Women Wednesday: Monster High: World's Scare #1

Monster High: World's Scare #1 from IDW Publishing is out today.

Here's the spooky summery found on the back cover: "Surprise, ghouls — I'm baaack. Did you miss me? For those unacquainted, let me reintrobooce myself. I'm Monster High's purrmiere gossip account, CryptCrier. I know everything and everyghoul. And here is my juiciest piece of gossip yet: IDW is bringing readers a faboolous new miniseries from fang favorites Jacque Aye and Caroline Shuda, starting with a double-sized first issue. Frankie Stein, Draculaura, Clawdeen Wolf, Cleo de Nile, and Lagoona Blue are starting a new scaremester at Monster High, so this is a creeperific jumping-on point for new fangs. How eekciting. This year, the World's Scare is in New Salem! The brightest minds are gathering to exhibit their latest breakthroughs that could change monster-kind furever. And Monster High's very own Frankie Stein is dreaming up something monstrous to honor her late father, Headmaster Frankenstein. With a little help from her fiends, Frankie is sure to shock the judges."

Cover of Monster High: World's Scare #1 from IDW Publsihing

Women Wednesday: Vampirella: Armageddon #1 Cover Gallery

Vampirella: Armageddon #1 (2025) hits the newsstands today. Here is the official summery: "Return to the future world of Vampirella and Sepulcher City in Vampirella: Armageddon, from Vampirella writer Tom Sniegoski and artist Kewber Baal! Picking up from where our last series (Vampirella Strikes!) left off, Vampirella faces internal and external forces of chaos as a new threat arrives to stare her down! A threat… not of this mortal plane!"

Of course, there are several variant covers to collect. One of my favorite covers is the Universal Monsters cover by Mark Spears since it has Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Wolfman, the Mummy and the Creature of the Black Lagoon.

Cover Gallery Page 1 of Vampirella: Armageddon #1 from Dynamite Entertainment

Cover Gallery Page 2 of Vampirella: Armageddon #1 from Dynamite Entertainment

Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2 #1

DC Comics teams up with Legendary Comics again with Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2 #1 that came out earlier this week. The cover features Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman with Godzilla and Kong in the background. What makes this interesting is the wedding of Barry Allen aka the Flash and Iris West. Only Clark Kent aka Superman, Bruce Wayne aka Batman and Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman are actually at the wedding while several members of the Justice League and Teen Titans watch from the Hall of Justice. Amanda Waller and her Suicide Squad are also in this issue and a giant King Shark fights Godzilla. There's more but I won't spoil it all here.

Cover of Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2 #1 from DC Comics and Legendary Comics

Superhero Saturday: Killer Kobra: The Hunt Begins

When I first saw the cover for Killer Kobra: The Hunt Begins #1, I thought DC Comics was rebooting their super villainous Kobra group. Instead, Zenoscope Entertainment is introducing a new "shadowy vigilante that strikes with the fury of a thousand venoms." Basically, he's a monster hunter that uses the cobra school of kung fu.

The issue actually starts with a group of college students hiking in the Ozarks during their Spring Break. They are attacked and killed by a Bigfoot. The issue then switches to Philadepia (yes, that's how they spell it), where Killer Kobra out of costume is sparring with a talking mongoose named Chopstick. He looks at a photo of his parents before getting a call about the Bigfoot attack. The action shifts to a mysterious man ordering a mysterious woman agent to bring in or eliminate Kobra and Chopstick. We switch back to the hero and his animal sidekick who finds trouble in a roadhouse in the Ozarks. He easily wins the fight with his mastery of Cobra Kung Fu but is chased off by the bar owner with a rifle. The pair make their way to the campsite but is attacked by the Bigfoot. Killer Kobra, now in full costume, does his fancy martial arts moves against the huge creature, who retreats. He and Chopsticks chases the monster in the woods in a comical chase scene before the issue literally ends on a cliffhanger.

This was a pretty good first issue and I love the running gag with Chopsticks being mistaken for a ferret. I highly recommend reading Killer Kobra: The Hunt Begins #1 if you like a little humor with your martial arts superhero.

Cover of Killer Kobra: The Hunt Begins #1 from Zenescope Entertainment

 

Science Fiction Saturday: The Herculoids #2 Cover Gallery

The Herculoids #2 from Dynamite Entertainment hit last Wednesday and it was just as great as the first issue. Here are the cover gallery pages:

The Herculoids #2 Cover Gallery Page 1 from Dynamite Entertainment

The Herculoids #2 Cover Gallery Page 2 from Dynamite Entertainment

Science Fiction Saturday: The Herculoids #1 Cover Gallery

The Herculoids #1 from Dynamite Entertainment came out last Wednesday. This is a reboot of the Saturday morning cartoon from Hanna-Barbera featuring Zandor, Tara, Dorno, Zok the dragon, Igoo, Tundro, Gloop and Gleep. It was great seeing them all back in action again and I can't wait to read the next issue.

The Herculoids #1 Cover Gallery Page 1 from Dynamite Entertainment

The Herculoids #2 Cover Gallery Page 2 from Dynamite Entertainment

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.

