Archie's Halloween Spectacular #1 (2026)

Halloween night and my wait was over. Archie's Halloween Spectacular is what I look forward to the most. It's fun. It's slightly spooky. And it's safe. Halloween 2026 really seemed to be my year of Archie what with my crippling bone pain, cognitive function decline and bouts of extreme exhaustion. I stayed mostly away from the really scary stuff as I was already low in spirit. But despite my limitations, I did my very best to embrace the fun and frights of the season. 

The Archie Halloween Spectaculars always start with an all-new story. And they're usually way too short. A blast from the Little Archie past returns with the daughter of Mad Doctor Doom creating a massive robot out of a haunted house in order to terrorize Riverdale. It's run by stolen Halloween candy, and when the robot captures Betty and Veronica, it up to 2 unlikely heroes to save the day! 

Pairing Cosmo, the formerly Merry, Martian and Fly Girl from the Crusaders, they team up to rescue the girls and put an end to the Doom Family's reign of terror!

The cool thing was that this was a longer story. Usually the all-new adventures are no more than 6 pages. A couple have been as short as 3! This story was chopped into 2 stories for about 12 pages. It makes me wonder if Archie Comics has been listening to my requests for longer original frights. I have said in past reviews that I would be willing to pay more for more original material. But going from $4.99 last year to $7.99 in 2026 seems a bit steep. Plus I am pretty sure I said that I would be willing to pay more if all the material was new. 

Reprint tales include a Betty and Veronica adventure where they investigate sightings of a ghost at an abandoned theater owned by Mr. Lodge, a new costume shop turns the Archie gang into actual monsters and there's a one-pager in which Veronica scolds Reggie for not coming to her Halloween party in costume.

The Betty and Veronica mystery was a classic that I remember reading when it first dropped decades ago. The costume story seemed familiar to me as well. I think it was edited because in the scene where Dilton texts Archie that he will be late to the costume shop, the art for that sequence just didn't match the rest of the page. The punchline to the one-pager with Reggie was a hoot.

Speaking of Reggie, what's up with him wearing a fish bowl over his head with him dressed as a vampire? Is this a reference to a classic Archie Comics character back in the 60s when they were known for their horror parodies?

A great way to finish up my Halloween reads of 2026. One of the rare times where I am kinda bummed that I didn't get the variant cover. Bill Galvan's homage to the Ben Cooper costumes of my childhood, this one bearing Fly Girl, is something I would have loved to add to my holiday comic collections. It would have made the extra cost worth it. 

Inflation. It seems to be the scariest monster of this book! Until next year (God willing)...

Worth Consuming!

Rating 9 out of 10 stars.

Archie x Army of Darkness #5

The epic 2026 crossover between Archie Andrews and Ash Williams comes to an end. A bloody end. There's a splash page scene where Betty, Veronica and Reggie have guns and they're blowing Deadites to pieces. I'm not normally one for overly gory violence. But it's done in that campy Bruce Campbell way that I spent several minutes just marveling at its insane imagery. Fantastic fun by artist Bill Galvan. 

When it comes to miniseries, I've gotten to where unless something really changes in terms of plot, originality or just does something totally different, I'm not going to spend my hard earned money for it. Plus I don't have that much room in my house and collection. I've got to be really picky these days and understand that I just can't possibly own it all. But if Archie Comics and Dynamite Entertainment decide to pair up again, I have the perfect idea: Sabrina the Teenage Witch x Army of Darkness x, wait for it: Josie and the Pussycats! Have it take place in Greendale. Have the Pussycats performing a Halloween night concert. A new S-Marts has just opened in the Riverdale sister city. Deadites abound! It could happen. It should happen. I'd be first in line for it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars. By the way, I rated every issue a perfect 10. I don't think I have ever done that before for any miniseries longer than 2 issues. It's a testament to how awesome this story was. If you missed it for this Halloween, do yourself a favor and gets your hands on these 5 issues from your local comic shop and be ready to be blown away by the horror, humor and depravity of it all!

Archie x Army of Darkness #4

Ash helps Archie locate the Deadite spell in the Necromonicon. Archie must first finish the spell and then immediately recite the words to vanquish the Army of Darkness. Unfortunately, doing this in a S-Mart isn't a pure enough location to send legions of demons back to the underworld. So the gang decide to head to Pop's as it's a place of the happiest of memories! 

But first, Ash and Archie must battle the duplicate Archie gang that have broken into the big box store. Then they have to make it to their car in the parking lot, which is swarming with Deadites. Lastly, they have to save their friends and family because with the original spell now completely spoken, the Deadites have no restrictions from entering Riverdale. 

A fun issue. I've been so impressed with writer Erik Burnham. There's not been a single down energy moment to this crossover. The art by Bill Galvan has been amazing (See the variant cover from the last issue). It's so cool seeing an Archie Comics version of Ash. And the variant covers have been a delight. Such a great spooky read as we count down to Halloween.

Worth Consuming!

Rating 10 out of 10 stars.

Archie x Army of Darkness #3

Ash and the Archie gang have holed up in Reggie's new lake house. Deadites surround the compound. But the living have some weapons. Just not very good ones. With the Necromonicon in hand, Ash and the kids need to make a supply run if they are going to take on the Army of Darkness. 

To the S-Mart!!!

Normally the middle issue of any crossover is where the joining entities get to know each other. There's a lot of ego. A lot of someone thinking that the other character is a bigot, racist, creep or all 3 rolled into one. Usually nothing happens to move along the plot. But not this time!

Ash learns that Archie didn't finish the spell. In the last issue, we're only made aware of it because of the leader of the Army of Darkness explains to his lieutenant why the Deadites haven't invaded Riverdale yet. Anyways, Ash getting the Necromonicon in his possession is a big plot mover. Wrangling up the Archie gang and heading to the S-Mart- another big plot move. Add in a Deadite version of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie and Jughead. It's a trifecta of big plot moves. So rare and I loved it!

