Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 27: Weird Mystery Tales #23

The only issue that I have of Weird Mystery Tales is #23 (October 1975) and is a very worn copy (in fact, there is a loose page and a missing page). The series lasted from July/August 1972 to November 1975 with #24 being the last issue. Ernie Chua did the cover and the weird tales include "The Quiz Show" written by Michale Fleisher with art by Fred Carrillo and "Fair Exchange" written b Steve Skeates based on a plot by Sergio Aragones with art by Wallace Wood. The letters page is titled "Witch's Tales". Interesting ads include Sales Leadership Club (sell fifty-eight boxes for a 10 speed racing bike or twenty-five boxes for a portable 8-track tape player), Slim Jim, Hostess Twinkies presents Shazam (yes, they used Captain Marvel's magic word instead of the superhero's actual name) in "Minerva Menace", DC Family giant titles (Super-Team Family, Tarzan Family, Superman Family and Batman Family), Gold Crown/Tank Trap games from Helen of Toy ($2.49 for both), Olympic Sales Club (sell ten boxes for a weather forcasting outfit or six boxes for a Monster Plaster casting kit) and car-in-a-bottle model from Monogram.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 26: Weird War Tales #99, #100 and #121

Dave Cockrum and Dick Giordano did the cover for Weird War Tales (May 1981) for DC Comics. The chilling war tales include "A Gauntlet of Giants" (a War That Time Forgot tale) created and written by Robert Kanigher with art by Dave Cockrum and Jerry Ordway, "A Match Made in Hell" written by Robert Kanigher with art by Ric Estrada, "Man's Best Enemy" written by George Kashdan with art by Steve Ditko and "Divine Wind" written by Mike W. Barr with art by Mar Amongo. The letters page called "A.P.O. Weird War Tales" is shared with the statement of ownership. Interesting ads includes Johnson Smith Company novelties, Bubble Yum, Sea-Monkeys, Hostess Cup Cakes presents Batman in "Hearts of Darkness" and Batman visiting Carol Fein on subscriptions.

Joe Kurbert did the cover of Weird War Tales #100 (June 1981) for DC Comics. The first tale features a crossover between the Creature Commandos and the War That Time Forgot in "Dinosaur Convoy" written Mike W. Barr with art by Bob Hall and Jerry Ordway. Other stories include a one pager entitled "Stop the War, I Want To Get Out!" written by Robin Snyder and daren by Trevor Von Eeden and Brett Breeding followed by "The Scavengers" written by John Warner and art by Vicatan. The letters page features part one of a special index of stories that appeared in Weird War Tales #1 to #50. Interesting ads include Fun Factory novelties, Bubble Yum, Suprman Club ($3.00 for membership that includes poster, newsletter, membership card, certificate, book cover and gold decal), Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents Superman in "Gold Mine Rescue", Life Savers Sweepstakes and Johnson Smith Company novelties.

The Creatures Commandos grace the cover of Weird War Tales #121 (March 1983) and is featured in the first story titled "Death Smiles Twice" written by Robert Kanigher with art by Fred Carrillo. The second story is titled "Gremlins in the Works!" This issue does feature "Meanwhile..." news about DC Comics. The letters page is almost two pages followed by a short DC Coming Comics piece. Interesting ads include Spider-Man video game for Atari, Bubble Yum, short list of comic book conventions, Dungeons & Dragons from TSR, Life Savers find 13 hidden flavors word puzzle and Sg. Rock action figure from Remco featuring art by Joe Kurbert.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 25: The Spectre Comics

DC Comics gave the Spectre his own regular series in 1967 that lasted for ten issues. I have no copies from that first sries. However, the Ghost of Vengeance was back in his own title twenty years later. José Luis García-López did the cover of The Spectre #5 (August 1987). Doug Moench wrote "The Mystery of My Murder" while Gene Colan and Steve Mitchell did the art. The inside front cover has a tribute to E. Nelson Bridwell (1931-1987). "Speculations" was the title of the letters page that was two pages in this issue. Interesting ads include MPC Ertl model cars, Tang and Dungeons & Dragons basic set.

Tom Mandrake did the cover to The Spectre #0 (October 1994) for DC Comics. He also penciled, inked and colored the featured story titled "The Temptation of the Spectre" that was written by John Ostrander. This is part of the third series featuring the Ghost of Vengeance. The issue does feature a letters page, Daily Planet ("Zero Hour For Earth" being the main headline) and "DC Universe" dedicated to Neal Pozner (1955-1994). Interesting ads include Fate, Star Trek annual #5, Metropolis S.C.U., Starman, R.E.B.E.L.S., Flash and Star Trek Master Series from SkyBox.

