created.

George Perez and Greg Potter were much kinder following the original DC Crisis. Etta became romantically involved with Steve Trevor, even marrying Wonder Woman’s former love interest.

With The New 52, Etta was relegated to a secretarial role that lasted through DC’s Rebirth. She was also given a makeover as an African-American.

At present the origins of National Candy Day are unknown. However, if you need an excuse for that guilty confectionary pleasure, use Nov. 4 to indulge. This is a holiday for everyone.

Which, was not always the case. Until the industrial revolution, candy was a costly indulgence due to the price of sugar. Since 1979, the world as produced more sugar than it can sell.

Issue 23 not only marks the end of October, but the end of the annual Halloween specials from Fox’s first family.

The beginning of the end borrows from the King of horror with IT Happens! Homer, Marge, Carl, Lenny and Barney find a television favorite is haunting their waking dreams. They finally defeat their demon only to have him return in adulthood.

If this sounds familiar, IT should.

The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror (2017) 23

Stephan King’s IT began as a novel released in 1986. The 1,200-page tome is King’s 22^nd, and based on an idea planted in 1978. He wouldn’t put pen to paper until 1981.

IT became a two-part television mini-series in 1990 airing in November for sweeps month. ABC gambled $12 million on the project and earned huge returns. IT became the network’s biggest success of the year with 30-million viewers tuning in for the Losers’ Club’s exploits.

The novel was adapted for the big screen and released in 2017 and 2018 to mixed reviews.

Next up is Marge’s story in A Fungus Among Us. It’s up to the Simpson matriarch to save the family from an invasion from space.

Bringing the book to a close is Curse of the Cat Lady.

Comic Book Guy finds himself inheriting the traits of our four-legged friend due to a gypsy curse placed on him for his carelessness.

This story bears a passing resemblance to Sam and Ivan Rami’s 2009 horror thriller Drag Me to Hell. The film passed through theaters opening at number four. It also received the Best Horror Film nod at the 2009 Scream Awards and 2010 Saturn Awards. At the box office it earned a respectable $90 million.

With the final issue of the printed version of Treehouse of Horror in hand, it’s only appropriate to talk about the source material.

The televised Treehouse of Horror tradition began Oct. 25, 1990, during The Simpsons’ second season.

Since then, the airings have become anticipated events. Each episode is usually made up a three, separate parodies. The openings are unique in themselves, almost making up a fourth segment.

The only interruptions to the episodes were due to Fox Network’s coverage of the World Series. At least two of the episodes aired in November.

No matter when the episode airs, it is among the top-rated shows of the season. In addition to the fan support, several episodes have been honored with awards.

So, with our final scare released, find some left-over trick-or-treat candy and settle in with one of the 23 issues mentioned this month or find a classic Treehouse of Horrors to pop in and remember.

Happy Halloween.

Treating readers for the cover-dated Sept. 21, 2016, issue 22 The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror would be a trilogy of terrible titters beginning with the Ghost Bashers.

Homer and gang don the proton packs as they answer the call, skewering the supernatural comedy.

The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror (2016) 22

Ghostbusters became the blockbuster of 1984 courtesy of Ivan Reitman and Dan Akroyd. Co-starring with co-creator Akroyd were Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.

The film brought in $282.2 million during its initial release on a $25 to $30 million investment. In 2015, the movie was inducted into the National Film Registry.

Following its release and unexpected success, a plethora of merchandising followed as did a sequel, daily animated series and remake – of sorts.

Second up is the Ex-Files starring Lisa and Nelson. Though no longer a couple, the two team to expose some supernatural shenanigans at Springfield Elementary.

It may have taken some time, but the Simpsons’ crew finally got around to poking some fun at Chris Carter’s no nonsense sci-fi drama. The X-Files aired from 1993 to 2002 on the network the Simpsons’ helped build, airing 202 episodes.

Carter, an unapologetic fan of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, was initially denied, but persevered until a pilot was approved. It was viewed by 12 million people. By season’s end, the show had 14 million turning the dial to the show.

As the millennium began to close, The X-Files, or The X-Files: Fight the Future, debuted in theaters. A second feature film was later released, The X-Files: I Want to Believe.

The X-Files would return to the small screen for two seasons in 2015. The series continued for two seasons before calling it quits.

