Marvel & DC Comics Do The Monster Mash For Halloween

Showing their Halloween spirit, Marvel and DC Comics will be publishing some fun variant comic books throughout this month that mash together some of their most popular super heroes with a monster theme.  25 titles from DC Comics ranging from Batman to Wonder Woman will have variant covers with a spooky monster twist to them.  2015 is the second year in a row that DC has celebrated the Halloween season with a month long monster theme for variant covers.  Marvel is also joining in on the monster theme this year with some special variant covers of their own which will celebrate some of the great creations by renowned comic book artist Jack Kirby.

Stan Lee is popularly associated with creating many of Marvel's super heroes, but less known outside of the comic book culture of die-hard fans was that a gentleman named Jack Kirby illustrated Lee's ideas collaborating in bringing them to life in the pages of comic books.  Kirby helped create The Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the original X-Men, and a host of other characters for Marvel.  In addition to drawing super heroes, Jack Kirby also had a passion for creating monsters like Devil Dinosaur, Fin Fang Foom, and Rommbu who served as the villains to Lee and Kirby's super hero creations.  Not all of his monsters turned out to be bad guys though as Groot who originally appeared in Tales to Astonish 13 eventually became one of the most popular heroes of Guardians of the Galaxy.  Marvel will be paying homage to Jack, who passed away in 1994, by publishing 26 variant Kirby Monster comic book covers in October.

Here are a few of the Marvel Kirby Monster covers:

Amazing Spider-Man #2 /  Infant Terrible

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 / Groot

Civil War # 5 / Lo-Karr, Bringer of Doom

Here are a few of the DC Comics monster covers:

Aquaman

Green Lantern

Batman Beyond

If you enjoy the monsters and creepy things that slither out around Halloween, keep an eye out for these comics appearing on store shelves between now and October 31st.

5 Ways Comic Books Can Make Your Halloween More Fun

Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of the year ever since I was a little kid ... haunted houses, trick-or-treating, scary movies are fun thrills to enjoy throughout the month of October. Enjoying comic books can be another great way to enhance the spooky vibe of the Halloween season.  Here are 5 ways comic books can impact your Halloween spirit:

5.  WATCH CONSTANTINE ON NBC

Constantine is a new television series on NBC premiering on Friday, October 24, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT.  The series will focus on John Constantine a dark exorcist, occult detective and con man who is struggling with his past sins as he attempts to protect humanity from a gathering supernatural threat.  Constantine is based on the Hellblazer comic book originally published by DC Comics and more recently by its Vertigo imprint.

4. MONSTER THEMED DC COMIC BOOK COVERS

During the month of October, DC Comics will be publishing variant covers with a MONSTER theme for a variety of their comic book titles.  Keep an eye out for these spooky covers on the store shelves of your local comic book shop.

Action Comics #35

Batgirl #35

Batman #35

Batman & Robin #35

3.  DRESS UP AS YOUR FAVORITE SUPERHERO 

Show off your Super Hero Spirit by dressing your family up together with an Avengers or Justice League theme for Halloween.

Avengers: Captain America, Black Widow, The Hulk & Thor

 Justice League: Batman, Green Lantern, the Flash & Wonder Woman

2. WATCH THE WALKING DEAD ON AMC

If you enjoy being spooked out  than the AMC cable network's hit series The Walking Dead is a must watch show.  The premise of the television series now in its fifth season is that an epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe. Now the dead  are walking the world with a hunger to feed on the dwindling number of survivors who manage to stay alive. 

The television show is based on The Walking Dead comic book series published by Image Comics starting in 2003 and is a still ongoing monthly serial.  In 2010 it received the Eisner Award for Best Ongoing Series.  Eisner Awards are like Emmy Awards for comic books recognizing the best in the industry each year.  The Walking Dead comic books are also a great read, especially during this time of year.  They are printed in black & white which enhances the horrific nature of the stories.

1. TRICK OR TREAT AT YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK STORE

On Saturday, October 25th participating comic book stores across the country will be giving out FREE Halloween themed comics to people, with or without a costume, who stop by that day.  There are 12 full size comic books being given out ranging from AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE to SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP WITH BATMAN.   There will also be 7 mini comics given out ranging from ANGRY BIRDS to VAMPLETS: THE UNDEAD PET SOCIETY.  Make sure to swing by and pick up these treats being given out for absolutely FREE!!!!

Visit www.halloweencomicfest.com to find participating comic book stores or for more information.