The second series lasted for thirty-one issues and folded in 1989 but he did not give up the ghost for he was back in 1992 with a third series.

Dave Johnson did the cover of The Spectre #34 (October 1995) for DC Comics. John Ostrander wrote "Blood Suckers" while John Ridgeway provided the artwork. Interesting ads include Underworld Unleashed, Clive Barker's Lord of Illusions movie poster, The Prophecy movie poster, Vampire the Eternal Struggle trading card game from Deckmaster, Batman: Knight Gallery (this is one my to want list due to the different costumes), Sovereign Seven, Shadow Dragon annual #1 (the "Legends" event which provided Year One stories in all the annuals), Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat (Elseworlds one-shot), Batman Man-Bat (three issue Elseworlds mini series) and Mega City's Most Wanted action figures from Judge Dredd.

The third series lasted until #62 (February 1998). The Ghost of Vengeance returned in a fourth series that lasted from 2001 to 2003. Unfortunately, I have none of those issues.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 24: Adventure Comics #431 and #436

The cover of Adventure Comics (February 1974) was done by Jim Aparo, who also penciled the featured story titled "The Wrath of...the Spectre". The back up story is "Is a Snerl Human?" with art by Alex Toth. Interesting ads include Daisy B-B Gun with kid reading comic book in classroom, Charles Atlas, Monster Size Monsters, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer giant size comic, Pop-O-Matic Games (Headache, Trouble, Pop-Cheks, Bingo and Pop-Dog), Super-Hero Stick-Ons (fourteen for two dollars), Super Spectacular issues of Batman #254 and Witching Hour #38, See-Action Football Game and Another Adventure with the Ready Rangers (promoting the new Ready Ranger Mobile Field Pack). This issue does feature a half page subscription ad along with "Behind the Scenes at the DC Comic World" talking about the comicmobile. The letters page, called "Dateline: Adventure", is included in the back.




Jim Aparo was also the cover artist on Adventure Comics #436 (December 1974). He also did the artwork for "The Gasmen and the Spectre" story. Mike Grell did the artwork for the Aquaman story titled "The King is Dead; Long Live the King". Interesting ads include DC Comics titles for twenty cents, authentic Superman costume for only $6.98, Saturday morning on CBS two page spread (Shazam, Partridge Family 2200 AD, Valley of the Dinosaurs, Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine, Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Comedy Show and U.S. of Archie), DC Comics titles with 100 pages for sixty cents, giant editions of Ghosts and Batman, Monster Size Monsters (featuring Frankenstein and Bones the skelton) and Monogram's Big Wheels/Big Deal contest. A letters page is included in the back of this issue.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 23: Cap'n Crunch's Halloween Crunch

I bought a box of Cap'n Crunch's Halloween Crunch a few weeks ago when it was on sale at the local Wally World. The jolly cereal captain was wrapped up like a mummy on the front of the box. The so-called ghosts were more like round blobs than actual shapes. The milk did turn a light green but the effect worked best in a red bowl. The back of the cereal box was the real treat since it had Cap'n Crunch's Haunted Mansion filled with games like word search and scrambled letters. More spooky games can be found at Cap'n Crunch's official site.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 22: Huluween

Huluween is Hulu's spooky holiday guide to their horror movies and tv shows. You can watch such cult classics as The Terror with Jack Nicholson, House on Haunted Hill with Vincent Price and Puppet Master.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 21: Elvira At Tagged

The following Elvira tags are available at Tagged

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 20: Secrets of haunted House #38 and #39

The cover for Secrets of Haunted House #38 (July 1981) was done by Richard F. Buckler and Dick Giordano. Destiny does his one page monologue on the first page. The chilling tales include "The Great Dark God Rises Again", "Slaves of Satan" and Mister E in "Conglomerate of Evil". Bonus features include a one page gag strip called "Wolfman Walk", an all text story titled "Rings of Destiny" and another gag strip called "Do's & Don'ts for Mad Scientists". Interesting ads include Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents Plastic Man in "Gold For Dessert" and 100 toy soldiers in a footlocker for only $1.98.




Richard F. Buckler and Dick Giordano also did the cover for Secrets of Haunted House #39 (August 1981). The haunting tales includes "A Crutch in Time", Mister E in "The Witch-Hounds of Salem" and "A Touch of Silver". "Fate's Falling Leaf" is an all text story. Interesting ads include "Attack of the Mutants" game from Yaquinto Publications, Hostess Fruit Pies presents "Superman vs. the Laughing Gas Bandits", Life Savers sleeping bag and a "Dungeons & Dragons" adventure from TSR.



This ends the coverage of this horror anthology series from DC Comics that I have in my collection.