Tag Archives: halloween

10 Spooky Comics for this Halloween

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If you, like the rest of the internet, have been celebrating Halloween since before Labor Day, or have gotten swept up in the pumpkin spice frenzy, or are riding the high of those spooky seasonal vibes, hey. You’re not alone.

Though this year has been widely deemed a dumpster fire, 2017 has provided some excellent seasonal reads for readers who like their comics with a side of horror and mystery. Here are ten comics perfect for setting the Halloween mood.

babyteeth-01-cvrBabyteeth
Donny Cates, Garry Brown, and Mark Englert (AfterShock Comics)

Being a teenager can feel like hell. For pregnant sixteen year old Sadie, it might literally be hell. The first volume explores the strength of familial relationships, navigating the world as a teen mom, and how to deal when a powerful underground group of assassins tries to kill your baby, who is the antichrist.

Goldie Vance
Hope Larson, Jackie Ball, Brittney Williams, Noah Hayes (BOOM! Studios)

Goldie Vance is a teenage detective story appropriate for all ages. Join Goldie as she takes on the mysteries at the Florida resort where she and her dad work. The series is no longer published as single issues and will instead be published in the future in a series of graphic novels, and each arc is an excellent jumping-on point for the series.

Goosebumps_01_CoverA copyGoosebumps: Monsters at Midnight
Jeremy Lambert and Chris Fenoglio (IDW Publishing)

Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight was released by IDW earlier this month. While it’s definitely geared toward a younger demographic, the first issue is full of references to the original books and stays true to their voice.

HellraiserOmnibus_v1_SC_PRESS_1Hellraiser Omnibus Volume 1
Clive Barker, Tom Garcia, various (BOOM! Studios)

The Hellraiser Omnibus isn’t for the squeamish. The book collects issues 1-20 of Clive Barker’s 2011-2012 Hellraiser series, as well as Hellraiser Annual #1. As part of Hellraiser canon, the comic explores the fate of Kirsty Cotton and the Cenobite realm–and changes them forever.

Infernoct-1InferNoct
Mina Elwell, Eli Powell, and Tristan Elwell (Scout Comics)

The first issue of this Lovecraft-inspired horror comic from Scout Comics was released earlier this month. The story follows Sam, who is trying to save her town (and the people in it) from vicious monster attacks while keeping her grip on sanity.

insexts-3Insexts
Marguerite Bennett, Ariela Kristantina, and Jessica Kholine (AfterShock Comics)

The second collected volume of Insexts will be released in late November, but this comic is well worth reading. The first volume followed Lady Bertram and her lover Mariah as they come to grips with their insect powers and go up against the monsters terrorizing Victorian England. The second volume deals with the aftermath in the same beautiful, erotic, and horrific style as the first volume.

Nancy-Hardy-001-Cov-A-DaltonNancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie
Anthony Del Col, Werther Dell’Edera (Dynamite Entertainment)

Fans of the original series or previous Drew-Hardy team-ups will likely appreciate this series, which brings the gang back together to figure out who killed Fenton Hardy. This is something of a dark departure from the original series (which never featured murder) but is an interesting update appropriate for teens and adults alike.

Monstress01_CoverMonstress
Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Image Comics)

Though Monstress is currently on hiatus, this comic remains one of the most visually and narratively interesting comics published this year. The second volume, released in July, develops each character as they process the consequences of the Monstrum living inside main character Maika.

anc_lit-my_favorite_thing_is_monsters-900My Favorite Thing is Monsters
Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)

My Favorite Thing is Monsters is a gorgeous book with an incredible amount of narrative depth. Though the fact that the main character, Karen Reyes, believes herself a monster makes this read Halloween-appropriate, readers will likely find plenty to relate to in Karen’s interests and search for identity.

My-Pretty-Vampire-coverMy Pretty Vampire
Katie Skelly (Fantagraphics)

Katie Skelly’s My Pretty Vampire combines comics with vintage horror in a gorgeous and compelling color palette. The book follows vampire Clover, who escapes from an oppressive ruled by her brother. Clover’s newfound freedom leads her on a town-wide murder spree, with a shadowy organization not far behind.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz Rocks it as America Chavez

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Stephanie Beatriz‏ has rocked her Halloween costume dressing up as Marvel comic character America Chavez.

Beatriz has said in the past how she’d love to bring the character to life in a live action film and have America comic writer Gabby Rivera pen the script.

Entertainment Earth Spotlight: Save up to 60% on Select Costumes and Accessories!