I also love the variant cover that my favorite comic shop ordered for me. It's pretty much the only thing missing from this miniseries; an appearance from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Seems this amazing cover from Bill Galvan might be the closest we get to that. Ooooooh... I'm getting vibes of what the sequel could be: Army of Darkness x Sabrina the Teenage Witch x Josie and the Pussycats!!! Archie! Dynamite! Make this happen!!!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Archie x Army of Darkness #2

The action returns to the present minus maybe 2 or 3 hours. At the S-Mart, Archie's car wouldn't start, so his new trainer Ash offers to drive him to Reggie's lake house bash. On his way back to Riverdale, Ash runs into an old friend who's literally a chip off the old block. This signals to Ash that the kids are next on the Deadite menu and with his trademarked duffel bag of weapons, the Main Man hoofs it! 

Meanwhile, it's discovered that Archie actually read from the Necromonicon. But he didn't finish the incantation. That limits how much damage the Deadites can amass and keeps Riverdale safe... for now. But if the Deadites can capture Archie, they can make him finish the spell and open the town up for the Army of Darkness!

I've not been disappointed with this series. True, I'm only on issue #2. But it's been a ton of fun. I must embarrassingly admit that I totally blanked on who the main antagonist of this crossover is. I knew that it was a character from Army of Darkness. But I just couldn't place the name. Shame on me. Shame.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie

When a bratty girl claims to have seen a murder, nobody seems to believe her. But when she turns up murdered after a small community's Hallowe'en party, there may very well be some credence to the child's wold claim. On the request of an old friend, Hercule Poirot leaves his flat in London to assist with the investigation. Every witness claims that the deceased was a compulsive liar, leaving Poirot without a suspect. But the deeper he digs, the renowned detective becomes entangled with the exploits of a contested will, a missing au pair girl and the death of a legal aid with a shady past.

I struck gold this past summer finding this Halloween themed novel by Agatha Christie. I also found an Christmas mystery that I look forward to reading in December. I had been wanting to see the Kenneth Branagh led A Haunting in Venice and was disappointed to see that the film was stuck on streaming channels that I don't subscribe to. Well, you know how folks annoyingly say 'The book was better.'? Well, I got a chance to say just that because A Haunting in Venice is based on this 1969 novel. (Okay- I still haven't seen the movie!!!) Only there's no scenes in Italy. 

This is late Agatha Christie. She only released a couple more books before her death in 1976. I don't know if the writer had become kind of disillusioned with the mod and counterculture Generation of England. Maybe she was alarmed by the rise of youth violence both by them and against them. Surely, Christie felt that crimes had become more sordid as the result of the British government releasing a number of mental patients into the populace as it seems just about every body in town thinks that a deranged drifter raped the loudmouth girl before killing her. I'm not kidding! It seems only Poirot and his old friend, an aging mystery writer, who is clearly a literary version of the author, who hold steadfast that there's some other ulterior motive behind the murder. 

I wonder why Christie didn't have Miss Marple team up with Poirot in this book because next to the famed mystery writer, the fictional version here seems a lot like the spinster sleuth. I digress...

Anyway, this book seems to read a lot like an Agatha Christie TED talk that combines the author's rants to keep kids off her lawn while attempting to solve a homicide. It wouldn't be so bad if this book wasn't so darn repetitive. You know how in those comedies with a narrator that the speaker makes an observation before the main character exclaims exactly what the unseen voice just said? That's how this book reads. I don't think I have ever read the words 'vegetable marrow' in my 48 years of life. But here, the term is used a dozen times in the first chapter alone and most of the time is in the fictional writer's head. Basically, pick an odd, random British term for an object and every chapter seems to fall into this repetitive trap to the point of silliness. 

Was this a good read? Sure. It just wasn't my favorite Agatha Christie read. After like the third or fourth chapter, none of the action takes place on October 31st, although Poirot keeps coming back to that fateful night in his questioning. I felt that the solution was adequate despite that there is at least 1 red herring. A little misdirection that sadly never gets resolved. But I'm okay with that. Although, doesn't that mean that there's still a killer on the loose in this idyllic British village? 

Now that's a frightening prospect.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Archie x Army of Darkness #!

I haven't had so much fun reading a comic book in a very long time. For some reason, with my health issues, reading a single comic book wears me out. Yet when I finished this opening issue, I was so ready for more. I actually gave a yell of despair on par with Ash at the end of Evil Dead 2 when he realized that he was stuck in medieval times, when I discovered that for some reason, I didn't have issue #2.

Thankfully, the guys at Atomic Empire in Durham were able to assist in what was a fairly quick search. I so hate a cliffhanger. Especially when I don't have the next issue in front of me. But a 4 day wait wasn't so bad. 

The story begins at Reggie's new lake house. A distant relative left it to him and though Reggie can't legally own it until he's 21, Mr. and Mrs. Mantle have given their son permission to throw a massive party. While taking Archie, Betty and Veronica on a tour of the new place, they discover a secret passage. The teens wind up in a personal library that seems devoted to the arcane. Among it's contents is a copy of the Necronomicon. Or perhaps it's the real thing. Anyway, Archie for some reason, is compelled to read aloud from it and by doing so, it unleashes a horde of Deadites. 

You might be wondering why I haven't mentioned Ash Williams. Is this one of those opening chapters of a crossover where the main parties only meet on the cliffhanger page? Thankfully it's not. Archie and Ash meet and interact for about a third of the book. Instead, its a flashback of a few days prior with Archie becoming the newest employee of the Riverdale S-Mart. His trainer: one Ashley J. Williams!

If you are a regular reader of my reviews, you might be wondering why I read this Evil Dead spin-off if I am not a fan of demons and witchcraft in my horror reads. Well, you can blame my dad. I grew up watching the Evil Dead movies with him. While The Amityville Horror II: The Possession scared the crap outta me, for some reason the Evil Dead movies made me laugh. Maybe it's because zombies coming to life from a macabre spell is less realistic than humans becoming possessed by demons. I think the wonder that is Bruce Campbell has a lot to do with it as well. 

(There better be a national day of mourning when that American icon meets his eternal reward.)

