Issue 194: Halloween Pranksters
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I’ve seen UFOs. Items have popped up missing, only to reappear later where they once were. Strange bruises and even burns have appeared on my skin. Standing in the middle of a room, I looked down and, right there in the center of the floor, was something I’ve been searching for for months. And, just yesterday I woke up with the feeling that I had been punched several times in the nose. I didn’t get punched, but it sure feels that way.
All of these things have brought me to the conclusion that the Halloween pranksters, which I imagine are tiny invisible gremlins, have decided to target me for their shenanigans this year.
What did I do to deserve their attention?
Nothing, of course.
They simply move from place to place every year, choosing new “friends” to play with.
That’s how I figure it anyhow.
There’s nothing to be done, either. I just have to grin and bear it through the month. I don’t imagine they mean me any real harm beyond the burns and the aches and pains. I’ll be a little more on-guard, maybe, but other than that, I’ll take a lesson from good ol’ Jack in Clive Barker’s excellent “The Yattering and Jack.”
Que sera sera.
Several years ago, while I was at my table at Planet Comicon, I was approached by a man I did not recognize. As he stepped up to the table, he just started talking to me, like we were rejoining a conversation we’d been having earlier, like we were the oldest of friends. We talked comics and the business of comics. We talked about conventions. We talked about all sorts of things. It was an easy conversation. He was a curmudgeon, yes, but he was kind and friendly, too.
After a while, he headed off through the crowd at the convention.
Another creator, who was set up across the aisle from me, walked over and asked, “What were you and Keith Giffen talking about for so long?”
I was startled! I had no idea that was Keith Giffen!
I had been reading and loving his work since I was a kid! His LEGION OF SUPERHEROES has long been a favorite book of mine. Yes, he co-created Lobo and Rocket Raccoon. My favorite creation of his, though, was Ambush Bug.
And that’s how I met him.
We talked several times after that, usually at conventions, and we never brought up that we hadn’t talked before. It just always seemed like we’ve always known each other. I’m absolutely honored to have known him. Not only was he a creative force in the world of comics. He was also kind, funny, sarcastic, and genuine.
Keith passed away last week, and his final message to the world was perfectly “on-brand” for him:
"I told them I was sick… Anything not to go to New York Comic Con. Keith Giffen 1952-2023. Bwah ha ha ha ha.”
Rest in peace, Keith.
Comics… and the world in general… is a little gloomier without you in it, but we should all be grateful that you were here while you were.
Have you had a chance to check out CROOKED HILLS on Kickstarter? The book is all-ages horror, meaning kids and adults alike can enjoy the thrills and chills to be found within those pages. It is the first book in a proposed series of adventure-filled horror novels!
We have 17 days left to fund the campaign!
Your support is greatly appreciated!
On the Shakma 2000 trivia front, there was no usual Thursday night trivia this past week. (They focused on Taylor Swift that night, and we know that we need to stay in our lane.) Instead, we went to Mother’s Brewery for their Halloween horror trivia.
And we rocked it.
I pinned our score sheet to my fridge like my kid’s A+ Math Paper in 3rd grade.
We lapped the next highest scoring team.
That’s two wins for Shakma 2000 in 2023 so far!
Our next match is on Thursday, back at the Alamo Drafthouse. The theme is GHOULS, I believe.
Wish us luck!
Here’s a big announcement from NYCC!
I’m going to be writing the GATCHAMAN ongoing series for Mad Cave! Maybe a little unexpected, all things considered, but this is a book I simply couldn’t pass up!
Like most people my age, I was introduced to GATCHAMAN through the American remix cartoon BATTLE OF THE PLANETS. And I was ALL IN with these characters as a kid, and that fascination and interest continued into adulthood. I learned of the original series, the original takes on the characters, and I still loved it.
This series will take place during the continuity of the original GATCHAMAN series, but I’ve been given the opportunity to take some really, really big swings with this. We’re introducing some very exciting new story and character elements to the world of the Science Ninja Team, and I can’t wait to share the details with you.
As I mentioned, I’m writing the ongoing, while Steve Orlando and Tommy Lee Edwards will be writing several limited series that further enhance the world.
I’m so honored to be part of this story and this world!
A couple of weeks ago, I joined Jake Smith for the fifth episode of the Dead Gremlin podcast, and I had a great time.
I also hopped on Comicon.com to discuss CROOKED HILLS.
I joined Blake’s Buzz to talk CROOKED HILLS, other projects, and horror in general.
And I did an interview with the DAILY DEAD about CROOKED HILLS.
I also did an “Ask Me Anything” event on the horror comics reddit, and there were lots of great questions posted. You can check that out HERE.
I have a ton more interviews on the horizon, too!
In terms of writing, I’m still struggling to focus on the writing part of the job. There are so, so many non-writing elements of the business that are taking up the majority of my time. Interviews, pitches, meetings… I’m working a lot but not writing a lot.
