Casper the Friendly Ghost and his friends Spooky, Hot Stuff, and Wendy, The Good Little Witch are back in Casper’s Ghostland #1/100. How can a comic book have 2 numbers, you ask? It’s a question we look to answer in this week’s Family Comic Friday.
Casper’s Ghostland #1/100
Written by Mike Wolfer, Pat Shand
Art by Eric Shanower
Publisher by American Mythology.
American Mythology has issued a new Casper’s Ghostland special just in time for Halloween. The comic features two all-new stories. In the first, Casper goes to visit his buddy Hot Stuff, the Little Devil. On his way, The Friendly Ghost meets a number of forest creatures who have some rather salty ways of talking. Thankfully, Hot Stuff has learned his lesson about cursing. So just who is behind this wave of foul language? Then in the second adventure, Casper plays relationship therapist to his buddy Spooky who has just broken up with his girlfriend Poirl.
I really thought that the first tale, ‘From Bad to Curse’, was delightful. Seeing cute little forest animals curse was worth a chuckle or two. Don’t worry parents! The cuss words were replaced with symbols. But this yarn would make for an interesting episode in your home if read out loud during a child’s storytime.
‘Blow Off Some Steam’, the second story in this book, wasn’t as enjoyable. I’ve never really been a fan of Spooky. He’s rather gauche and annoying as he loves to play obnoxious haunts on folks. But Spooky actually has some great moments in a couple of the shorts reprinted from Casper’s Ghostland’s of long ago.
From 1958-1979, Casper’s Ghostland ran for 98 issues under the publication of Harvey Comics. In the 90s, a 99th issue was published as a one-shot special. About a year or two ago, American Mythology obtained the rights to the entire Harvey Comics library. Thus, this first issue of Casper’s Ghostland is also the 100th issue.
The numbering of comic books can be a tricky thing for even the most experienced of collectors. For newbies to the hobby, it can be downright confusing. Generally when a series ends, that's it for the numbering. Then a second volume is debuted sometime down the road and the numbers start again at #1. But that's not always the case.
Take Marvel's Fantastic Four. On at least two occasions, the publisher reverted the numbering of the titles back to that of the original numbering of volume one that started all the way back in 1963. Now going into volume 4, Fantastic Four’s numbering has rolled back to number #1--- for now.
Currently DC has done this tactic as well in order to officially issue anniversary books of Action Comics and Detective Comics. These big deal issues usually means big money. Yet, it’s not always the big numbered issue that win over collectors. Releasing a fan-favorite title renumbered at #1 is another selling point that can result in huge sales,
To reinvigorate a title, publishers will cancel a title and reboot it with a new first issue. Marvel has been really guilty of this, running series for a very short time before cancelling it and quickly turning around with another same-titled issue with a few short weeks. I think Deadpool is currently at volume 9 thanks to this practice.
DC Comics is no better when it comes to similar practices. In fact, I would say that they are worse. For example, their series based on Cartoon Network's original Teen Titans cartoon was published as Teen Titans Go! When the Network rebooted the series into a more sillier format, producers titled the show Teen Titans Go! Those who were devoted to the original Teen Titans toon often tend to hate the new, goofier show. Thus fans trying to find copies of the original series sometimes will accidentally buy the new show’s back issues because of the same title snafu.
In cases like this, it's okay to ask a vendor if you can remove the desired issue from the protective plastic in order to determine if this is the issue you are looking for. But make sure to ask first! When it comes to purchasing online, you’ll have to do your research!!! There's tons of wiki sites that can help with your comic book search and avoid buying the right numbered issue from the wrong volume.
Hopefully, this little tutorial on numbering comics will help the younger reader in your life start their comic book collection. Remember that while there’s a trick in finding the issue’s to fill your collection, there’s no wrong way in order to catalog them. Some fans group their collections by the main character while others go ABC. As long as the collector can find their books when they want them, that really all that counts.
As for Casper’s Ghostland #1/100, I enjoyed it. Upon researching this title, I discovered that at least 2 issues of the original Harvey Comics run were Christmas issues. So, I’ll be on the hunt for them.
This special release is great for reader’s of all-ages. It’s got ghosts, devils and witches; but done in the classic Harvey style, they’re family friendly. I only wish that this book had been released a little closer to Halloween, especially since Casper’s Ghostland #1/100 was meant to act as a holiday special.
Casper’s Ghostland was released in the print medium on September 5th, 2018. Issues can still be found at a local comic shop near you. Or you can order direct from the publisher at this link here.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
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