Anyways, I was disappointed that it ended and was left hanging. But I don't really blame Archie Comics or Dynamite Entertainment for this. It's been a real struggle for comic shops to keep up with orders with there not being a central distribution center in the absence of Diamond. Other than not, I really had no viable complaints about this opening salvo. Thank goodness I have issue #2 now!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars. 

Gold Digger Halloween Super Special

I don't hate the Gold Digger franchise. I think the stories are entertaining and I greatly appreciate the holiday specials. I just don't understand it. 

There seems to be at least 2 timelines of stories in this 2018 special. One is set when the Earth's last remaining were-cheetah Brittany Diggers was a teen and then when she is a retired superhero and mother to teens of her own. Though it seems like there might be a storyline set during the Cheetah's young adult superheroing years, at least I think so. If ever a Halloween special needed a chronology, this would get my vote. 

If you can set the past the confusion of the jumping timeline after story #1 and 2, this was a fitting special for a chilly October read. Not scary. But definitely very much a Halloween read. 

First, while Brittany gets changed into her Halloween costume, her date meets Papa Diggers, who puts the fear of God into the hormonal jerk about any thoughts of making the moves on his adopted daughter. Then youngest Diggers tells her Peebo robotic pals the legend of the Great Pumpkin.

Lastly, in the future, Brittany reunites with her old teammate, the Pink Avenger, to spread some Halloween tricks and treats at a charity event and end up running afoul of one of the Avenger's old enemies. 

The artwork is heavily influenced by Manga. But it's got a lot of American influences in terms of the pop culture references and more traditional approach to super heroes. The cover doesn't really tell you anything about the contents. There is a Peebo centered story. But it's not a parody of Stephen King's Pet Sematary. Though it is a parody of Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. 

Maybe not the most easiest Halloween book to follow. Definitely not scary. But I'm trying to stay away from really hard horror this year because of the emotional and physical problems my health is giving me right now. So in a way, it's just what the doctor ordered.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Jughead #79 Facsimile Edition

This facsimile edition of a 1961 issue of Jughead is highly prized not for the contents. There's no epic first appearance of any major character. Nobody dies or gets married. When it comes to judging a book by it's cover, this one fits the definition to a T. 

Sammie Schwartz drew this iconic cover that parodies MAD Magazine while dipping a Comic Code defying toe into the realm of monsters. There's a vampire, a werewolf and a shrunken head on the cover and in 1961, those were all forbidden subjects according to the CCA. True, these ghouls are only partially seen. But its envelope pushing for the era. Although, it helps when your publisher was one of the co-creators of the Comics Code.

I've seen this image on tee-shirts, post cards and there's been a couple of homage covers that tie in Archie's humor horror titles from the 50s and 60s with the 'Afterlife With Archie' imprint that thrusted the flagging publisher back into the limelight with established and new fans. 

Unfortunately, despite the cover, this isn't really an issue that matches with my want for creepy Halloween time reads. Only one story seems to fit with the cover, a 2-pager that sees Jughead losing his nerve with every late night horror movie he watches with Archie. There's another story where Juggie has a nightmare about food. But it's more farcical than frightful even though it temporarily scares the teen off of eating hamburgers for a brief time.

The main story is definitely a product of the times. Jughead overhears a plot to steal the Riverdale High mascot thanks to a party line, a shared telephone circuit that made privacy nearly impossible! With a free victory dinner on the line, it's Jughead to the rescue! I also loved looking at all of the vintage ads. Being from the early 60s, a lot of these ads felt older. Though I was surprised with the ad for an art course near the inside back cover. It shows a girl in one of those form fitting swimsuits Julie Adams wore in Creature From the Black Lagoon. Pretty risque for a CCA children's book.

A fun time capsule of the Archie universe before it exploded into pop culture relevance thanks to the Animated TV series and faux pop group The Archie's took to the scene in 1968-69. Just don't wait until Halloween time to read it as you'll be a little disappointed by the filler doesn't live up to the creepy cover!

Worth Consuming! 

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Little Monsters #39

This is another book that I had on my wishlist where I didn't care what issue I got. I just wanted to own a copy of it. I had seen images of collectors of both comic books and horror merch finding issues of the Gold Key series in the wild and I admit, I got a little envious over it. Then this summer, right before going back to work on another school year, I found a copy in fair shape for a decent price. 

The Little Monsters is one of Gold Key's few independent properties. Known mostly for licensed material such as Star Trek, this series debuted in 1964 as a backup feature to The Three Stooges. By the 1970s, siblings 'Orrible Orvie and Awful Annie were headlining their own series which ran for 44 issues until being cancelled in 1978. This issue was from my birth year of 1977; so its near the end of their impressive run. 

The first adventure sees a visit from a distant relative who creates a tornado every time they laugh. Then the family goes on vacation to a ghost town. While exploring, the siblings discover a window into the past and end up capturing an Old West bank robber. Lastly, Mama Monster enters a painting into an art contest. Only the unseen image is so frightening, it turns anyone who views it into stone!

There might have been a fourth story. If there was it wasn't memorable to me. These stories had a feel that I remember anytime I read a Gold Key humor book as a child. It felt immersive. It felt safe. It felt just a tiny bit off. Like there was a lack of fluidity to the art. It's almost like whomever was illustrating this issue did it for the paycheck. There's no love of the artist's craft in these stories. No care about the characters. A really sad disconnect. 

At least I enjoyed it. It definitely was worth waiting until October to read. But now that I finally have an issue in my collection, I don't feel compelled to go out searching for the other 43 issues starring the Little Monsters.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Archie Comics Digest Halloween Special (Archie Double Digest, Vol. 2 #7)

This might be an Archie Halloween. I have so many issues that are appropriate for the season and with my recent health struggles, I've been needing a pick-me-up. 

My favorite comic book shop came through again ordering this digest sized collection of spooky tales set in Riverdale. I had forgotten all about making pre-orders with everything going on. Great to know that I have the guys at Books Do Furnish a Room have got my back.

