Thursday 18 October 2018

Halloween: The Night Comics Came Home

Nothing in visual art form is canon, which is a real shame.

*Direct references to dialogue from 1978 original.

Before Chaos! Comics became defunct in 2002, publisher kicked things off in 2000/2001 with impressive three-piece series.

Halloween #1

One year after The Curse of Michael Myers, Tommy takes a peek at Loomis' journals.

During his stay at Smith's Grove, Michael was bullied by other children.  He fought back by stabbing one tormentor with pencil and scarred another for life by turning up shower temperature dangerously high.

Later, Michael killed Loomis' bride to be by pushing her off a ledge.

Jumping back to the present, Tommy is attacked by The Shape and after running out of bullets, throws a glass of Jack Daniels on mask and lights it, causing him to crash through bedroom window.

Mirroring how original film ended, Tommy checks to see if he's dead, but Shape has already gone.

Halloween II: The Blackest Eyes*

Picking up immediately after #1, it concerns the Curse of Thorn and cult leader Terence Wynn witnessing Audrey Myers giving birth to Michael.

Why mother's name was changed from Edith to Audrey is unknown.

In Rob Zombie's 2007 original, it was Deborah.

Michael's middle name is Audrey.

Anyway, climax takes place inside Haddonfield Baptist Church, with Michael getting electrocuted when trying to kill Tommy.

Although in different circumstances and location, this is also how Michael is taken out in Resurrection.

Church subsequently goes boom and Cult members frame Tommy for Sheriff Brackett's murder.

Protagonist is declared insane and sent to Smith's Grove.

Halloween III: The Devil's Eyes*

A year after H20, Tommy learns that Laurie beheaded Michael with fire axe, but refuses to believe it.

Wynn orders fellow druid Krug to murder Tommy via lethal injection, but things don't go according to plan.

Stealing a car, Tommy endeavours to mow down Shape, but target takes evasive action.

31 October 2001.

Since becoming a journalist, Lindsey Wallace tells stories about Haddonfield's history.

Tommy and Lindsey are reunited and agree they must work together.

Dynamic duo find a skull with candled jammed inside.

The Shape manages to stab Tommy and Lindsey flees to the Myers house.

In Judith's bedroom, Lindsey stabs the Shape with glass shard and Tommy opens fire.

4 weeks later, Lindsey visits the Shape at Smith's Grove.

Here's the killer twist.

Skull was actually Michael's.

In a classic case of psychotic personality transference, Laurie took Michael's head as a pseudo trophy and wore mask, in essence taking over his mantle.

Nice.

This should have formed the basis for next film sequel, but instead, we got infamous pile of shit Resurrection.

*Both subtitles ref Loomis describing Michael to Brackett.

H20 and beyond

To celebrate original's 25th anniversary, one shot story One Good Scare* introduces Doctor Loomis' son David, whose patient Lindsey believes the Boogeyman is still alive and after her.

2005 DVD boxset Halloween: 25 Years of Terror spanned 4 discs (with over 7 hours of features), and contained exclusive story Autopsis.

Taking place in 1993, photojournalist Patrick Carter is given an assignment to follow Sam Loomis and find Michael Myers.

*Presumably came from Brackett's 'everybody's entitled to' line to Laurie.

Nightdance

Set in Russellville throughout October 2000, we follow new character Lisa.

2008 miniseries is comprised of:

A Shape in the Void
The Silent Clown
A Rainbow In One Color
When the Stars Came Crashing Down

Halloween: Sam explores the last year of Doctor Loomis and his complicated past.

Follow up Halloween: White Ghost has Christopher Hastings return to Haddonfield on 30 October 1978.

At face value, Halloween: 30 Years of Terror sounds like a documentary, but...

Trick or Treat

Tommy and Lindsey are told by Laurie to run to the Mackenzies house.  Upon hearing gunshots (from Loomis' gun), Mary calls the police, leading to the start of Halloween II.

Tommy and the Boogeyman

In 2005, Tommy is a seasoned a comic book horror writer.  Son's favourite story Tarantula Man* is played out on ensuing pages, with creature eventually killing story's character Rebecca.

Tommy decides to write an alternative universe, where Michael stalks his niece Jamie Lloyd cursed with Thorn.

*Comic is one that young Tommy hides from his parents.

P.O.V.

Dialogue free yarn uses Miss Haddonfield 1991, who previously appeared in Autopsis.

Visiting Hours

At Grace Andersen Sanitarium (some time before her actual on-screen death), Laurie thinks back to 31 October 1978 and imagines what life would be like if Michael hadn't found her.

After fantasy is played out, she watches through the window waiting for Michael to set her free.

Strange coincidence alert.

Title is the same as a 1982 slasher film.

Repetition Compulsion

Played out between 30-31 October 1989, Loomis and Marion Chambers (who later died in H20), hang out at Haddonfield Elementary School.

Halloween: The First Death of Laurie Strode

Taking place immediately after Halloween II, unseen aftermath of 31 October 1978 is shown, but mainly focuses on 1979.

Masks and Grotesque Figures

At Annie's funeral in November 1978, Sally Winters (first mentioned in Halloween II), also came to pay her respects.

One year later, Laurie encourages Sally to ignore the unnerving stares of local pervy pensioner Mr Riddle, and takes friend back to her house.  According to entries made by adoptive parents in Judith's diary, Laurie discovers that Michael was a wrong 'un before she was even born.

Laurie sees Michael and Riddle's dead body (nice one Mike) and runs outside screaming, straight into the arms of Loomis.

Demons Tormenting Me

Laurie shows Loomis Judith's diary, hoping he can find answers behind Michael's psychopathic nature.

As Loomis is considering buying a house in Haddonfield, Brackett blames him for Annie's death.

At Laurie's graduation party (which Loomis decides against attending), she sees Michael staring at her from inside his car and passes out.  Coming to, Michael has gone.

Fellow grad student Mike Aspinwall throws a drug-fuelled costume party.  During which, a man wearing an Emmett Kelly outfit approaches Laurie from behind.  Realising it's probably Michael, she escapes, just as figure stabs downwards.

Seeing Michael's motor pulling up outside Jimmy's house, she peers through window and watches in horror as brother snaps his neck like a chicken.

With Michael already gone, Laurie stands and sobs seeing Jimmy's corpse.

Third issue The Infernal Cortege remains unreleased (and probably never will be).

Little is known about 'upcoming' comic The Mark of Thorn, but apparently takes place in the H20 timeline, also incorporating aspects of Halloween 4-6.

It's unlikely we'll ever get to know full details.

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