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.

Ad for McDonald's Boo Buckets 2024

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.

Blue Boo Bucket 2024 from McDonald's Face #1

Blue Boo Bucket 2024 from McDonald's Face #2

Blue Boo Bucket 2024 from McDonald's Face #3

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.

Front of Blue Boo Bucket 2024 Insert from McDonald's

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.

Back of Blue Boo Bucket 2024 Insert from McDonald's

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.

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.

Cover of Crypt of Shadows #1 (2024) from Marvel

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.

Front Cover of Batman: Full Moon #1 from DC Comics

Back Cover of Batman: Full Moon from DC Comics

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:

First Halloween at SuperCity

I won a lot of Halloween decorations and buildings while playing the airship event at SuperCity Islands that I had to expand the area:

Second Halloween at SuperCity

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

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.

Cover of Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay #1

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.

Cover of Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay #2

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.

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.

Front Cover of Witches of Past and Present Magazine

Witches of Past and Present Magazine

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.

Cover of DC vs. Vampires: World War V #3 from DC Comics

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.

Front of Boo Berry 2024 Box

 

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.

Front of Franken Berry 2024 Box

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.

Front of Count Chocula 2024 Box

The side panel features the marshmallows and Igor:

Side panel of Count Chocula 2024 Box

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.

Back of Count Chocula 2024 Box

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.

Duke Cannon Candy Corn Soap

Hot Wheels 2024 Blue Arkham Knight Batmobile

I found this Hot Wheels 2024 Blue Arkham Knight Batmobile at the local Walmart's this past Tuesday. Like the black version, it's #4 in the Batman subset and #149 in the main set. I actually like this blue version better.

Hot Wheels 2024 Blue Arkham Knight Batmobile

Close up of Hot Wheels 2024 Blue Arkham Knight Batmobile

Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 10: Strawberry Fanta Featuring Lydia

I could have saved this for next week's Women Wednesday post but I wanted to post it today so I wouldn't forget. I found a case of Strawberry Fanta featuring Lydia at the local Dollar General last month. She is once again played by Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The same image of her are on all sides of the box and the can. I enjoyed the strawberry flavor much better than the Haunted Apple Fanta and a little bit better than the Orange Fanta. I still have two cans to finish.

Strawberry Fanta Featuring Lydia Box

Strawberry Fanta Featuring Lydia

Absolute Batman #1

I just finished reading Absolute Batman #1 (December 2024), which hit the newsstands today. I had my doubts when I saw the first image but I was blown away by the art and story. This is like an Elseworlds on steroids. I love the twists on Batman and his supporting cast. I highly recommend at least giving this a shot because it may surprise you more than you think. I can't wait for the next issue.

Cover of Absolute Batman #1 from DC Comics

Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 9: Orange Fanta Featuring Astrid

Yes, it's another Women Wednesday Halloween post with Jenna Ortega. She plays Astrid in the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie. I found a case of the orange Fanta at the local Dollar General store a week after I found the Haunted Apple. All the sides of the box has the same image but in different sizes. The can has the same image too. I actually enjoyed the Orange Fanta much more than the Haunted Apple and I have three cans left to drink.

Orange Fanta Featuring Astrid Box

Orange Fanta Featuring Astrid Can

Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 8: Haunted Apple Fanta Featuring Beetlejuice

I actually found a case of the Haunted Apple Fanta Featuring Beetlejuice last month at the local Dollar General. I really just wanted a single can or bottle to try it to if I liked it. The Haunted Apple flavor wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I spent three weeks trying to finish that case. The box has the same picture of Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice on each side but in different sizes. They really need to mix up the pictures a little on the boxes. I saved one can from the twelve and I accidently stepped on it before I got a chance to take a picture of it. I have seen Beetlejuice several times, but I have yet to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. I hope you didn't read this post out loud.

Haunted Apple Fanta Featuring Beetlejuice

Haunted Apple Fanta Featuring Beetlejuice Can

Countdown to Halloween 2024 Day 7: Mtn Dew Voodew 2024

I actually started seeing cans and bottles of Mtn Dew Voodew 2024 at the end of September. I bought a bottle of the regular and a bottle of the zero sugar at the local Walmart's. I didn't buy a case of it this year since none of the local stores have them yet, which is odd. The mystery flavor still tasted more like Laffy Taffy to me but it tastes like that every year. Supposedly, the flavor this is year may be Strawberry Starburst. I could see that since Starbursts always tasted like Laffy Taffy to me.

Mtn Dew Voodew 2024 Box

Mtn Dew Voodew 2024 Can