Usually, when I get a brand new Archie digest, there's at least 1 story that I have either read before or I own in a holiday collection... Or both. But for 2026, I batted a 1000, because there wasn't a story or fun page that I had encountered before! Let's look at some highlights:

1) Little Archie and pals travel with Mr. Lodge to inspect a new property he bought. The home of a former movie special effects wizard, rumor has it that the place is haunted. The group is naturally uneasy by this. But they press on.Howver, the legend might be true with Little Archie encounters a monster on sight. 

2) An all-new story written by R. Alan Brooks, that pays homage to a location so revered, it's appeared in both the DC and Marvel universe and the interactions of both worlds is considered canon without the need of a licensing agreement. The artistic Scarlet, gets an invitation to host a float in the annual Rutland Vermont Halloween parade. Hoping to spread awareness about Autism, Scarlet starts to panic. With Scarlet's cat Michelangelo as inspiration, friends Chuck and Nancy rally around her to create the most float ever!

3) In at least 2 stories, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, visits ghost towns and abandoned mansions that really do seem to be haunted.

4) Lastly, Archie uncovers a plot to rob the Halloween charity event being hosted by Veronica. 

There was several other stories that I probably have forgotten about. It doesn't necessarily mean that they were bad. I actually changed my opinion on one of the stories. I at first was not a fan of the story about Scarlet. The artwork was by Colleen Doran, of which I am a big fan of her collabs with Neil Gaiman. But her art didn't match what I am used to. Yet when I read the post script and was reminded of the importance of the town of Rutland, I actually fell in love with the adventure. 

Still I am struck by how violent the Little Archie stories are with a madman in a monster suit trying to push the kids off of the roof of the haunted house. Maybe that's why I like the Little Archie stories the best because they don't pull any punches. Not that teen Archie doesn't have it's share of danger and intrigue. But I really think that whomever wrote those tales wasn't a fan of kids.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Melvin Monster #7

This is one of those books where you really want to own a copy of it and you really don't mind which issue it is. Melvin Monster was the creation of legendary humor comics specialist John Stanley. 10 issues of Melvin Monster was intermittently published from 1965-1969. And each issue was scripted and illustrated by Stanley himself.

That's why I wanted to own just a single book from the original run. I have a few comics with material from John Stanley. But this is the first one that is from original printings. So it's like owning an original Mickey Mantle Topps baseball card and not one of the seemingly endless reprints of the Yankees legend.

Melvin is a diminutive green monster with a pointy head. He kinda looks like a kid's version of the Frankenstein monster. It's his dream to one day be admitted to the local monster school. But he keeps getting turned down because he's too sweet and innocent. His father is a hulking purple version of his son and is called Baddy by family and friends. Melvin's Mummy is a literal mummy. 

It took me a little while to catch that joke about Mummy mummy.  Or is it mummy Mummy? I was too busy trying to figure out how a monster and a mummy could have a child that didn't require cloth strips. It was a real Munsters conundrum, like how a Frankenstein monster and a vampire procreate a child werewolf... But once I understood the joke, I got a real kick out of it. 

Most of the stories star Melvin. At least twice he tries to convince the witch headmistress of the monster school to admit him. One has Melvin sneaking out of town to enjoy nature. Another has Melvin trying to stay clear of his family pet, a crocodile named Cleopatra, that would rather have Melvin as dinner instead of as a loving master. One story focuses on Baddy trying to stay awake to see the fights on a TV. 

As for Baddy's birthday party on the cover, it doesn't appear as a story inside. Just a cover gag. 

Something else missing from this book is a one-page prose. Even by the late 60s with the USPS removing that first class requirement, having a story or page of informative columns was still being practiced by Gold Key and Dell. So I'm interested to know why this issue is missing such filler. I don't mind not having it as most of the prose addition isn't really that good.

But as for this 1967 issue, it was a humorous way to spend an October evening. I see shades of Little Lulu and best friend Tubby throughout as well as the Addams Family with everyone's macabre approach to life. Definitely a keeper in my collection.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Walt Disney's Donald and Mickey: Treasure Menace in Venice (Donald & Mickey #3)

I selected this 2017 Disney issue from IDW because of the cover. The image shows Donald and his nephews in the canals of Venice being menaced by a phantom. It had a Scooby-Doo edge to it and for a October read, it was a good choice.

In the title story, Scrooge McDuck foreclosures a bad debt and gains a derelict Venetian opera house. To save a buck, Scrooge sends Donald, Huey, Dewie and Louie to renovate the place. On day one, the ducks learn that the opera house is haunted by the ghost of a famous playwright who fled Italy in disgrace. Supposedly the phantom is looking for a treasure that he buried and left behind for nearly 500 years. And wouldn't you know it; on the first night in the haunted palace, that very ghost has shown up to chase away Donald and his wards!

The second story starred Mickey Mouse and his friend from the future Eega Beeva. In 'The Terrifying World of Tudor', the animals of Earth have begun to act suspiciously. On top of that, the bees have all disappeared. As more animals keep vanishing, Mickey learns that an alien entity has been offering the disappearing breeds the chance to live in paradise, away from menacing mankind. After Pluto and all of his canine kin have disappeared, Mickey is visited by, wouldn't you know it; a blasted 'To be continued next issue...'

Now as much as I hate finding out the I don't own the continuing issue of a story opener that I just read, I hate what happened here even more. This issue was marketed right on the cover as a one-shot. One-shot means one and done. There is no issue #2. Even worse, IDW doesn't tell you where to find the closer. No wonder IDW was stripped of the Disney license after only 5 years with no renewal. If stuff like this was how IDW treated a beloved property, I can imagine that they lost devoted fans and readers pretty quick. Disney is not known for letting their fan base be disappointed for very long.

Upon some further research, I learned that while this issue was labeled as a one-shot, this oversized issue was part of a series of quarterly annuals. Each sold as a one-shot! and yet inside the cover, it is listed as the 3rd issue of Donald & Mickey!  So I will be on the lookout for the Donald and Mickey: The Terrifying World of Tudor 'one-shot' for the rest of the story because I really did enjoy the opener and I want to know what happens. Plus, these Disney stories from Italy and Denmark, Sweden and places elsewhere are growing on me. They've got a clean, classic look and they're some of the more imaginative stories being produced in the creativity desert known as the early 21st century. 