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For one week only, get up to 60% off select in-stock Halloween costumes and accessories at Entertainment Earth! Trick-or-Treat in style with highly detailed disguises like the Beetlejuice Deluxe Adult Latex Mask with Hair, the Flash TV Series Deluxe Costume, and the Michael Jackson Military Printed Jacket. These items are sure to go fast, so don’t wait – buy now and save!

save-up-to-60-on-select-costumes-and-accessories

 

 

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Review: Grimm Fairy Tales Halloween Special 2014

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gfthFairy tales and horror go hand in hand. One of the main reasons that fairy tales were created was to create a system of scaring children into behaving properly by teaching some aspect of morality. In case they didn’t they would face against supernatural forces that would devour them for their small or big transgressions. Though they are not often linked, Halloween and fairy tales therefore have a fair amount in common, and so the connection between the franchise of Grimm Fairy Tales and Halloween would seem to be a natural one. Over the past six years Zenescope has put out a Halloween special every year and although these have been of mixed quality, the spooky horror aspect has been a common link between them, even if the actual scares were more light-hearted or just resorted to gore as a last resort. That being the case, this is the first of the series which somewhat abandons that concept for something else.

It is interesting to look upon the Grimm Fairy Tales stories as a representation of the direction of the company itself. The series started off with a fairly strong concept, but then transformed into something different as the stories behind the stories were told, as darker forces were made apparent that were pulling the strings. Heroes were added and the original stories were all but forgotten as a shared universe was sought after, incorporating among other things Greek legends and the fantastical worlds of Wonderland, Oz and Neverland. While along the way a lot of interesting work has been created, the main series has gone off track, getting too caught up in its own characters, and straying too far from the concept that made it popular to begin with. While there are evidently still a lot of fans of the series, it is nonetheless not what fans of the original run were familiar with.

I read the main series for a while, and found the first few years of issues to be pretty engaging, but as more of the shared universe creeped in, I left it behind. I still have enough of an interest to check out some of the specials though, but the newest special left me feeling somewhat disappointed. The specials have generally followed a template of introducing shorter stories, numerous of which can be told in one book, and the mechanic for telling these stories in the past has been clever enough.  In this year’s edition, this mechanic is more about exposure for newly-introduced characters which I am unfamiliar with and who are equally not engaging. The resulting focus on these characters and not the horror makes this issue fall somewhat flat.  There is very little actual horror here at all, only looking at some of the nightmares of the characters in passing. It is not even really clear who the protagonist of this is either.  The end result is an issue which loses any chance it had at success before it began.

Story: Dan Wickline Art: Butch Mapa
Story: 3.0 Art: 5.0 Overall: 3.25 Recommendation: Pass

Zenescope provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Around the Tubes

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The usual update is late today due to me having a social life (yay!), but here’s the news you might have missed this weekend.

Around the Blogs:

San Diego Jewish World – Once an escape from texts, comics are prompting more of them – Comics are more than just entertainment!

Examiner – Medical Comics are the basis for future learning – Great to see this, but how bout giving these away instead?

Bleeding Cool – Hallowe’en Free Comic Book Day – Great idea.

Bleeding Cool – Walking Dead #100 To Sell Over 300,000. The Best Selling Comic Of The Year? – Great to see other media translating into comic book sales.

Comics Alliance – Hero Initiative Donations Prompted By ‘The Avengers’ Movie Total Just $5000 – Lots of talk lead to little action.

Robot  6 – Stan Lee settles POW! Entertainment legal feud – Good news I guess?

 

Around the Tubes Reviews:

CBR – American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #1

Seattle Pi – The Art of War

Ely Standard – Avenging Spider-Man: My Friends Can Beat Up Your Friends

Talking Comics – Batman #10

Ely Standard – Battle Scars

CBR – Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1

Battle Hymns – De:Tales

ICv2 – Earthling!

High Desert Daily – House Of Night

Bleeding Cool – League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 2009

Bleeding Cool – The Massive #1

Talking Comics – The Massive #1

CBR – The Massive #1

The Herts Advertisers – Thor: The Deviants Saga

Bleeding Cool – The Walking Dead #99

Shout! Factory unveils new home entertainment series Scream Factory

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SHOUT! FACTORY UNVEILS NEW HOME ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCT LINE  SCREAM FACTORY ™ BEGINNING FALL 2012

Brand Launches With a Powerful Slate of Fan-Favorite Horror & Sci-Fi Cult Films Including Halloween II, Halloween III, Terror Train, They Live, The Funhouse, Deadly Blessing, Phantasm II, The Island and Death Valley

Further underscoring its position as a leading curator and home entertainment provider of many memorable cult movie classics, Shout! Factory is proud to announce the launch of SCREAM FACTORY™, a new home entertainment series created to celebrate some of the most enthralling horror and sci-fi films with massive cult followings in cinematic history.

Debuting this September, SCREAM FACTORY™ boasts a scary slate of fan-favorite thrillers from the 1980s, many of which have never been available on Blu-ray™ before. Titles include Halloween II and TERROR TRAIN, (both starring “Scream Queen” Jamie Lee Curtis); the 30th Anniversary release of Halloween III: Season of the Witch; They Live from director John Carpenter (The Thing); Peter Benchley’s THE ISLAND starring Michael Caine,The Funhouse from director Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist); the nightmarish Phantasm II; and the much-anticipated DVD debuts of DEADLY BLESSING, directed by Wes Craven (Scream) and featuring Sharon Stone in an early role, and DEATH VALLEY starring Peter Billingsley (A Christmas Story). Each title will be presented in anamorphic widescreen, and most will be released in a “Collector’s Edition” packed with new bonus content, archival materials, a collectible cover featuring newly rendered retro-style artwork, a reversible wrap with original theatrical key art and more!

