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.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 19: Secrets of Haunted House #31 and #34

Secrets of Haunted House (December 1980) introduces Mister E on the cover and in the final story titled "The Twice Cursed Man". Destiny is does his monologue on the first page and is also makes a cameo at the beginning of the same story. The other two spooky stories include "The Short Road to Damnation" and "The Morbidity Factor". "The Wish" is a funny one page about why you should not wish for a treasure chest if you in a rowboat. "The Haunted Mailbox" is a letter page that shares space with coming DC Comics. Interesting ads featured in this issue includes Saturday's Best on ABC (Super Friends, Happy Days Gang, Scooby and Scrappy Doo, Richie Rich, Heathcliff and Dingbat, Plastic Man and Thundarr the Barbarian), Hostess Cup Cakes presents "Wonder Woman and the Baron", Fun Factory (Spy Scope for only $2.00, Venus Fly Trap for $1.75 and more novelties), Masquerade Make-Up Kits (only 44.95 each) and O.J. Simpson hawking Dingo boots.


Mister E graces the cover of Secrets of Haunted House #34 (March 1981). Destiny takes about oblivion. The three chilling tales include "Double Your Pleasure", "Haunt of Hate" and Mister E in "The Left Hand Never Knows...". "The Haunted Mailbox" once again shares a page with comic DC Comics. Interesting ads in this issue includes Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents "Superman Saves the Weather Satellites!", Creature Creations posters, Fun Factory (Smoke Clouds Bomb for $2.00 and Spud Gun for $2.00) and Star Wars Fan Club.

Halloween Countdown Day 18: Secrets of Haunted House #18 and #25

The first page of Secrets of Haunted House #18 (November 1979) has Destiny introducing the title. The three mystery tales featured within are "Full Circle", "No Sleep For The Dying" and "The Fiery Pit of Doom". Interesting ads include LEGO Expert Builder Series, Fruit Stripe Gum Sweepstakes, Slim Jim, Super Heroes Glue Sticks (features Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man and the Hulk), Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents "Green Lantern vs Triclops Three-Eyed Keeper of the Cave", Justice Leage of America #172, Hubba-Bubba, Unexpected #194 (combines that title along Doorway To Nightmare and The House of Secrets), Draws-A-Lot Crayons, mystery titles from DC Comics subscription ad (Ghosts, House of Mystery and Secrets of Haunted House), America At War and Heroes World catalog (featuring Underoos, Mego pocket super heroes, utility belt and a few comic-related books). "The Haunted Mailbox" is the title of the letter page. The Daily Planet is volume 79 issue 33 with "Unexpected Chills" as the main headline.




The first page of Secrets of Haunted House #25 (June 1980) features Destiny setting the stage for what is to come. The two chilling tales include "Crimson Oasis" and "The Man Who Cheated Destiny". A one page "Haunted Humor" is included about how to a werewolf hunter making a big mistake. Interesting ads include "The Saga of Johnny West" promoting Acme boots, BubbleYum (in five great flavors plus sugarless), Sea-Monkeys, Hostess Cup Cakes presents Batman in "Catman on the Prowl", a promo ad for The Untold Legend of the Batman mini series, DC Comics Presents (featuring Superman and Captain Comet), The Brave and the Bold (featuring Batman and Black Lightning), DC Comics mystery titles subscription ad (same one found in #18), tv superstars (Super Friends, Batman and Plastic Man), Wonder Woman promoting DC Comics subscription, 132 Roman soldiers for only $2.98 and Spalding presents "Street Ball" with Rick Barry and Dr. J. This issue has "The Haunted Mailbox" and "The Feature Page" (features an extended "Ask The Answer Man" column and "Fact File #2: Man-Bat").

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 17: Kansas Lottery Shake Them Bones Tickets

I finally found this year's Halloween edition of Kansas Lottery tickets. They are called Shake Them Bones and is not as grand as last year's Haunted House version.

Halloween Countdown 2099 Day 16: Night Force

I only have four issues of Night Force from DC Comics in my collection, which just happens to be the first two issues and the last two issues. The covers of Night Force #1 (August 1982) and #2 (September 1982) were done by Gene Colan and Dick Giordano while Gene did #13 (August 1983) and #14 (September 1983). Marv Wolfman was the writer and editor of this horror comic series. The first issue was titled "The Summoning, Chapter One: Genesis" while the second issue was "The Summoning, Chapter Two: The Burning Hand". Night Force #13's story was titled "Mark of the Beast Part 3: Past Tense" while #14 was titled "The Final Conflict".