Lastly, one thing about the art in the first story that just really bugged me. As you can see from the image of the cover, the menace is clearly a human male. This is exactly what the ghost looks like in the story. But when locals tell the legend of the playwright who later haunts the opera house, he looks like one of the Beagle Boys; complete with black bulbous nose. That sort of overlook is irksome to someone who gave up drawing as a teen because I never could get my characters to appear the same!

Worth Consuming but fraught with frustration. 

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Men-Thing by R.L. Stine

Legendary children's horror writer R.L. Stine takes a shot at the Man-Thing in this 2017 miniseries. I like Man-Thing. I also like his DC clone, Swamp Thing. So finding this book at an Ollie's for less than $4 was a done deal. But instead of reading immediately when I bought it over the past summer or spring, I waited until it was October. 

I think waiting was a good choice. The story is very unlike any Man-Thing story ever made, unless it was as a parody. That's because this version of the character can actually talk. Somewhere before the events of this adventure, Man-Thing was able to restore his original identity. Once again Army researcher, Ted Sallis, in mind only, he follows his dreams of becoming a movie star by moving to Hollywood. 

While in California, Ted gets attacked by his mindless old self. Suddenly, Sallis is back in the Florida Everglades. But something is seriously wrong in the swamp as gators are suddenly 30 feet tall, birds are randomly exploding and the roots of the trees are strangling the aquatic life to death. Man-Thing goes to find the Oldfather, a timeless keeper of the Nexus of All Realities. While in his domicile, Sallis discovers that the wizened man is missing and that the door to the Nexus has been left a jar! 

I swear this is not a What If... Or a What The?!,,, story. I've researched since reading this trade paperback and R.L. Stine's treatment of the Man-Thing is considered canon. But it wasn't something that sticks however. The whole affair is treated as either a dream or the result of the chaos brought about by the door to the Nexus of All Realities being left open. 

Here's the thing, while the Nexus has been a part of Man-Thing lore all the way back to 1972, a mere year after the debut of the character, this Oldfather guy had only been around since the second issue of this miniseries. And he has not been seen since. I know that I hadn't read a lot of Man-Thing stuff after the early 80s, but I knew that this guy was pretty unfamiliar to me. Usually, when this happens, I think to myself that I must have forgotten something as the Oldfather is presented as someone who's been a part of Man-Thing lore since his beginning. But no, this is a Stine creation.

When this mini was first published as 5 individual issues, Stine included a backup horror feature, very similar to how Marvel horror was presented in the 70s. Each tale of terror was very good. In fact, in terms of the dialogue, they were light years ahead of the main feature. I think the story about the neighborhood watch on alert from a series of werewolf attacks was the best. The last story about a father not thinking that the boy dating his only daughter is good enough for her was the weakest. Creepy as all get out. But it was left too ambiguous at the end and I hate loose ends.

The horror tales were what I was really expecting. 5 tales done like an E.C. Comics horror anthology. Only instead of a chatty host, it has the silent Man-Thing encountering a league of deplorable people who somehow wound up in the Everglades. As those who know fear burn at the Man-Thing's touch, when the main character goes to touch these folks, Man-Thing is able to experience their story. 

That's what I thought from the cover showing Man-Thing in Hollywood. I never thought in a million years that the muck monster would try to become a movie star. 

You know, if R.L. Stine would return to the character and try my idea, t would be willing to give the author a mulligan on this series. Enjoyable as it was, it had it's faults. I think Stine was trying to make a Goosebumps story starring the Man-Thing and it just doesn't work. Man-Thing is too serious of a character for that. But pairing of Stine and Man-Thing has promise. It just needs to be done in a serious way and I think you've got to make Man-Thing more of a observer than an active participant in the action. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn x Elvira #6

The time for the epic first meeting of Harley Quinn and Elvira has come to an end. All of the loose ends get tied up nicely. Unfortunately, this issue was more of a static chapter as a lot of the action is relayed passively. Who am I kidding?! It's all done in past voice.

Plus it gets schmaltzy. Both leads know that it's time to part. Elvira finally admits that she's fond of Harley and Quinn is sad to see a new friend depart. 

The first issue involved Harley missing Halloween due to a stomach bug. In true Chekov fashion, the 'gun' that appears in Act One, returns. Harley gets her Coney Island style Halloween bash, complete with parade, with not just the Mistress of the Dark in the grand marshal role, but Harley as well. So while the October/November festivities disappeared from the plot in issues #3-5, seemingly for good, this series ended up being a Halloween adventure.

The big question now is how to catalog this book in my collection database and where to file it. I think since Harley is the first name mentioned in the title, I can at least eliminate putting this 6-issue DC/Dynamite Entertainment collaboration under the letter E. But do I put these issues in my Harley Quinn short box or in my growing allotment of Halloween tales?

Worth Consuming!

Rating 7 out of 10 stars. 

Overall series rating: 7.7 stars.

Harley Quinn x Elvira #5

Harley Quinn and Elvira travel the far reaches of space, all thanks to the Zardoz clone, Vartox! In need of companionship for a major intergalactic wedding joining two powerful families, Vartox travelled to Earth to find Power Girl. She turned him down. So off to Transylvania Vartox went to ask Harley Quinn to be his plus one. Upon arriving, Vartox saved both Harley and Elvira from vengeful Sid, now just a floating head in a massive robot body. Vartox landed his space ship on Sid, squashing him flat ,and earning 2 lovely ladies to bring to the wedding.

I want to talk about the artwork. The main artist has been Juan Samu. (Amanda Conner, who's been on co-author duty with husband Jimmy Palmiotti, had been doing the dream sequences, throughout.) Samu's Elvira has been okay. But his Harley looks so much like Margot Robbie in the face. It's been very impressive. Now with Vartox looking like his inspiration, Sean Connery, I've really been in awe of Samu's work. Is it picture perfect? Not at all. It's more like caricature. But it looks like the actors who these characters are either been portrayed by or based on. 

