Thursday, October 31, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 31: Breaking News
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 31 Bonus: McDonald's White Boo Bucket 2024
You know that it had to happen for I just couldn't help myself. I got another Halloween Happy Meal from McDonald's a few nights ago and got this White Boo Bucket. This is another fuzzy monster but doesn't have the horns that the blue one has. The first face looks kind of sad or low on energy.
The second face looks a lot happier.
The third face looks pretty shocked that someone is reaching in for treats.
The front of the insert has various stickers including spider, ghost, pumpkin, demon wings and mittens.
The back of the insert features another black and white image that you can color plus a how many can you find game.
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 31: Vote Elvira 2024
November 5, 2024 is Election Day so be sure to cast your vote for the next President of the United States. Elvira has a lot of election 2024 merchandise at her official website including this Vote Elvira 2024 bumper sticker. She'll get my vote for sure. I hope you enjoyed this year's Countdown to Halloween.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 30 Bonus: Horror and Fantasy Illustrated 2024 Pinup Special
Here's a special bonus treat for this week's women Wednesday. Zenescope Entertainment's Horror and Fantasy Illustrated 2024 Pinup Special came out earlier this month. The issue starts off with a special eight-page science fiction story.
The rest of the issue is filled with pinups of various women by different artists. The artwork includes fantasy, horror and science fiction. My favorite has to be the sexy mummy by Vinz El Tabanas
The Horror and fantasy Illustrated 2024 Pinup Special has several alternate covers. My favorite is Cover A featuring a demoness by Pierluigi Abbondanza.
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 30: Scream Queens 3 Trading Cards Trio
My one big Halloween purchase this year was a set of sixty Scream Queens 3 trading cards. This is not based on the 2015 tv series but on the magazine that lasted from 1993 to 2002. It was also known as Scream Queens Illustrated and mostly featured b-movie actresses mostly from horror movies in stages of undress. It seems fitting that I present three trading cards from the set as the last Women's Wednesday post for this Halloween. Brinke Stevens is a sexy vampire on #7 while Deborah Dutch appears with a skull on #9. Finally, #50 features Jeanie Brown playing cards with a skeleton.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 29: Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #1-3
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #1 from Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment was released in August while #2 hit the newsstands in September and #3 came out this month. The covers and interior artwork of all three are great with what I want to call dayglo coloration. The series is loosely based on the 1931 movie starring Boris Karloff as the monster.
Monday, October 28, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 28: Halloween Loading Screen at SuperCity
The loading screen at SuperCity on Facebook is decked out for Halloween again this year. See if you can spot the witches, Frankenstein's monster, the Ghostbusters car, devil, ghosts, jack o'lanterns, haunted house and other scary and non-scary items.
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 27 Bonus: Werewolf by Night Red Band #1 & 2
Marvel's Werewolf by Night: Red Band #1 came out in August and finds Jack Russell living in a gothic Bavarian castle that mysteriously appeared in the Colorado Rockies. He finds the mutilated bodies of two friends in the woods after a night of being the werewolf but he can't remember what happened. Meanwhile in a Transylvania monastery, Deathwatch and the Hood takes over what's left of the Darkholder vampires. Elsa Bloodstone then arrives at the castle and finds Jack chained but he changes before attacking her. Back in Transylvania, the Darkholders are creating chaos and turning everybody into vampires before taking over Dracula's castle.
Werewolf by Night: Red Band #2 came out in September and opened with the Lord Hood talking to Granny Dorgana while the Darkholders are moving into Bran Castle aka Castle Dracula. He presents her with a magical dagger, which she uses to cast a spell that locates a descendant of Cthon's hound thrall. Jack and Elsa have a nice discussion about his new frenzy but they end up fighting and she leaves. She goes to the Midnight Mission to talk to Mr. Knight (Moon Knight in a white suit). Khonshu the moong god speaks to her about Jack's situation and agrees to help. Deathwatch and some Darkholders make a visit to Jack moments before he changes into the werewolf. Elsa and Moon Knight arrive and joins the battle. Deathwatch escapes by a portal but Elsa and Moon Knight now have to stop the werewolf from attacking two young hikers. Deathwatch arrives back in Bran Castle and presents Granny Dorgana a pound of Jack's flesh but she requires more.