White Boo Bucket 2024 from McDonald's Face #1

The second face looks a lot happier.

White Boo Bucket 2024 from McDonald's Face #2

The third face looks pretty shocked that someone is reaching in for treats.

White Boo Bucket 2024 from McDonald's Face #3

The front of the insert has various stickers including spider, ghost, pumpkin, demon wings and mittens.

Front of White Boo Bucket 2024 Insert from McDonald's

The back of the insert features another black and white image that you can color plus a how many can you find game.

Back of White Boo Bucket 2024 Insert from McDonald's

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.

Cover of Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #1 from Image Comics

Cover of Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #2 from Image Comics

Cover of Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #1 from Image Comics

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.

Halloween Loading Screen at SuperCity

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.

Cover of Headless Horseman Annual 2024 from Dark Horse Comics

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.

Cover of Grimm Fairy Tales 2024 Halloween Special from Zenoscope

Cover Gallery for Grimm Fairy Tales 2024 Halloween Special from Zenescope

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 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 3: DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos #1

DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos #1 (December, 2024) is out today. The cover features Lucky (Frankenstein's monster), Vincent Velcro (vampire), Mina Rhodes (Gorgon) and Wanda Griffith (werewolf). This issue shows Velcro and Wanda being recruited. As a bonus, there is a backup story featuring AEW wrestler, Swerve Strickland.

Cover of DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos #1 from DC Comics

DC's Creature Commandos Line Up and First Trailer

Viola Davis will reprise her role of Amanda Waller in the Creature Commandos animated series. Frank Grillo will be the voice of Rick Flag, Sr. while Nina Mazursky (a scientiest turned into a Creature from the Black Lagoon-type monster) will be voiced by Zoe Chao. Other characters include Doctor Phosphorous (Alan Tudyk), Frankenstein (David Harbour), Bride (Indira Varma), G.I. Robot (Sean Gunn) and Weasel (Sean Gunn). The series will premiere in December of 2024 on MAX.

DC Creature Commandos Line Up

You can view the first trailer at First trailer for DC's "Creature Commandos" unveils Amanda Waller's monster hit squad.

Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile Take 2

I posted about the Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile back in February. That was the common lavender version. Last week, I picked up the black variant version at the local Dollar Tree. I then picked up another lavender version at the local Dollar General because I honestly couldn't remember getting one back in February.

Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile Take 2

Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile

I was shocked when I found the Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile at the local Dollar Tree yesterday. The local Walmart's don't even have these yet. I don't normally collect Monster High stuff but I had to get it because it was Hot Wheels. This beats the larger one that can actually fit four of the Monster High dolls (No, I don't have any of those...yet).

Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile

Close up of Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile

Countdown to Christmas 2023 Day 20: Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #3 Cover

Hawkgirl and Wonder Woman are on the cover of Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #3 from DC Comics. This makes for a great Women Wednesday post for Christmas. The issue starts with Hawkgirl, Green Lantern Jo Mullein and Wonder Woman fighting Harpies in London. Then the scene switches to Blue Beetle meeting up with Superman, Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Robin and Miss Martian. Yes, this is starting to feel more like a Justice League book at this point. They are expecting Santa Claus to show up but Peppermint Jon, a Huldufolk aka an elf, shows up instead. He takes them to Norway via a portal where Santa is fighting a sea serpent named Gandr. Superman punches the beast but is excited to meet Santa. He helps him lead the beast to the secret valley while Peppermint Jon teleports the other superheroes to Greenland ahead of them. They find Krampus and attack before Santa and Superman arrive. Superman gets possessed and attacks the others before Krampus teleports away with Robin. More monsters show up thanks to Superman destroying a glacier. This sets up the next and final issue due out next week.

Cover of Batman/Santa Claus: silent Knight #3 from DC Comics

Countdown to Halloween 2023 Day 31: Kinder Joy Monsters 2023 Edition

The local Dollar General actually had one case of the new Kinder Joy Monsters stocked in the middle of September and never stocked any more. I only picked up eight since they were almost three dollars each. This year they had four little figures (mummy, skeleton, vampire and werewolf) that you could put cardboard cutouts on plus four wristbands (ghost, jack-o-lantern, skeleton and vampire bat). The figures and wristbands glow in the dark. I didn't get a complete set and I ended up with two vampires and two werewolves. I still need a skeleton figure and a vampire bat bracelet. Below are the monster figures but not the bracelets.

Kinder Joy Mummy 2023

Kinder Joy Mummy 2023 Insert

Kinder Joy Vampire 2023

Kinder Joy Vampire 2023 Insert

Kinder Joy Werewolf 2023

Kinder Joy Werewolf 2023 Insert

Here is the back of what the inserts look like that features the entire Kinder Joy Monsters collection:

Kinder Joy Monsters 2023 Insert Back

Note: You can view the Kinder Joy Monsters from 2022 here.

This is the fifteenth year anniversary of the Countdown to Halloween at Moongem Comics and I hope you enjoyed it.