Only one issue to go. So far, it's been a roller coaster. Thankfully, there's been more peaks than valleys. Hopefully as we roll into the last leg I'm hoping that it will be a satisfying conclusion. At least the penultimate chapter was a near perfect read that is leaving me hopeful.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn x Elvira #4

Harley and Elvira are on the run. Naturally, the Mistress of the Dark knows a guy in Transylvania who's a count, sleeps in and has a castle. They never say that it's Dracula. But maybe they couldn't because of copyright or something. 

While at the castle, the girls clean themselves up and give the Invisible Man the memory of a lifetime. The brides of the Count see Harley and Elvira as competition. And the disembodied brain of Sid, the sleazy TV executive who got blown up by the girls in issue #1, has a new robot body and is on his way to use it to exact revenge.

This was a good issue. Very sexual in nature. The bathing scene is about as close to an adult book you can get without losing your Teen Plus rating. But who are we kidding? Ratings these days are really arbitrary. What DC considers to be Teen Plus is a lot more tame than what Dynamite Entertainment considers. As Dynamite is the main publisher, you may find several scenes to be way more titillating than a DC Harley Quinn regular title.

So buyer beware if you're purchasing this book for a younger reader who is a big fan of Harley Quinn or you might be introducing them to puberty a lot quicker than expected.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn x Elvira #3

That merc job Harley Quinn accepted to help pay for the big Halloween in Summer bash starring Elvira went terribly wrong. Never let the Mistress of the Dark drive while wearing stiletto heels! Now Harley and Elvira must enlist Power Girl to help them escape until things smooth over.

More about the mystery woman from the last issue is revealed. She's the vengeful granddaughter of the guy Harley blew up because he cancelled Elvira's weekly late night horror film TV show. Turns out that the old guy, named Sid, survived. Well, some of him survived and what's left of him has been taken to a literal mad scientist for a new body.

While again not much happens in terms of moving the plot along, this issue was very funny. Elvira was less belittling to Harley and was more trying to get into Power Girl's tights. The flashback to the blotched hit was shocking but hilarious. Plus I really like Harley's pal Tony. Though is he wearing a fishnet polo shirt or is it a regular shirt that happens to be the same color as his skin tone? That's a question that has been bugging me for years.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn x Elvira #2

I read the first issue about a year ago. Thinking it was a one-shot, I was disappointed that this Halloween themed issue was set to continue into an  All Hallow's Eve 6-parter that would conclude sometime the following spring. So I have been sitting on this series for quite a while, waiting for this year's Halloween season to complete.

Quick recap: Elvira's weekly late night horror film festival has been unceremoniously cancelled. Irate with the news, Harley Quinn goes to complain about it to station management, only to blow up a big wig's mansion. On the run, Harley offers to let the Mistress of the Dark stay with her and her Gang of Harley's at their Coney Island compound. To seal the deal, Harley offers to pay Elvira to stay and plan the ultimate Halloween bash on the roof of the Harleys' base of operations. The fee: $5000 a week. The problem: Harley is about as broke as a investor after the tech bubble burst in early 2000.

Now on to the events of this issue...

Harley gives Elvira the tour of her new home. Inneundos aplenty. Harley reveals her Halloween bash plans to the Gang of Harleys. With very little money from their mercenary business trickling in, Harley agrees to a big score. They'll take out an evil contractor who has been destroying the competition literally. Elvira in the smallest waitress dress legally allowed in a Teen+ comic, will be the distraction as Harley and her team will infiltrate the construction company and unleash her version of insane justice. 

This was one of those issues that basically gets the players on the board. But nobody really makes a move yet. A new player is added to the mix but what they're ultimate role will be is still left murky. 

As much as I would love a comic book that focused on the day-to-day grind Clark Kent and the staff of the Daily Planet go through to report the news, I don't think I could stand a series that was just like this issue, covering the monotony of mercenary life. As much as I love Harley Quinn, I don't think I could stand long visits to her home. She's not very clean or organized and she seems okay with that.

I also didn't like how Elvira is treating Harley. Yes, I know that Elvira is known for being condescending to others, especially prudes and slimy guys who think they've got a chance of bedding her. But Harley, even in her twisted mind sort of way, is legitimately trying to be friends with Elvira. It's Harley's most fatal flaw: blindly seeing everyone as a potential BFF. Poor kid must have a billion scares along her spine from being stabbed in the back so much. 

An okay issue that made my heart more sad than glad. As much as I love the comic book characters that are the outsiders, from working with teens who feel alone, I'm starting to wish that those characters with mental illness weren't looked as damaged goods. Sure, their skewed perspective is funny and with my mental illness, I take solace in their adventures. But they've got value as much as anyone does and you'd think other super heroes and oddball characters like Elvira would acknowledge that. 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Planet of the Apes Vs. Fantastic Four

Issue #4 sees the crossover between the Fantastic Four and the residents of the Planet of the Apes coming to an end. I loved the ending as we find out why Doctor Doom had an interest in helping the Crimson Ghost become the de facto leader of the simian world. It opens up a possibility of a sequel. I know that I said in the review of the last issue that I don't want to see a sequel. And when it comes to the FF being involved, I don't. But I would be open to the X-Men or the Avengers taking a trip to the far flung future. Or maybe have Cornelius and Zira land on Earth-616. They do somehow time warp to modern day earth in the third movie in the original franchise. And their epic space flight is shown at the end. 

Don't worry I didn't spoil anything. Blame the cover for that. 

Speaking of the covers, I kept wondering why Sue Storm looks like Pam Anderson. And why was the look of  Marvel's First Family so darn familiar. That's because the main cover artist is Greg Land, who did some of the covers for other FF series in the past. I think one of those series was Ultimate Fantastic Four. 

