Halloween Archives | Otaku No Culture

Stranger Things Halloween Special in Stores Now!

Will’s story about the Child-Eater of Hawkins sounds genuine enough.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Dark Horse Comics
Available Now

Netflix’s Stranger Things may well be part of your All Hallows’s Eve ritual with this one-off comic book special. This yarn written by Michael Moreci has all the hallmarks of a classic campfire story setup. The air is chilly, and Will’s idea is the type you’d expect to have a clever jump scare. Todor Hristov‘s art sets the tone for that, and Chris O’Halloran‘s colours draw you into the tale within a tale.

The lads are introduced to doing what they do best, goofing off and playing games. No, it’s not Dungeons and Dragons (that release is next week). They’re enjoying the night at the woods, trying to scare each other. Will’s story about the Child-Eater of Hawkins sounds genuine enough. I can hear Noah Schnapp’s voice as he tells this gently spooky legend. It doesn’t get too wildly nasty like the events leading up to their encounter with the Demogorgon–this story takes place before season one–but instead dulls the terror down to the level of Stephen King.

The terror takes place in the late 60s, when Beth Baker disappeared. Other kids–Alex, Bobby, Angela and a quickly taken fourth wheel are involved this time, and are trying to figure out why four children went missing over the years. The concept in this tale is well thought out, suggesting the entire town is in on some terrible secret.

I surmise the real world connections are just that. Specific folks in Hawkins know more than anyone else realizes. Maybe this Halloween special foreshadows an event still to come, but we’ll never know…

How to Tackle Halloween 2020 in Victoria, BC Safely

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

COVID-19 isn’t going to shut down every Halloween celebration in Victoria, British Columbia. Those events allowed to continue are smaller for a reason. Some are self-guided, like enjoying your time at two of this city’s most famous haunts–Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University or Craigdarroch Castle–and others are designed so you can wander cemeteries on your own and to appreciate the past.

Ross Bay Cemetery (with Sunday afternoon guided tours by Victoria’s foremost historian John Adams) is said to be the most haunted–if you believe the lore. Alternatively, theres attempting to find Doris, the famous Victoria Golf Course ghost. The latter is discouraged because the area is patrolled at night. But truth be told, it’s been said she’s moved on. Just what remains may well date to the time local aboriginal tribes who once resided here, prior to being converted to a huge sports park.

Not everyone wants to be confined into a coffin (at home) on the days leading up. Well, you have to be a certain famous vampire for that. The following is an ever-changing list as events are confirmed as a go by the Vancouver Island Health Association. If you have an activity which fits right in, please contact us or post in the comments section so others can enjoy!

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Legendary Comics’ has a Special Trick ‘r Treat Omnibus Style!

Each story that’s featured has Sam, a pint-sized terror, wearing loose pyjamas and a round burlap sack over his head, appearing in a panel or two. Sometimes he has full reign

Stranger Things — Trick ‘r Treat Omnibus Available to order on Amazon

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Legendary Comics

Available Now

Not every comic book publisher has an authentic Halloween day narrative every year, but when they can deliver, it’ll be hard to top Legendary Comics’ Trick ‘r Treat Omnibus! Anyone who has seen the cult hit of the same name knows just how nasty things get if you don’t observe this holiday’s tradition of paying respect to the undead! In this collection’s case, observing the rituals which the faithful follow to the tee.

Each story that’s featured has Sam, a pint-sized terror, wearing loose pyjamas and a round burlap sack over his head, appearing in a panel or two. Sometimes he has full reign, like in the wrapping narrative which makes up the comic book adaptation of the film, and his role is to enforce the rules of the season. Anyone who doesn’t precisely observe the traditions this day requires is fated to die.

Michael Dougherty (writer and director of Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Krampus) crafted this cult hit before becoming well known with the aforementioned blockbusters. This celebratory edition—uniting the past two previously released graphic novels for the first time and featuring a new special introduction from this filmmaker and other cool extras—is now on sale in stores and online.

Plus, this publisher has a promotional trailer which includes some live-action awesomeness (from the film) mixed in to show how this universe gels in different mediums!

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[Victoria, BC] This Hallow’s Eve, Let’s Take Two with Once More, With Feeling!

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Sept 24-26 & Oct 2-4
Evening performances: 8:30pm 
Saturday Matinees: 5:30pm

Tickets can be bought in advance here.

Bluebridge Repertory Theatre
2657 Quadra St

Just when folks looking for Halloween themed activities are having a hard go at finding anything locally, Starry Starry Skies is keeping current with virtual performances! They are bringing back their knockout show from last year and using the Roxy as the larger space to truly get their strut on. As with other venues, seating will be staggered to give space between parties of two.

From their website:

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Classic Halloween Games to Get Your Spook On!

Here are some games I would recommend checking out to get in the mood for thrills and chills. It has everything from lighthearted spooks to in your face jump scares!

By Shawn Trommeshauser
(Dreaming in Digital)

Halloween is just around the corner and that means it’s time to break out the scary movies and games! (Is it ever a bad time for that?) No matter how you celebrate this day, something on this list is sure to appeal to you.

Even if not, there are countless other horror and monster themed games out there from the famous titles like Alone in the Dark and Ghosts & Goblins to the letter known indie thrillers such as Doki Doki Literature Club and Pony Island, there’s always something to play alone and in the dark.

Here are some games I would recommend checking out to get in the mood for thrills and chills. It has everything from lighthearted spooks to in your face jump scares!

Luigi’s Mansion

Luigi from Super Mario Bros searched for his missing brother, Mario, while clearing ghosts out of a haunted mansion with a vacuum cleaner-like ghost trapping device. The Luigi’s Mansion series by Nintendo began on Gamecube with both a remake and a sequel available for the Nintendo 3DS/2DS systems. Give it a shot to prepare yourself for the anticipated third game in the series coming soon to Nintendo Switch!

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