Finishing off the book is Retirement Castle of the Vampires!

Grandpa and his geriatric gang finally have a vehicle all their own. It may be a Model A, but there’s no rust on the bunch as they dust off the dentures and take a bite out of the jugular.

Like the Sears Wish Book of old would herald each year’s Christmas season, so did The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror. Both came in September, each promising the respective holiday would soon be there.

Opening with Graveyard Shift, Apu finds himself in director Joe Dante’s world of Gremlins. Too bad he didn’t heed the warning: No Squishees after midnight.

The 1984 horror comedy was a critical and commercial success. Gremlins raked in $12.5 million in its first weekend, second only to the original Ghostbusters. By November 29 of the same year, Gremlins had earned $148,168,459 in the United States alone.

All on an $11 million investment.

It spawned a sequel in 1990 with Gremlins 2: The New Batch. It was not as well received as its inspiration, but does have its fans.

The Left Behinders is a cleverly penned story title giving readers a clue as to Ned Flanders nightmare. Homer’s nosy neighbor believes he has been ignored at the Rapture. He later finds he’s not the only one to share a common trait among those remaining.

Ian Boothby and James Lloyd’s tragic narrative may be based on Stephen King’s The Langoliers, a novella collected in the 1990 compilation Four Past Midnight.

Finally, Springfieldopolis spoofs Fritz Lang’s expressionist science-fiction drama made in 1927. Marge is the symbol of the downtrodden mirrored against Mr. Burns’ greed.

Metropolis is often cited as one of the most influential films ever made. It took 17 months to make and cost $5 million Reichsmarks, one of the most expensive movies made to that point. It was originally budgeted at $1.5 million Reichsmarks.

When finished, Metropolis was an exhausting 153 minutes. It would later be edited to 128 minutes and, finally, 91 minutes by its American debut.

Initially, the movie met with mixed reviews. It would take hindsight and patience to appreciate the film.

Lining up for the 20^th issue of The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror are the shambling mob of dead returning for nibble on the brain – or maybe another succulent body part.

Headlining is Zombienado followed by The Walking Ned, Dusk of No-Brainers and Power Plants vs. Zombies.

Zombienado is, of course, a Matt Groening cover of 2013 low-budget Syfy disaster Sharknado.

The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror (2014) 20

The Asylum’s made-for-cable-television movie became an instant cult classic thanks to semi-celebrities and social media. The film premiered with a viewing audience of 1.37 million, actually a bit low for a Syfy original. A tornado of tweets led Syfy to repeat the film a week later. This time it was watched by 1.89 million viewers. It aired a third time garnering 2.1 million viewers, a record for the most-watched, original film encore on Syfy.

The success of Sharknado spawned six sequels.

Walking Ned is a parody of cable’s uber popular zombie series, The Walking Dead.

Robert Kirkman never envisioned the merchandising empire he would unleash when the first issue of The Walking Dead premiered in comic book shops in 2003. Neither did publisher Image Comics who only printed 7,200 copies.

Interest was immediate and by the 14^th issue, orders were hitting 15,000 and still climbing.

In 2010, AMC viewers woke with sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes to discover the world had turned upside down. For 11 seasons fans have fought zombies, profiters and anyone who threatened life and limb to survive in the post-apocalyptic world.

Dawn of the Dead is played for laughs in Dusk of No-Brainers as the residents of Springfield scramble to the mall for safe haven.

Neither of the Dawn of the Dead films were played for laughs. George A. Romero’s second entry was a social commentary. He would go on to create six zombie horror films.

The 2004 remake was as fierce as the first allowing for a more jaded public and upgraded make up and practical effects. Rather than making a social comment, director Zack Snyder and writer James Gunn aimed for a body count.

Homer’s carelessness brings about the end of Springfield in Power Plants vs. Zombies, a play on Plants vs. Zombies.

Plants vs. Zombies is the PopCap Games May 5, 2009 release for Windows and OS X. It has since been ported to consoles, handhelds and mobile devices.

Within a year, Plants vs. Zombies had sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It’s first nine days available as an app, the game garnered over $1 million.

Zombies themselves have been a cash cow for pretty much every medium available. They began as a Haitian Creole legend and have blossomed into an entertainment industry all their own.