An enjoyable read that ended at just the right time. But be sure all of your pages are properly cut. My second and third pages weren't and I went through the entire issue wondering how some serious plot changes occurred. Thanks to the conjoined pages, I had skipped it altogether and I didn't figure it out until after I finished the issue. So that is why my rating is just a bit lower than the other 3 issues. Yes, poor production values of the work are something I consider when evaluating them.

Worth Consuming!

Rating 8 out of 10 stars.

The Flintstones and the Jetsons, Vol. 1

It's finally October. After a rough, rough September, I am so glad we're now in the 10th month of the year. I choose this collection of the first 6 issues of the 1997-1999 series because of what was awaiting me in issue #5. But first, a recap of some of the stories from America's favorite Stone Age and Space Age families.

The first issue is a quasi-crossover. It starts with Fred and Barney meeting the ancestor of the Jetsons, Gorge Jetstone. The newest employee at the rock quarry, Jetstone is a terrible bumbler. Yet somehow he manages to get Fred's promised promotion when Gorge accidentally discovers fire. Then George Jetson meets Spacely Sprocket's newest employee, Ferd Flintson; a descendant of the Flintstones! Here George and Ferd compete for a new promotion by being the first one to bring an emergency sprocket to the history museum.

Other stories sees Fred and Barney transformed into women by the Great Gazoo. Mr. Spacely gets turned into a baby when a practical joke from George backfires. When George and Jane go on a romantic weekend getaway, Judy and Elroy throw a huge house party. Dino becomes the one first purple dinosaur on TV and then back in the future, in a story that while supposed to be funny, is eerily a modern day horror, George is required to train his robot replacement.

These were all very funny stories. The art was good. But I couldn't tell whether the inking was bad or if it was something off about the print process. That's because in several stories, especially the Jetsons episodes, the dark brush-like outlines of the characters looked pixelated instead of smooth. I guess it's a good thing that the inking wasn't the reason I got this book. My interests were all due to the holidays. 

In the Flintstones story of issue #5, the Flintstones and Rubbles celebrate Halloween with their frightful neighbors, the Gruesomes. In keeping with the tradition of having real modern day celebrities given the stone age treatment, the guest star is a prehistoric ancestor of Marilyn Manson. 

I just couldn't wait and got into early Halloween reading mode by reading the Gruesomes story last night. I apparently couldn't wait for Turkey Day either, as in the next issue, Fred and Barney go hunting for a dodo to grace their Thanksgiving Day table spread. It was a heartwarming story and a surprise as I only knew about the Halloween tale before I bought it. 

With just a single holiday story, I'd be tempted to sell this for trade credit. But with 2 of them and Thanksgiving comics being so rare, this volume is definitely now a permanent feature in my holiday comic book collection. Now if I could just figure out which holiday to catalog it under.

Oh, and just so you know. Volume 1 is the only trade produced from DC based on this series.

Worth Consuming!

Rating 8 out of 10 stars.

Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four #3

Issue #3 sees the original Fantastic Four still without their powers with Dr. Zaius, Cornelius, Zira and General Ursus bearing those missing cosmic powers. 

The Crimson Ghost, along with his super powered apes, have arrived on the Planet of the Apes. So has the dreaded Doctor Doom! To help become the planet's new ruler, the Crimson Ghost has been spreading propaganda, inciting a insurrection that puts General Ursus as the puppet leader of Ape City. 

A very thrilling issue that sets the board up for what promises to be an unforgettable finale. I understand why the Crimson Ghost is on the Planet of the Apes. He's got a thing for monkeys. But why does Doctor Doom want in on the seemingly primitive planet? It just doesn't make sense to me.

As for the upcoming finale, I hope that will be a definite ending. Not that I hate this crossover. In fact it's fantastic. But I am getting tired of the memories of really good miniseries being tarnished by the eventual sequels that diminish in quality with each subsequent attempt to milk a drying up cash cow.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars. 

Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four #2

As you can tell from the cover, the Apes have obtained the cosmic powers of the Fantastic Four! The design of Dr. Zaius as the rock cover Thing was awesome. You can thank artist Andrea Di Vito for that.

I'm also a fan of the way a human form Ben Grimm is looking. He's got a crooked beak from too many broken noses. Cauliflower ears as well. He's hairy as all get out and along with being covered in scars and muscles, you very much see the Thing hiding underneath the man. 

Another excellent chapter in this once unthinkable crossover. It really makes me wish I had my old General Ursus T-shirt from my college days. It's also got me wishing for a Planet of the Apes (classic franchise, please) marathon, though with October just days away, I probably would have to wait until November for that to occur. 

Bring on chapter #3!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Great Moments in Chocolate History: With 20 Classic Recipes From Around the World by Howard-Yana Shaprio, Ph.D

This look at the history of chocolate was published in 2015 by National Geographic. So don't expect a more commercial look like when the first Reese's Peanut Butter Cup debuted. This is more of a scholarly text but told in layman's terms. Although I still have trouble understanding what chocolate liquor is. I've tried for years to wrap my head around that luxurious food stuff. Some candy bars are mentioned. But it's mostly if the manufacturer made a major breakthrough in the process or the manufacturing of chocolate. 

Speaking of candy companies, the Mars corporation gets a lot of love. That's because the writer of this book is Dr. Howard-Yana Shapiro, the chief agricultural officer of Mars, Incorporated. Somehow that just feels like Nat. Geo is lowering its standards with a corporate sponsor. The author lauds praise upon praise of the steps towards sustainable farming of cacao and fair trade practices that the Mars corporation is doing to ensure that the next generation of chocoholics have chocolate. I would have been okay with this if Dr. Shapiro had included how the Mars family first managed to get a life-time contract for purchasing Hershey chocolate and then stabbed Milton Hershey in the back, reneging on the contract and then leaving the Pennsylvania company in the dust.

About a third of this book is a cookbook. And with the chocolate expert's tips on the proper uses and techniques for cooking with chocolate, these are some of the best recipes that I have ever come across as a culinary instructor. There's several that I think my students will enjoy like how to make macarons. Thanks to the recipe in this book, I finally feel like I have a much better scientific understanding of the process of making this highly requested desert. Personally, I want to make the Chicken Mole dish with the recommended pairing of steamed rice. 

