Michael Myers has come home so many times, there’s a key under the mat for him.

In 2000 Chaos Comics continued to delve into the franchise with the first of three holiday offerings simply titled Halloween. By this time seven movies had graced the silver screen. Another three would follow including a remake and sequel by Rob Zombie.

Currently a 2018 follow up to the original 1978 movie is garnering rave reviews in theaters.

Halloween began as a cheap slasher as envisioned by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. Carpenter would also direct and score the film. Hill co-produced. By the end of its original run Halloween had grossed $47 million at home with another $23 million raked in internationally for a total of $70 million – or, $277 million by 2018 standards – on a $300,000 investment.

In addition, Halloween launched Jamie Lee Curtis’ career.

In Chaos’ installment, written by Phillip Nutman and penciled by David Brewer, Myers is given a deeper back story. Halloween (the comic book) begins with Tommy Doyle’s, played by Paul Rudd in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Meyers (1995), attempt to chronicle Myers’ hacking exploits in a true-crime novel.

Doyle is granted access to Samuel Loomis’ original notes that began in November of 1963. The writings reveal the tortured path both traveled as Loomis tried to cure his patient. The book culminates with another cliff hanger as Myers makes a horror franchise escape from death.

In keeping with the era, Chaos offered four variant covers including the iconic movie poster as a premium glow in the dark edition.

Halloween (2000) 1

Halloween (2000) 1 Mega Chromium Edition

Halloween (2000) 1 Fandom.com Edition

Halloween (2000) 1 Glow in the Dark Edition

 

 

A one-shot of mistaken identity, revenge and redemption in a short 33 pages.

Everybody loves Halloween. Well, almost everybody. For instance, not Spider-Man. Spider-Man and semi-sober friends caring for their very drunk friends.

An amusing story as told by Bill Hader and Seth Meyers. Yes, that Seth Meyers: comedian, writer, political commentator, actor and TV host.

And, yes, that Bill Hader. Both are Saturday Night Alumni.

Kevin Maguire handled penciling chores. Yes, that Kevin Maguire. His resume is too long to list here, but, trust me, if you aren’t familiar with the artist, take time to get acquainted.

Anyway, back to the story already in progress…

In New York City it’s hard to swing a dead cat without hitting a super hero. Or villain. Halloween multiplies the meta population as the citizens emulate favorites. Normally not a problem, but this Halloween eve is plagued by at least one too many Spider-Men.

Rather than give too much away, go pick up a copy and enjoy some holiday hijinks Spidey style.

Spider-Man: The Short Halloween one-shot (2009)

Spider-Man: The Short Halloween hardcover (2009)

Dust off some vintage Ben Cooper plastic or custom create a four-color favorite, Halloween ComicFest 2018 is heading to local comic book retailers Oct. 27.

The perennial event, in its seventh year, features the lure of free comic books and costume contests. Various publishers have provided a sampling of wares in both full-size and mini comic books.

One of this year’s offerings is from Archie Comics: Jughead the Hunger.

The title first grew fangs in a one shot in March of 2017. Response was positive enough that it became an ongoing series the following October, the first to bear the Archie Horror imprint. The Hunger is the third in line of Archie Comic’s monster mash-ups featuring beloved characters behind Afterlife with Archie and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, respectively.

The Hunger unleashes lycanthropy in Riverdale in exponential fashion. Meek and mild Betty Cooper’s follows her birthright as a werewolf hunter. Archie is enlisted.

All you need to know to dive into a darker side of white bread America.

DC Comic’s latest tome of terror compliments the undressing trees, bite in the air and darkness that descends earlier.

The Swamp Thing Halloween Horror features 100 pages of retold Halloween stories culled from previous specials and stand-alone ongoing series. Mostly. The first story is an original from scribe Brian Azzarello and penciler Greg Capullo entitled “Hollow.” This Halloween there are more to fear than just snakes and alligators.

Dan Didio’s “The Pumpkin Sinister” is the first of three stories lifted from The DC Infinite Halloween Special (2007).  Blue Devil and Enchantress become honorary members of the Peanut’s gang in the homage to Linus’ obsession with the Great Pumpkin.

The second of the lifts from the 2007 special is “Taert Ro Kcirt.” Paul Dini turns more than the letters around with Zatana. A happy Halloween is spoiled for trick or treaters causing the mistress of magic to reverse roles.

“Strange Cargo” is the final retread from 2007. Poison Ivy spins a yarn of Superman v. Zombies.

“The Ballad of Jonathan Crane” is a reboot of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with the Scarecrow playing himself – or, his alter ego. This one was pulled from the DC Halloween Special (2008).

Aquaman and Etrigan the Demon form an unlikely alliance in “Night Gods.” Together they tackle a Cthulhu clone and his army of darkness called forth from those claimed by the sea throughout the millennia. The story originally appeared in The Brave and the Bold (2007).

Batman (1940) 237 is an October favorite appearing in other specials. In the late 1960s and early 1970s Rutherford, VT, was a destination for comic book creators and fans during Halloween. Eventually the annual parade became peppered with floats and costumes representing both Marvel and DC’s stable of colorful heroes and villains. “Night of the Reaper” immortalizes some of the magic as a backdrop for murder and the Holocaust remembered.