Werewolf by Night: Red Band #3 comes out this month but I haven't read it yet and I will post it after I do.
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 27: DC Horror Presents #1
DC Horror Presents #1 hit the newsstands last Wednesday from DC Comics. This issue features two horror stories that has nothing to do with the cover featuring a zombified Superman. The first story is "Love You To Pieces" that features Matilda Mathis aka Dollhouse bringing her dead lover, Max, to her dad, the Dollmaker. Yeah, I had to look them up for this is the first time I have read anything with any of them (they are Batman villains). The second story finds Wonder Woman and Donna Troy aka Wonder Girl trying to find a brutal serial killer on Themyscira. There is a bonus story featuring AEW woman wrestler, Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. The stories are good, but the cover really should have had either Dollhouse, Wonder Woman or both. Hopefully, the next three issues have better covers that are relatable to the contents.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 26: Green Lantern: Dark #1
If you remember the Tangent Universe, then you will want to pick up Green Lantern: Dark #1. This bi-monthly Elseworlds series from DC Comics is set on a post-apocalyptic Earth after the superheroes lost the fight to monsters. Only the Green Lantern reappears to stand against Grundy and his zombies.
Friday, October 25, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 25: Headless Horseman Annual 2024
The Headless Horseman Annual 2024 was released earlier this week from Dark Horse Comics. The cover features a headless woman and Frankenstein-like monster with a horse's head. There are five horror stories in this issue introduced by the female headless horseman. The first story is "Leech Lake" about three teen girls that usually goes trick or treating every year but two of them decide to go to a party instead. The second story is "Feeder" about a zombie just trying to survive after the zombie apocalypse. "Stingy Jack and the Cursed Lantern" is the third story that tells the origin of Stingy Jack O'Lantern (this is my favorite). The fourth story is "The Spice of Life (and Death)" that finds a couple not getting along with their new neighbors (this one is my second favorite). "Little Rabbit" is the fifth story about a girl escaping and running away.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 24: Blade: Red Band #1
Blade: Red Band #1 came out last week and takes place after Marvel's Blood Hunt event. He makes a new sword on Lupui Island in Southeast Asia when Damien in his astral form delivers a message from Spellguard. A helicopter arrives to take Blade to meet Damien in person. The Spellguard wants Blade to find Pontious Van Helsing, who is in charge of a hidden sect of vampires that are experimenting with magic. Damien wants him to kill a man horribly disfigured by them. Blade refuses to kill the man and track down Van Helsing so he kills Damien and his two fellow mystics. He then puts the deformed man out of his misery before using a mystical knife that will point to Van Helsing's location on a map. Not a bad way to start a new series.
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Breaking News: Tarzan and Doc Savage Star Ron Ely Dead at 86
Unfortunately, we interrupt the Countdown to Halloween with sad news. According to 'Tarzan' star Ron Ely dead at 86. He is best known for starring in the NBC tv series, Tarzan (1966-1968), and the 1975 Doc Savage, Man of Bronze movie.
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 23: Grimm Fairy Tales 2024 Halloween Special
Grimm Fairy Tales 2024 Halloween Special actually came out last Wednesday from Zenescope Entertainment but I decided to share it for this week's Women Wednesday post. The story's title is "Cinderella's Monster Mash" and for good reason. She meets Yertle the hunchback, Count Roberto Yeh the vampire, a vampire bride, Friday Barnes the ghost girl, Lily the mad scientist, a manbat monster, talking piranhas, a mummy, a werewolf and his four werewolf pups, and a bunch of ghosts (one that looks a lot like Wolverine). There is even a musical scene along with a homage to Scooby and the gang. This issue is full of puns and gags, but the artwork is good especially the page with Cinderella wearing her new black outfit.
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 22: Epitaphs from the Abyss #1-4
Epitaphs from the Abyss is the first new horror title from EC Comics in nearly seventy years. Oni Press partnered with William M. Gaines Agent, Inc. to present this new anthology horror series. The first issue is extra-sized with four stories of terror hosted by the gruesome Grave-Digger. The following issues each has three stories.
