house of mystery halloween annual

HOUSE OF MYSTERY HALLOWEEN ANNUAL Extras

Fri, 10/15/2010 - 9:00am | DCE Editorial

If there's a chill in your spine...a nervous churning in the pit of your stomach...and a sense of foreboding all about your spirit...then it's time for the second HOUSE OF MYSTERY HALLOWEEN ANNUAL!

It not only has some terrific tales of zombies and other supernatural monsters, it includes some questions answered by the many talented folks who had a hand in putting it together.

Here, we’ve asked them the age old question Vampires or Werewolves? Check out their answers below!

GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI

I'd say that personally I prefer werewolves, although as some of you might remember from last year's Annual, having always been afraid of monsters I've never even dared to dress up as one of those nasty creatures. The only "monster" I've ever done, and more than once, is the mummy! One of the coolest and fastest Halloween "homemade" costumes one can ever make!

LUCA ROSSI

I love werewolves, they are fantastic horror creatures. I've always had a good feeling with them maybe because when I was 8 months old a dog bit my cheek so I've been cursed too! You can see me at work when it's a full moon (see sketch).

BRANDON GRAHAM

I like werewolves better, a guy who turns into a wolf could still be a cool guy. Being an undead creature that feeds off the living seems like a jerk move.

JARED K. FLETCHER

The Mummy.

PETER MILLIGAN

I think werewolves. I know that vampires are obviously sexual and sexy – which in the modern world is tantamount to being cool. But I like the solitary hairiness of the werewolf. The painful nocturnal transformation seems to say something about the creative process.

STEFANO LANDINI

The vampire is definitely my favorite. I’m very fond of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee and their awesome interpretations of Dracula. Not only that, but I feel as if this character is absolutely the only one that represents, in the best of ways, the monster all of us will always be afraid of.

CHRIS ROBERSON

Werewolves are cooler, but they don't get good press. If they had the kind of PR that vampires get, werewolves would be HUGE.

DANIEL VOZZO

To answer that question, I have to consider which would I rather be? I have to go with Vampire. Vampires are immortal, can be charming and have a seductive side to them, and most importantly, can get around much easier and without being noticed. . Werewolves are bestial by nature, noisy and most are at the mercy of the moon. I mean, what if you’re at the movie theater and you begin to change? With the cost of movies today, that would suck...

Tags:

house of mystery halloween annual

House of Mystery preview and announcement!

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 10:29am | DCE Editorial

The Witch Queen seems to think that Fig is very important, but the more time they spend together, the more the Witch Queen has her doubts in House of Mystery #28 written by Matt Sturges and artist by Luca Rossi. Plus, this month's short story is illustrated by cover artist Esao Andrews (FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL) and stars the dearly departed Poet.

And for those of you who haven't heard yet, the line-up of this October's HOUSE OF MYSTERY HALLOWEEN ANNUAL was announced at the FABLES panel at San Diego Comic Con. Get ready for an amazing collection of stories. To start it off, Matt Sturges and Luca Rossi introduce a group of eternal trick-or-treaters who will make there way through new Lucifer story by Mike Carey and artist Peter Gross, Madame Xanadu by Matt Wagner and artist Jill Thompson, izombie by Chris Roberson and artist Mike Allred, and Hellblazer by Peter Milligan and artist Guiseppe Cumoncoli.

What a treat!

Tags:

chris roberson, esao andrews, guissepe camuncoli, hellblazer, house of mystery, house of mystery halloween annual, izombie, jill thompson, luca rossi, lucifer, madame xanadu, matt sturges, matt wagner, mike allred, mike carey, peter gross, peter milligan

Tales from the HOM Halloween Annual: Part 3

Fri, 10/30/2009 - 7:00am | DCE Editorial

The first ever HOUSE OF MYSTERY Halloween Annual with stories from some of our ongoing series including HELLBLAZER, MADAME XANADU, and I, ZOMBIE is on sale now.

This special issue also includes some fun Halloween related questions answered by many of its amazing contributors. Here’s an exclusive sampling. Enjoy!

What is the greatest horror movie?

CHRIS ROBERSON, writer I, Zombie
It’s not really “horror,” but it was a theatrical release, so it should count. Every Halloween I make it a point to watch Rankin & Bass’s Mad Monster Party. It’s not a perfect film, but it is an awesome one. Those terrific Jack Davis designs? The voice talents of Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller? The music and lyrics of Maury Laws and Jules Bass? What’s not to love?!

AMY HADLEY, artist Madame Xanadu
Return to Oz--does that count? It's one creepy movie, from weird, turn-of-the century psychiatric machines to a queen who literally switches decapitated heads to suit her mood!

MICHAEL ALLRED, artist I, Zombie
It would be a close call between Bride of Frankenstein and Dawn of the Dead. A memory of sneaking downstairs late at night and turning on the TV to find Bride of Frankenstein on would probably give it the edge though.

MATTHEW STURGES, writer House of Mystery
The Shining is the greatest horror movie ever made. With a few notable exceptions, it doesn't rely on shock value to scare you. It's a slow burn of dread that builds and builds such that when the violence finally erupts, it's almost cathartic. I can't watch it alone.

LEE LOUGHRIDGE, colorist House of Mystery
The Other Sister, Juliet Lewis creeps me out.