On September 18, 2012, fans will rejoice as Shout! Factory unleashes Halloween II Collector’s Edition and Halloween III: Season of the Witch 30th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray and DVD. These two formidable titles inaugurate the SCREAM FACTORY™ home entertainment series and are now available to preorder at ShoutFactory.com and Amazon.com.

Pre-order:

HALLOWEEN II Collector’s Edition

Blu-ray – http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=5257867

DVD – http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=5257866

Halloween III: Season of the Witch30th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition

Blu-ray – http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=5257869

DVD – http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=5257868

Avid horror movie fans and collectors take note: those who order HALLOWEEN II: Collector’s Edition and/ or HALLOWEEN II: SEASON OF THE WITCH 30th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition will receive special collectible item(s) as gift(s)-with-purchase. For more information, please visit ShoutFactoryStore.com or ScreamFactoryDVD.com .

HALLOWEEN II Collector’s Edition Blu-ray & DVD

Starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence, Halloween II follows the same ill-fated characters as they encounter the knife-wielding maniac they left for dead in the first film. It seems the inhuman Michael Myers is still very much alive and out for more revenge as he stalks the deserted halls of the Haddonfield hospital. As he gets closer to his main target, Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) discovers the chilling mystery behind the crazed psychopath’s actions. Written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, Halloween II is a spine-tingling dark ride into the scariest night of the year.

EXCLUSIVE LIMITED OFFER: Order the Blu-ray or DVD directly from ShoutFactory.com and receive an exclusive “Haddonfield Memorial Hospital nurse’s hat!”  Less than 500 have been made, so these are only available while supplies last.

Read more @: Shout! Factory – Scream Factory

HALLOWEEN II Collector’s Edition Special Features (preliminary confirmed line-up):

  • Audio commentary with director Rick Rosenthal
  • Audio commentary with stunt coordinator / actor Dick Warlock
  • The Nightmare Isn’t Over – The Making of HALLOWEEN II, featuring Rick Rosenthal, Lance Guest, Dick Warlock, Alan Howarth, Dean Cundey and more..
  • Horror’s Hallowed Grounds- Revisiting the original shooting locations
  • Still Gallery
  • Theatrical Trailer, TV and Radio Spots

 

Halloween III: Season of the Witch 30th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition 

Blu-ray and DVD

A murder-suicide in a northern Californian hospital leads to an investigation by the on-call doctor, which reveals a plot by an insane toymaker to kill as many people as possible on October 31st through an ancient Celtic ritual and deadly Halloween masks. Starring Tom Atkins, Stacy Nelkin and Dan O’Herlihy,this third chilling film from the popular Halloween franchise is produced by John Carpenter and Debra Hill and is directed by Tommy Lee Wallace.

EXCLUSIVE LIMITED OFFER: Order the Blu-ray or DVD directly from ShoutFactory.com and receive an exclusive 18”x24” poster featuring the newly commissioned artwork! Less than 500 have been printed, so these are only available while supplies last.

Read more @: Shout! Factory – Scream Factory

HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH 30th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition Special Features:

  • Audio commentary with director Tommy Lee Wallace
  • Audio commentary with actor Tom Atkins
  • Stand Alone: The Making of HALLOWEEN III: Season of the Witch featuring Tommy Lee Wallace, Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dick Warlock, Dean Cundey and more
  • Horror’s Hallowed Grounds- Revisiting the original shooting locations
  • Still Gallery
  • Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots

Shout! Factory will continue to present the on-going SCREAM FACTORY™ home entertainment series in 2012 and 2013 with specific release dates, extras and key art for the rest of the title lineup. Meanwhile, fans will are encouraged to follow us and click the “Like” tab on the official SCREAM FACTORY Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scream-Factory/103961936407493) for up-to-the-minute updates or visit ScreamFactoryDVD.com .

 

About Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com

Around the Tubes

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It’s the weekend, yay!  That means I can catch up on reading the past two weeks worth of comics, write some reviews and finally some accounts of the New York Comic Con panels I went to.  Phew.  While I do all of that, here’s the news you might have missed.

Around the Blogs:

MTV Geek – 10 Comic Book Characters We Don’t Recommend Dressing Up As For Halloween – This got me to laugh.

IGN – Marvel Cancels a Bunch of Books – Not too shocked about this.


Around the Tubes Reviews:

CBR – Avengers #18

CBR – Birds of Prey #2

CBR – Fear Itself: The Fearless #1

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