Martinex1: Let's Chew the Fat on all things mysterious, suspenseful, horrific, and terrifying. Halloween is just around the corner, so consider the following questions and let's discuss your opinions about the strange and weird genre that permeates movies, television, and of course comic books.
Do you have a favorite horror and suspense comic? Is there a series you followed or collected? Or is there an individual issue you recommend? Did you like the monsters turned "heroes" or did you prefer the weird anthologies?
Do you have a favorite horror or suspense movie, franchise, or series? Do you prefer the classic Universal or Hammer films? Or are the modern monsters like Jason, Freddy, and Michael Meyers more your style? Do you like horror films or do you tend to avoid the macabre movies? What are your recommendations?
Who do you think are the best creators for the horror genre in comic books? My favorites are Bernie Wrightson and Mike Ploog...who are your preferred creature creators? Writers? Artists?
Is horror a genre you seek out or seek to avoid? Did you geek out over Halloween? What are your favorite Halloween memories whether scary or benign?
Martinex1: It is Halloween! It is Halloween! It is time for fun! It is time for fun! So Follow the Leader! Perhaps something spooky today? We will see when somebody gets us started this AM!
Redartz: Welcome, comics and Halloween fans. Enter freely and of your own will... Comics and Halloween; both so full of fun, it's only natural they'd pick up elements of each other. Kind of like Reese's Cups- "You got chocolate in my peanut butter"; "You got peanut butter on my chocolate". Today we will chat about some of those blending experiences. And I might have to run out and grab some Reese's cups for our Halloween candy dish...
One obvious area where comics and Halloween intertwine is, well, comics. I've gotten in the habit of, each year, selecting a few appropriate books to leaf through on Halloween night. There might be a "Tomb of Dracula", or a "Swamp Thing", probably some old monster reprints. But there also will be some Archie Halloween tales, definitely a "Sugar and Spike" issue (Sheldon Mayer never failed to salute All Hallow's Eve on the cover of his classic kid kaper). And most assuredly, there will be an issue of Simpson's "Treehouse of Horror".
Speaking of the denizens of Springfield, that brings us to another annual aspect of Halloween: the specials on tv! My wife and I unfailingly catch "The Great Pumpkin", and Garfield's Halloween Special (both on dvd, conveniently). On the Sunday night nearest Halloween, we always devour "Simpsons Treehouse of Horror", a Halloween tradition for many years now. Those episodes are among the series' best. This season wasn't any different...
What else does Halloween have to offer? Trick-or-treating, and costumes, of course. One of my earliest Halloween memories was of dressing up as Casper. Surprisingly I never went as Spider-Man, but in college I did attend a Halloween party dressed as Mr. X (from the 80's Vortex series by Paul Rivoche). I sadly have no photographic record of that occasion, but I looked pretty much like this (bald head wig included):
Now, at our house this year, there won't be any tricks, but there will be treats. But not just candy; also comics! Giving away (age appropriate, of course) comics with the candy might bring a smile to some of the neighborhood kids. It will help clear a few from my 'dispose of' pile, and it may just help create a few future comics fans. And I'm not alone in this: last week I stopped by our local comic shop, and they were selling bags of Casper Halloween comics, already prepped for trick-or-treats! Man, I'd have loved that when I was going door-to-door as a kid.
So we can see there are many ways that the fun of comics and the fun of Halloween can combine. Perhaps you have some more examples. Do you have any Halloween traditions? Any favorite Halloween-themed comics? Maybe you were the one who did dress up as Spider-Man. Tell us your thoughts, and I'll give you an extra handful from the treat bowl!
Martinex1: What's in your basket this Halloween? What treat do you give at your house? What sticks to your teeth? What candy do you love? And what sugary confection do you despise? What candy did you only see at Halloween time back in the Bronze Age? And what candy don't you see any more? What was the weirdest treat you ever received while "Trick or Treating"? Did anybody ever give you a full size candy bar or were they all "fun" sized? What did you trade for and what was quick to go? How about money - any pennies in your sack? Or for that matter, did anybody ever trick you?
Slo Pokes, Pixie Stix, Mary Janes, Bit of Honey, Hubba Bubba, Charms Pops, Tootsie Rolls, Candy Corn, Circus Peanuts, and Popcorn Balls are all part of the conversation today! We are having a BitBA Halloween feast today... so discuss all things Halloween candy related! Whether you drooled over it or it made you gag, share your sweet tooth preferences as we get ready for the 31st! For those of you who did not partake in the candy grabbing madness, share what your favorite treats are anyway - maybe it is something we are unfamiliar with! Cheers!
Martinex1: Sundays we take it a little easier around here, but these are a few things that I find enjoyable so I thought I would share. They may not be typical BitBA fare (and others may be right in our wheelhouse). I hope you may like these offerings also. Share your thoughts and recommendations.
1) The Thunderbolts: Arriving after the Bronze Age, this team book's early years written by Kurt Busiek and penciled by Mark Bagley were excellent. If you haven't explored this series, I believe most here would enjoy it. Lots of twists, turns, character developments, and a nostalgic feel in the mighty Marvel manner.
1A) Citizen V: Coming out of the Thunderbolts is a character that I think is intriguing. And I find his elaborate costume design rather interesting as well.
2) The Pretenders: This band really had something going on, particularly in the early days before the deaths of James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon. Chrissie Hynde carried on, but the first couple of albums were classics.
3) Egg Foo Young: This classic dish, if done right, is delicious. Add some spice and pepper for an update to the traditional.
4) John Byrne's version of the Doom Patrol: Not always considered a popular run for the team, Byrne stripped away some of the group's strange modern history and went back to basics. I liked it. And his art was the strongest it had been for a while.
4A) Negative Man: Coming out of the Doom Patrol, I would like to see more of the Negative Man. Here is a long running character that should get more of the spotlight.
5) Extreme Pumpkin Carving: It is that time of year, and I am amazed by the creativity of these jack-o-lanterns. They are a far cry from the triangle eyes and noses of past Halloween gourds. So much fun, yet so fleeting. Cheers all!
