Binge watching the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix made the day transition to night quick. On Halloween, it was the perfect show to get into the festive mood. The live-action adaptation of a nearly 50-year-old franchise and the comic book of the same name was perfect. This darker version is a departure of the light-hearted material from years past and has an odd Harry Potter style vibe to it.
The world of the mortals and “immortals” (magic users have longer lives) were once at odds centuries ago. The latter were hunted down and the mythos point to thirteen witches who took the fall so the rest may live.
This first issue of Vampironica has me wondering if her story may parallel that of Nick Knight’s (from the 90’s vampire-cop series Forever Knight) such that her indoctrination did not come easy.
By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)
If anyone asked me why I’m reading Archie comics again, I would respond, I’m looking at their horror titles because I can! Leading the charge is Vampironica.
This company has a new universe comparable to DC Comic’s Vertigo and the storytelling is very accessible. As much as I wanted to follow along to the television products, namely Riverdale because it is Twin Peaks, I dropped it when Ross Butler is not going to be a mainstay (rival to Archie). He is an actor I love following and I can’t buy how the series is going to explain a different actor in that role. At least I have The Chilling Tales of Sabrina on Netflix to look forward to.
Thankfully, these type of things does not happen on the comic book front. I am enjoying Afterlife with Archie, Jughead: The Hunger and Chilling Adventures in Sorcery (all available on Amazon) and am anxious to find out who else will become a member of the unwilling undead. To give a new spin on the hamburger-loving Jughead made me smile. I can not look at beef the same way again. With Veronica Lodge now a vampire, just what can she do is as exciting as watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the TV Series!
According to tradition: a vampire can not enter a home unless they were invited in. Her parents know the individual who created her and to learn more means waiting for the next issues. I believe this individual has been around for a long time, and The Riverdale Gazette (the afterward) is only a tease to whom this person is. I am assuming future publications will delve into the history far better, and names will be offered.
The Halloween Comicfest is now into its fifth year, and this milestone certainly needs to be recognised. Not only will a handful of major comic companies, like Marvel, will be contributing themed goodies that comic shops around the world will distribute but also there will be toys! Diamond Select‘s release is the most notable, with sculpts from Universal Monsters Select Figures line. This year will see The Wolfman, The Mummy and Lucy Westenra, Monster Hunter.
Among the most notable items that will see free distribution is Afterlife with Archie: Season Two (Archie Comics), Evil Dead 2: Beyond Dead (Space Goat Productions), Harrow County (Dark Horse Comics), The Haunted Mansion #1 (Marvel) and Scooby Apocalypse (DC Comics).
Mini-Comics offered include John Carpenter’s Tales for a Halloween Night: the Traveler’s Tale, Mickey’s Inferno and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Manga by Diamond Publications.
Please phone your local comic book outlet to see if they are participating in this program.
As for regular releases, the following are my picks of the season — but I must begin with a classic:
By Ed Sum
, 
and 