Monday, October 21, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 21: McDonald's Boo Buckets 2024
McDonald's Boo Buckets are back for 2024 with the Happy Meals for a limited time. They started October 15th. There are four of them again and the theme is fuzzy monsters. The colors are blue, white, orange and green. They include the sticker inserts instead of lids.
I wasn't planning on getting any of the Boo Buckets this year. However, my sister and I got a craving for cheeseburger Happy Meals with fries and Cokes. We both ended up with the Blue Boo Bucket. It has three different faces.
The front of the insert has eighteen stickers that can be used to dress up the Blue Boo Bucket. There is a witch's hat, a witch's broom, a ghost, a spider, a spider's web and even a Blue Boo Bucket with the stickers on it.
The back of the insert is a black and white drawing with how many can your find game. One can probably also color the drawing.
This is the fourth Boo Bucket that I have gotten in the last few years. I'm glad that I got a blue one this year. I already have an orange, green and purple Boo Buckets from previous years. I don't plan on collecting all four Boo Buckets for 2024.
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 20: Crypt of Shadows #1 (2024)
The 2024 edition of Marvel's The Crypt of Shadows #1 features Agatha Harkness now known as Lady Harkness, Scarlet Witch, Blade, Vision, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Jack Russsell aka the Werewolf by Night, Kraven the Hunter and Man-Thing on the cover. There are only four stories in this issue starting off with "Bad Reception" that features Lady Harkness viewing the other stories in her crystal ball. "Do Androids Dream in the Witch House?" features Vision and the Scarlet Witch. "The Green Tide" features Man-Thing and Namor. "Monster Games" finds Kraven battling the Werewolf by Night and Blade. The issue ends with Lady Harkness concluding the "Bad Reception" segment.
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 19: Batman: Full Moon #1
Batman: Full Moon #1 (December, 2024) came out last Wednesday just in time for Halloween. Batman battles a werewolf in Gotham City. Zatanna, John Constantine and Man-Bat also appears in this issue. Kirk Langstrom aka Man-Bat tells Batman about the origins of Christian Talbot, a British soldier that was bitten by a werewolf while on a classified mission in Romania. This issue ends with the werewolf battling Batman and Man-Bat.
Friday, October 18, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 18: Halloween at SuperCity
I have been playing a lot of SuperCity on Facebook this week. I created an area on the City Center map devoted to Halloween. There are haunted houses, ghosts, skulls, pumpkins, spooky lights and more. This is what the area looked like on my first attempt:
I won a lot of Halloween decorations and buildings while playing the airship event at SuperCity Islands that I had to expand the area:
SuperCity can be a little tedious at times but there are always special events around the holidays. Around Thanksgiving, I might scatter the Halloween decorations and buildings in either the Highlands or Enchanted Forest map and then create a Christmas area on the Snow Plateau map
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 17: Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay #1 and #2
Somehow I missed Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay #1 that came out last month. The cover features zombified Black Widow, Iron Man and Captain America attacking Groot. I should have known that something was up when I saw the words "All Ages" in the lower right corner. The blood was toned way down for a Marvel Zombies title. Rocket Racoon and Groot are guests at the Raft island prison when the Avengers show up with General Ross to spring them. Groot is sniffling and Rocket thinks he has a cold. Groot sneezes on Captain America and a big blob on snot lands on his face. Yep, you guessed it for he is the first to turn into a zombie and he attacks his fellow Avengers. Captain America bites Black Widow, who in turn bites Iron Man.
Thor starts throwing his hammer around inside the quinjet making matters worse. Rocket Raccoon gets sucked out of a hole punctured by Thor's hammer and Groot fails to save him. Groot then has to save Bruce Banner from the zombified Avengers before they both go out the hole. They find themselves facing civilians that has also turned into zombies. Bruce hits himself with a brick to change himself into the Hulk.