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 15: The House of Secrets #147 and House of Secrets #3

Gray Morrow did the cover for The House of Secrets #147 (August/September 1977) for DC Comics. Abel the caretaker tries his hand at fixing the roof while vultures watch. The chilling tales include "A Gift of Evil" and "The See-Through Thief". "Abel's Fables" is a one page feature that gives a twist on the princess kissing a frog. Interesting ads includes three free baseball cards on Hostess treats, Daisy BB rifle, the Official Star Trek Poster Magazine, Crazy Crabs, the new Doom Patrol appearing in Showcase #94, a half page subscription ad, a half page Swamp Thing Saga ad, Five Star Superhero Spectacular (featuring Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and the Atom), one hundred toy soldier set in footlocker for only $1.75 and Sea World (featuring Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin on waterskis). This issue also features rules on entering the Great Superman Movie Contest. "The House of Secrets Speaks" is one page full of letters. The "Daily Planet" featured is volume 77, issue 20 with "Metal Men Vs. Dr. Strangeglove" as the main headline.


The House of Secrets #3 (December 1996) is the reboot of the series from Vertigo and features the third part of "Foundation". I am not too crazy about the art by Teddy Kristiansen, who also did the cover. Interesting ads include Mythos: The Final Tour, Preacher Special: The Story of You-Know-You and Millenium tv series.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 14: The House of Mystery #297 and #315

The cover of The House of Mystery (October 1981) was done by Joe Kubert for DC Comics. This issue features chapter five of the "I...Vampire" series titled "Zen Flesh! Zen Bones!" Other chilling stories include "Beat the Devil" and "The Idols of Millons". This issue "Cain's Game Room" is about what happens when a princess kisses a mutated frog. Interesting ads includes BubbleYum (now in six flavors), Hostess Cup Cakes presents Batman in "Lights...Camera...Crime!", Life Savers sleeping bag, Olympic Sales Club (sell seven items for Huffy Motocross Bike or seventy-five items for a Magnavox Solid State Portable TV) and Magnum 440 race set from Tyco. This issue has one page devoted to "Cain's Mail Room".

Michael Kaluta did the cover for The House of Mystery #315 (April 1983) and features an untitled "I...Vampire" tale. The other chilling tales includ "The Accusing Hand!" and "The Highest Court in the Land!" Cain and Abel in "Abel Finds Work!" is a one page funny strip. Interesting ads include four tokens for free MPC kits, TSR's "Dungeons & Dragons", half page ad for Masterworks Series of Great Comic Book Artists" from Sea Gate Distributors (shown is two covers featuring Shining Knight by Frank Frazetta), BubbleYum presents "Behind the Candy Counter" one page strip, subscription offer of DC Comics featuring a full figure of the Warlord, a subscription offer for The Omega Men and Atari. A small black and white picture of Brooke Shields reading a Superman comic is featured on the "Meanwhile..." news page. This issue features one and a fourth pages devoted to "Cain's Mail Room" (the other three fourths is dedicated to DC Coming Comics and the cover to Amethyst #1 on sale February 3rd).

This wraps up the coverage of The House of Mystery horror comics that I have in my collection. Several were bought at a yard sale (hence the writing on the covers like #315). They were not common comics found at the local grocery stores where I was buying my comics at the time or I would have bought more.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 13: The House of Mystery #293 and #296

Michael Kaluta did the cover for The House of Mystery #293 (June 1981) for DC Comics. The chilling tales include "Henson's Pooch" (one of my favorites), "The Senior Sin" and the "I...Vampire" series continues with chapter three titled "The Burning!" Interesting ads include Fun Factory (own fake vampire blood for $1.50 and x-ray vision see thru glasses for $1.95), BubbleYum, Grit, Superman Club, Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents Superman in "Gold Mine Rescue", Life Savers Sweepstakes (win a year's supply of candy and lollipops) and Johnson Smith Company (own spy pen radio for only $3.75 and a ventriloquist dummy for $3.49).

The House of Mystery #296 (September 1981) cover was done by Carmine Infantino and Joe Orlando (their initials are found at the lower right hand corner). The chilling tales include "Night Watch", "Work for the Dying", "Killed in the Ratings" and "New Hope". Ads of interest includes Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents "Wonder Woman Versus the Robot Master", Life Savers sleeping bag, free Attack of the Mutants game when you send two dollars for catalog to Yaquinto Publications and half page ad for Superman II movie magazine.

Both issues features "Cain's Mail Room" but the second has only half a page of letters.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 12: The House of Mystery #290 and #291

Joe Kurbert did the covers for The House of Mystery #290 (March 1981) and #291 (April 1981) for DC Comics. The first comic features the start of "I...Vampire" written/created by J.M DeMatteis and drawn by Tom Sutton. Other chilling tales include "An Exercise in Fear" and "Special Deffects". There is also a one page "Cain's Game Room" that features Fifi the witch turning a prince into a mouse instead of a mouse. Ads include Sea-Monkeys, Hostess Cup Cakes presents Wonder Woman and The Baron, Creature Creations posters from Canopus One and an half page ad for Mystery In Space.