Finally, Swamp Thing returns in this reprint from House of Secrets 92 featuring his muck-covered origin.

The special is an exclusive offered through Wal-Mart as part of the department store’s team up with DC.

October already and time to think about Halloween. Kicking off the month is an animal of another color – even if the pastel panther is a shade more associated with spring  –  in his 2016 one-shot done in four parts.

“Pink Halloween” has PP crashing a party with the Universal classics.

“Scared Pink” is the second feature, and only other original story in the issue. PP shares a communal scare with strangers at the local theater during a zombie flick.

“Pink Chemistry” is a retread from Pink Panther issue 51 (1978) which was later reprinted in volume two in 1994. PP narrowly escapes a mad scientist bent on creating a world of chickens to satisfy his poultry cravings.

“The Pink Past” is another twice-told tale that originally saw print in Pink Panther 49 in 1978 and was trotted out again in 1993. A mishap at the patent office sends Pinkie traveling through time.

You can almost hear the Henry Mancini theme playing in the background as you read these.

Pink or Treat (cover 1)

Pink or Treat (cover 2)

Pink or Treat (cover 3)

Pink or Treat (cover 4)

To our USA readers, have a happy 4th of July holiday!

Known for reprints of their popular characters, Marvel mined the 1970s Ghost Rider stories for Original Ghost Rider. The title only traveled 20 issues before the gas tank ran dry, but did make a pit stop in issue 19 for “Silent Night…Deadly Night.”

While not from a Ghost Rider book, the holiday fare still showcased Johnny Blaze, alongside Ben Grimm, in the Thing’s Marvel Two-in-One imprint.

Four Color Holidays has glossed over the book in an earlier post, but, like Marvel, we’ll retread familiar ground.

The story takes place Christmas Eve 1974. The Fantastic Four are entertaining Namorita, Wundarr and Medusa with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Mr. Fantastic has absented himself to his lab monitoring a stellar disturbance over Arizona. Ben Grimm volunteers to physically investigate so Reed can spend time with friends and family.

Ghost Rider has noticed the disturbance and opts to investigate himself.

To meet the Two-In-One title requirements, Ben and Ghost Rider join forces to battle lesser Marvel villain Miracle Man. Using his matter manipulation skills, Miracle Man has chosen to recreate the Immaculate Conception.

As stated in the previous review, the story borders on absurdity, which is almost typical of the 1970s Marvel era.

Flash forward to the early ‘90s and comic books have become self-inflated parodies of themselves again. Characters like Ghost Rider have been resurrected and their books are selling like hotcakes in the new speculator market. Multiple copies flew off spin racks and shelves, especially when other hot characters guest stared. By issue 15 Marvel had slapped together a special glow-in-the-dark cover.

The public had tired of the character after 93 issues and he was retired to guest appearances in other books.

Still, he will always be immortalized in the 1974 Marvel version of the second coming.

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special qualifies as a Christmas comic in name, cover and framing story only.

Loosely based on the Hellraiser franchise that spawned nine films, the Marvel vision featured an anthology of stories and characters. The series ran 20 issues, several one shots and four mini-series.

The holiday special consists of three vignettes bordering a soup kitchen massacre. Three Cenobites have been dispatched to restore order to the chaos of carnage.

The three short stories include “Child’s Play,” “Sheddim” (Hebrew for demon or spirit) and “Nursery Crime.” Each of the tales are triggered by a totem found at the shelter. The first is a cheap puzzle box stamped “Made in Taiwan” designed after the Lemarchand Configuration fans are familiar with that signals players are ready for pleasure.

That’s followed by a new take on the old Golam legend in pre-war America.

Nursery Crime is a beautifully painted short of a children’s tale thought to bring fame, but instead pulls the reader into the story itself.

Boom! Studios took over publishing rights in 2011 with Clive Barker’s graphic novel imprint Seraphim Inc. assuming the title in 2017.

Baby, it’s cold outside. Cold enough to freeze the webbing in your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’s web-shooters. Still, it’s two days before Christmas – in New York City – whatta ya expect?

This exothermic process will cause our hero problems later, but is foreshadowed several times before the big brouhaha.

As stated above, it’s just days before Christmas and Peter Parker is cash poor. Though gifted with the strength and agility of his name-sake, Peter just can’t catch a break. Crime is on the downside and he needs $99 for Aunt May’s Christmas gift.

No amount of web swinging bears fruit. He does mistake two well-meaning Santas for the Santa burglar. Spidey even assaults a father dressed as Saint Nick trying to impress his children.

The hapless hero finally seems to make good when he not only defeats the Chameleon – surprise villain – but is able to document the fight in photos. True to Parker luck there’s no one to pay him for his photos and Peter is back to square one.

He finally realizes it’s not the dollar amount attached to the gift, but the heart strings. In a Christmas miracle even JJJ comes through.

Marvel Adventures is an all-ages imprint formally published under Marvel Age. The stories are one-and-done rather than multi-issue arcs. The imprint ran from 2005 to 2010 when it was rebooted as Marvel Adventures Spider-Man and Marvel Adventures Super Heroes. Each ended in 2012 to be retitled Ultimate Spider-Man and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Super Heroes Adventures to dovetail with Disney XDs cartoon block.