Still, there have been some VERY interesting developments over the last few days.
Can I tell you about these developments?
Not yet.
But I can hint at them!
This week I had numerous discussions regarding Hollywood projects. Adaptations of my work? That came up, yes, but that was only a very small portion of the things we discussed. In addition, some major developments on the prose side of things have me adjusting my work schedule and repurposing my free time a bit. Finally, it looks like some of my older work may be returning to my hands rights-wise, and I’m already working on some exciting ideas for that material.
What I’m saying is… next year might be really freaking busy for me!
gHosts HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Investigator Nita Hawes is drawn into a decades old missing child case when she’s sent a mysterious VHS tape featuring horror hosts Count Crowley, Vamp, Doctor Fearless, Desdemona, Uncle Monster and Ms. Halloween. The hosts do what they can to guide her recovery mission but even with their help, Nita may find herself lost in a Halloween nightmare if she can’t solve this case!
This one was a bit of a surprise, really! The folks at Monster Forge wanted something cool to spring on you for Halloween, so here we have gHosts, a fun little romp that just so happens to guest star Desdaemona from SHOCK SHOP, along with a host (see what I did there?) of other horror hosts!
gHosts is available exclusively on GlobalComix, and you can read it HERE.
HATCHET: HALLOWEEN TALES V
The midnight hour is close at hand! Everyone’s favorite slasher is back with brand-new terrifying bloody tales of Halloween to enjoy this holiday season. This year’s issue is the biggest yet! Three new frightening tales narrated by the dismembered victims of Victor Crowley. Join us for an issue packed with comics, extras, and Halloween horror from start to finish! This is more gore for your buck than any other comic book! Spend Halloween in Honey Island Swamp this year and watch out for Victor Crowley!
Another Halloween surprise! I wrote one of the stories in this one, and I think it is a fun little piece of bloody Halloween entertainment!
I have been watching more horror flicks, but I haven’t been able to post about them! I’ve been a little busier than I expected to be, but I will do my best to post more of my thoughts on my website this week.
So far, I’ve watched (and in some cases documented)…
Puppet Master 4
Fear Street 1994
Fear Street 1978
Fear Street 1666
Dark Harvest
Freaky
Totally Killer
The Final Girls
Creepshow, Season 4
Here is a quick and dirty list of upcoming projects. In most cases, I’m only listing projects that are definitely on the schedule with a published. Oftentimes, I will not be able to share much information, but I can at least tease the future! Everything here is, of course, subject to change.
THE UNKNOWN FUTURE…
PROJECT: JUMP, a new comic book series in the Beyond Mortal Universe.
PROJECT: HEX, a supernatural/horror thriller.
PROJECT: HORROR, a licensed horror comic.
I’LL KILL YOU LAST - An 80s action/horror fiction anthology I’m editing.
GALLERY OF WHISPERS - An RPG project I’ve been quietly developing.
PROJECT: PREHISTORY - More kaiju craziness
PROJECT: MEGA-BATTLE - Even More kaiju craziness
PROJECT: BOT - A sequel to a story of robotic mischief
PROJECT: WATER HEATER - An apocalyptic horror/fantasy maxi-series
PROJECT: RUSH - A horror prose anthology I’m editing
BLOODBLADE - An action/horror story of destiny and demonic blood
PROJECT: CONVOY - A horror/thriller I’m co-writing
PROJECT: ARCANA - a dark fantasy series
PROJECT: MONSTER - a new horror/action/comedy series
PROJECT: HOAX - a horror limited series
PROJECT: DEAD - a short comic story
PROJECT: VARIANT - a really cool one-shot project
THE SHOCK SHOP - My online store, where you can find exclusive covers you can only get directly from me!
TWITTER - This is the best place to interact with me online. My handle is @cullenbunn
TIKTOK - A fun spot for quick videos about writing, comics, and collecting
PATREON - Here, I post a serialized novel, a serialized comic book, short stories, and other cool materials.
THE CULLEN BUNN DISCORD SERVER - A place for fans to hang out and talk about comics, books, movies, games, collecting, and whatever else strikes their fancy.
THE BUNNGALOW - Cindy and I talk about life, hot button topics, pop culture, being married to a comic book writer and EVERYTHING in between.
Awww I was getting really excited when you brought up Keith Giffen in yr newsletter as I just followed him on the socials, not realizing quite who he was but it was suggested and he looked cool :P I must've recognized his name for the Omega Men as I just scored the facsimile of Lobo's first appearance and the next couple issues (He didn't reappear and was hardly even in issue #3, let alone even officially named yet, but at least I got the joke about his original outfit in this months DC Halloween comp, which contains a great Crash & Lobo tale hahaha) That said I really appreciate yr Mr. Giffen story REST IN POWER K.G.!!! XoxoxO
I am really hoping the Project: Bot is the follow up to Byte-Sized