The House of Mystery #291 features "Night of the Living Undead" (chapter two of the "I...Vampire" series, "A Cardboard Hero", a two page "Cain in the House of Mystery" and "The Seas Run Red!" Interesting ads in this issue features BubbleYum (now in wild cherry, tropical punch and grape), a half page offer to join the Superman Fan Club, Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents Wonder Woman in "Old Gold" and Sea-Monkeys.

Both issues have Cain's Mail Room full of letters from fans.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 11: The House of Mystery #284 and #288

The cover art of The House of Mystery #284 (September 1980) and #288 (January 1981) were done by Michael Kaluta. The first horror comic features "Ruby", "The King and the Dragon", "Friends to the End" and "Deadly Peril at 20,000". An ad featuring Batgirl in "A Matter of Good Taste" promotes Hostess Twinkies. The second horror comic features "The Piper at the Gates of Hell", "Blood on the Sand" and "When the Sea Gives Up Its Dead!" Cain has a one page of gags that features more do's and don'ts for monsters. A Hostess Fruit Pies ad presents "The Flash Meets the Bureauc-Rat". Both issues have a one page Cain's Mail Room filled with letters.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 10: The House of Mystery #282

The cover artist for The House of Mystery #282 (July 1980) was Joe Kubert, who is best known for his work on Sgt. Rock and Hawkman. The first page features Cain and boy editor, Len Wein. The chilling tales are "The Lady Killer Craves Blood", "I'm Off To My Funeral" and "Some Place Where The Sun Don't Shine". The funny one pager is "Cain's Game Room".

Interesting ads found in The House of Mystery #282 include Hubba Bubba (I remember liking this gum too when it first came out), O.J. Simpson hawking Spot-bilt autographed shoes, Hostess Twinkies Cakes presenting the Flash in "A Flash in the Dam", promo for Wonder Woman #269, BubbleYum Wild Cherry, The Black Hole MPC models, historic wargames from Atlantic Products, Superman Fan Club and DC Stars stamps. The stamps features characters that would be appearing as back up features in other comics such as Adam Strange in Green Lantern and the Huntress in Wonder Woman. Other features included Cain's Mail Room and Daily Planet volume 80, number 15.

"The Computers That Saved Metropolis" is the extra twenty-eight page bonus comic included with this issue and teams Superman with two kids using Radio Shack TRS-80 computers against Major Disaster.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 9: Ghosts #102

The cover of Ghosts #102 (July 1981) from DC Comics promises a new Dr. 13, the Ghost-Breaker adventure. The first page is actually a one pager from The Files of Dr. Geist (pictured below) dealing with a haunted fun house in the Joyland Amusement Park. The first chilling tale is "One Last Kiss" about a lady killer's victims seeking justice from beyond the grave. A one page story from The Files of Dr. Geist comes next and is titled "Specter In Silver" (pictured below). The next chilling tale is "The Truth According To Nina" that deals with a woman's father seeking to protect her and get revenge on his murderer. Finally, Dr. 13, the Ghost-Breaker investigates "The Fine Art of Haunting" in Chicago's Stillman Museum.

Interesting ads inside Ghosts #102 include BubbleYum (I remember chewing this), Kung-Fu course, Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents Plastic Man in "Gold For Dessert" and 100 Toy Soldiers packed in footlocker for only $1.98. I actually ordered these toy soldiers and was disappointed that they were flat plastic that broke easily.



Note: Ghosts #95 and #102 are the only issues that I have of this horror anthology series from DC Comics.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 8: Ghosts #95

Ghosts #95 (December 1980) features four haunting tales from DC Comics. The cover features Dr. 13, the Ghost-Breaker (pictured below). The issue opens with a one pager titled "Ghosts and the Supernatural" (pictured below) that writes about the special bond that children have with spirits. The first tale is "The Man Who Lost His Spirit" that actually starts with editor Jack Harris sending writer George Kashdan out to Gurney Castle, which is supposed to be haunted but no one has ever seen a ghost before. The second tale is "Spectral Bullets Cannot Kill!" about a hitman with a cursed gun. Next up is a one page funny strip titled "The Victim" (pictured below). The second tale is "The Labyrinth Trap" about what happens with two longtime friends that becomes rivals over a pretty girl. Another one page funny strip titled "Mr. Invisible Mann" follows (pictured below). The final tale features Dr. 13, the Ghost-Breaker investigating a haunted theater in "All the Stage is a Haunt".

Ghosts #95 features an ad for Masquerade Make-up Kits (pictured below) under the Grit ad. Other interesting ads includes Saturday morning line up on ABC (Super Friends, Happy Days Gang, Scooby and Scrappy Doo, Richie Rich, Heathcliff and Dingbat, Plastic Man, Thundarr the Barbarian, ABC's Weekend Specials and American Bandstand), Sea-Monkeys and a Hostess Cupcakes ad featuring Wonder Woman and The Baron. The back cover features a free autographed photo of O.J. Simpson from Dingo boots.