If you want a book that explores chocolate through historical accounts, scientific discoveries and the taste buds of fans worldwide, this is a good book to start with. I bought my copy of a Friend's of the Library bookcase sale display for only $5. While I do feel that there was a bias towards the makers of M&Ms and Snickers, I did learn some new facts and new cooking techniques. Plus I don't feel quite so scared that the world's supply of chocolate is going to dry up in the next few weeks. Though if we don't get on the ball in supporting more farmers and pest and disease resistant strains of cocoa trees, it might be a confection that only the richest citizens of planet Earth will be able to afford.

I don't know about you. But I need my chocolate fix. So, Dr Shapiro, if you needed to give your employer a little bit of free advertising to get the message of sustainable farming practices for cacao, that I guess I will begrudgingly support your efforts.

Worth Consuming!

Rating:7 out of 10 stars. 

Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four #1

I know that with my mystery blood disease that I've been really behind on keeping up with the new releases. But how did I miss this one?!

From earlier this year, Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four is a 4-issue mini co-published by 20th Century Fox and Marvel. As much as Disney's monolithic acquisition of studios and franchises alarm many, I appreciate how we're getting crossovers that 5-10-20 years ago would have been unthinkable. Some crossovers aren't that very hard to pair together. Having a Predator stalking prey in downtown New York City and battling Earth's Mightiest Heroes in an effort to take the perfect hunter down isn't as big of a stretch as the pairing of apes and Marvel's First Family. They're from 2 totally different universes. But writer Josh Trujillo actually found a way to make it work.

Our story begins at the Baxter Building. The former Soviet supervillain, Crimson Ghost and his band of super smart simians infiltrate the home of the FF in search of a device called a Di-Quantum Stabilizer. Somehow the Crimson Ghost learned of the existence of a world where apes are the dominant species over man and the Commie wants in on the action. (As the villain once maintained operations on the moon, I suspect that he learned of the Planet of the Apes from his one-time lunar neighbor, Uatu the Watcher.)

The Crimson Ghost finds the device and in battle with Mr. Fantastic, he activates it. Only instead of himself and his monkey minions going through the inter-dimensional portal, it's the Fantastic Four who are sucked through!

Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben find themselves on a semi-arid planet. Instead of being covered in rocks, Ben Grimm is back in his flesh and blood form. Reed cannot stretch. The only thing hot about Johnny Storm is his temper. The Fantastic Four have lost their cosmic powers and they better figure out things fast because they soon find themselves captured by the gorilla soldiers of General Ursus and in front of the tribunal of Dr. Zaius, facing a death sentence!

I loved this opening chapter. It had the feel of that 1968 original sci-fi classic. I especially loved how you get an opening scene of about 3-4 pages and them boom! There's this amazing splash page that is an homage to the '68 theatrical poster. If ever a comic book needed a soundtrack, it's this one. Though in my head, those iconic drums from the opening theme played in THX surround sound in my head.

There's a fantastic twist that occurs right before the not-so surprising cliffhanger reveal. The cover kinda spoils the cliffhanger. As for the twist, you'll find out on the cover of issue #2. So you can't blame me for letting that cat out of the bag. 

I cannot wait to read it. This has been a nearly flawless crossover this far.

Rating 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Point One #1

2011's Marvel Point One isn't as coveted as the following year's Marvel NOW! Point One. The 2012 one-shot marks the very first appearance of Kamala Kahn, who will become Ms. Marvel. I'm very fortunate to have gotten a copy of that book in a grab bag and have it graded. But that doesn't mean that this issue doesn't have any resell value also.

This issue bears the first appearance of the Sam Alexander Nova. Kaine Parker, the clone of Peter Parker, takes up the mantle of the Scarlet Spider for the first time. Plus, there's the only and only appearance of twin siblings Coldmoon and Dragonfire. Don't know who those last two are? Don't worry, I didn't either. 

Further research says that the yin and yang siblings were supposed to be the main characters for a new video game aimed at the Chinese market. This issue was to be their formalization into established Marvel canon. But the game got cancelled and plans for Coldmoon and Dragonfire to become the newest members of the Avengers was quietly scrapped.

You might be wondering just how do you explain these two characters saving Earth's Mightiest Heroes and then just never seeing the light of day ever again. Turns out that the framing story by Ed Brubaker presents every story as either the happenings of an alternate Earth or being part of a possible Earth-616 reality.  

A pair of mysterious men in indecipherable spacesuits have infiltrated the lunar sanctuary of the Watcher. Every 3 years, Oatu goes catatonic for precisely 42 minutes. During this time, anyone can enter the Watcher's domain undetected. These infiltrators are looking for some key piece of information about a future cataclysmic event and while searching for that data, they encounter those events that may or may not ever come to pass. 

This special was designed to give new and established readers a starting point for the events that would take place over the course of 2012. A look at the Age of Apocalypse and Steven Strange's newest lineup of Defenders are also shown in these pages. The over-arching action occurring on the Moon would be the starting off point for the year-long maxi-series event Original Sin, which I think I own the whole thing but haven't read it yet. 

I can't believe I was so dumb. I looked up just who were the 2 guys in spacesuits trespassing Uatu's compound. The main character is never mentioned by name. But he does call his partner Andrew. Andrew it turns out isn't important. In fact, I don't think he ever turns up again. As for the leader, I'll give you a couple of hints: he's one of my favorite non-super powered Marvel characters and he is a major player in the events of Original Sin. Once I figured out who it was, I was smacking myself upside the head because I couldn't believe that I couldn't figure out who it was!!!

A good story, of only to motivate me to read Original Sin after my Halloween 2026 reads are completed. I have no interest in following up on the return to AoA. I don't think I really care about the new Nova. Scarlet Spider? Maybe if I found the books at my local library. But the Defenders book has been on my radar for a while. Maybe it's time to pull the trigger on that one. 

I probably won't get this one graded as I have a slew of other books I would like to see get the treatment that are way front in line of this book. But it's something I will be holding on to!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.