The cover of Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay #2 features Thor reaching for his hammer while zombies are advancing on him from behind. The issue starts with Groot and Hulk talking. That ends with the Hulk wanting to find Space Skunk (Rocket Raccoon). Zombies try to bite Hulk then he's attacked by Thor, who is trying to fight the mutated zombie virus. Hulk and Thor battle while Groot tries to keep them from killing each other. He finally knocks out the Hulk by choking him. Hulk turns back into Bruce. Groot picks him up and they head down into the subway, where he hears cries for help.
Overall, the first two issues of Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay makes for interesting reads. The artwork is actually pretty good for an All Ages title. It's interesting to see flowers coming out of the zombies instead of blood and dangling eyeballs.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 16: Witches of Past and Present Magazine
I picked up the copy of Witches of Past and Present magazine two weeks ago at the local Walmart's. I'm posting it today for this week's Women Wednesday post. There are five sections: Ancient Origins, Medieval Magic, Sorcery Under Attack, Out of the Shadows, On the Page, Stage and Screen. Each section ends with a one-page Witchcraft Through History article. The first is Witch of Endor with the second being The Witch of Ripabianca. The third is Mother Shipton while the fourth is Doreen Valiente. The fifth and last article is Margaret Hamilton, who is best known as the Wicked Witch from the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. The magazine is also loaded with pictures of various sizes.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 15: DC vs. Vampires: World War V #3
The cover of DC vs. Vampires: World War V #3 features Damian Wayne as vampire Robin fighting vampire Captain Marvel with the help of Batman, who is supposed to be dead. The issue opens up with vampire Scott and Barda then shifts to vampire Wonder Woman fighting Green Lantern Alfred. We then see vampires Aquaman and Gorilla Grodd having their discussion interrupted by a mysterious woman. The scene shifts again to Green Arrow and his merry band consisting of Zealot, Killer Croc, Wildcat and Black Canary capturing starving vampires and trying to question them. The scene shifts to Ghost-Maker reporting in as he tries to find Mister Miracle. Then we shift back to Green Arrow and friends as the questioning goes south.
Finally, we get to Robin and his army of vampires attacking a semi-truck. They get a big surprise as vampires Wonder Girl, Captain Marvel and Raven fly out of the truck's trailer and attack. They are joined by vampire Batwoman, who sacrifices herself. There is an interlude with Black Canary talking with John Constantine. We then switch back to an injured Damian as he is joined by Batman, who unmasks and reveals who he really is. Unfortunately, we have to wait until next issue to find out who is wearing the Batsuit this time. Yeah, there is a lot going on in this issue and it's pretty fast paced.
The backup story features Bat-Mite as Geo-Force's new sidekick. That doesn't last long and he searches for a new superhero to annoy. He ends up being Afred-Mite.
Monday, October 14, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 14: Boo Berry 2024 Box
Meow Berry the ghost cat is the frightful friend of Boo Berry this year and gets a marshmallow too. Her and Carmelia Creeper's pet snake, Scratch, are both females. I should be starting on the family size box this week and probably finish it off by Halloween.
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 13: Franken Berry 2024 Box
Franken Berry is joined by his frightful friend, Bennie the bat, this year on his cereal box. Bennie gets a marshmallow too. I still have one bowl left from the family size box. The flavor seems stronger to me this year.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 12: Count Chocula 2024 Box
The local Walmart's actually stocked this year's Monster Cereals back in September. They had a whole pallet of them but I only picked up the main three since I wasn't a big fan of Carmelia Creeper last year. I started with Count Chocula this year and finished the family size box the first week of October. He is joined this year by his frightful friend, Igor the spider. Yeah, he gets a marshmallow too, which looks more like a broken sunburst than a spider.
The side panel features the marshmallows and Igor:
The backs of all the Monster Cereals are the same this year and is title "Monsters Have Pets, Too!" It shows the monsters and their frightful friends in their castle. There are two "games" with the first being picture not-so-perfect and match the pets to their rightful rooms.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 11: Duke Cannon Candy Corn Soap
If you really enjoy the smell of candy corn, then you might enjoy Duke Cannon Candy Corn Soap. I'm seriously thinking of handing these out to those stinky little goblins that come begging at my door this Halloween.