STEFANO LANDINI, finishes, Hellblazer
My absolute favorite horror film is Dawn of the Dead by the great Romero.
It’s not only a film but a piece of cinematic history!

SAL CIPRIANO, letterer, Hellblazer
John Carpenter’s Halloween. A classic example of what you can do with well- placed shadows and menacing music. Carpenter did it without any major gore, a staple of slasher movies thereafter.

DAVE McCAIG, colorist, Hellblazer
The Exorcist, because it's the only movie that I find honestly scary instead of just being full of thrills.

KEVIN NOWLAN, inker, High Spirits
Frankenstein, with The Bride of Frankenstein a close second.
Amazing art direction, cast and make-up. Both movies are creepy and inventive, but The Bride is also funny.

SHELLY BOND, editor
Trilogy of Terror is my all-time favorite horror movie. It explains why I'm completely useless in the kitchen.

Have a very happy Halloween!

Tags:

house of mystery halloween annual

Key to the HOM Halloween Annual Wicked Games Q&A

Wed, 10/14/2009 - 2:00pm | DCE Editorial

Angela Rufino, Associate Editor
angelarufino

Bill Willingham, Writer
billwillingham

Amy Reeder Hadley, Artist
amyhadleygarth

Chris Roberson, Writer
chris_roberson_halloween_photo_2

Esao Andrews, Cover Artist
esaoandrews

Guy Major, Colorist
guymajor2

Jared Fletcher, Letterer
jaredfletcher

Lee Loughridge, Colorist
leeloughridgekiss

Luca Rossi, Artist
lucarossi2

Brandon Montclare, Assistant Editor
brandonmontclare

Mark Buckingham, Artist
markbuckingham

Peter Milligan, Writer
petermilligan-copy

Matt Sturges, Writer
mattsturges

Matt Wagner, Writer
mattwagnerjpg

Mike Allred, Writer and Laura Allred, Colorist
mike-laura-allred

Richard Friend, Inker
richardfriend_genesimmonskiss

Stefano Landini, Finishes
stefanolandini

Todd Klein, Letterer
toddkleinhalloween78

Giuseppe Camuncoli, Artist
giuseppecamuncoli-copy

Jose Marzan, Jr., Inker
josemarzanhalloween-copy

Kevin Nowlan, Inker
devil-kevin-nowlan-1961-copy

Sal Cipriano, Letterer
salcipriano-copy

Dave McCaig, Colorist
davemccaigcostume

Shelly Bond, Editor
shellybond

Tags:

house of mystery halloween annual, wicked games

From the Editor’s Desk: Angela Rufino

Wed, 10/14/2009 - 7:00am | DCE Editorial

Can you believe it's October already? Where did the summer go? Well, now that there's a chill in the New York air and Halloween is around the corner, only one word springs to mind. Most of you are thinking "miniskirts," and with the amount of promiscuous costumes that get paraded around on October 31, I don't blame you for that guess. But I was actually thinking about masks. In particular, one very special mask that's the centerpiece of the very first Vertigo Halloween special, THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY HALLOWEEN ANNUAL.

First it becomes stuck on Fig's pretty mug like an alien face hugger, but then you'll learn the back story of this mysterious artifact as it weaves its way through time on a journey that encompasses other Vertigo characters - including the venerable John Constantine and the monsterific cast of the upcoming I, Zombie. Did I mention the motley assemblage of creators that put this Frankenstein of an issue together? If names like Bill Willingham, Matt Wagner, Mike Allred, Mark Buckingham, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Matt Sturges, Kevin Nowlan, and Peter Milligan don't put your fingers on a mad dash to your wallet, then you're a flatlining zombie.

And as a special treat, you'll get to see what these comics perpetrators have looked like on past Halloweens, in a feature called "Wicked Games." Even better, you'll get to see the super-accurate Dutch girl get-up I was adorned in as an 8-year-old. It very nearly got me sold as child slave labor in downtown Philly. Thanks Mom!

HOMHS CV1.indd

Tags:

angela rufino, house of mystery halloween annual

Tales from the HOM Halloween Annual: Part 2

Fri, 10/09/2009 - 7:00am | DCE Editorial

This month, Vertigo is publishing its first ever HOUSE OF MYSTERY Halloween Annual with insert stories from some of our ongoing series including HELLBLAZER, MADAME XANADU, and I, ZOMBIE.

This special issue also includes some fun Halloween related questions answered by many of its amazing contributors. Here’s an exclusive sampling. Enjoy!

Who is the best monster?

JARED FLETCHER, letterer Madame Xanadu
That red Monster with the sneakers from Looney Toons.

MICHAEL ALLRED, artist I, Zombie
It has to be Frankenstein's monster. That poor ol' misunderstood oaf.

GUY MAJOR, colorist Madame Xanadu
Béla Lugosi as Dracula!

SAL CIPRIANO, letterer Hellblazer
Godzilla. Sure, not a traditional Halloween monster, but the initial movie is considered a horror movie and totally scared the pants off many folks in the ‘50s!

DAVE McCAIG, colorist Hellblazer
Creature from the Black Lagoon. Such a great design.

LAURA ALLRED, colorist I,Zombie
Frankenstein

LUCA ROSSI, artist House of Mystery
I think Alien is one of the most original and scary creatures of the horror cinema.

Tags:

houde of mystery, house of mystery halloween annual

HOM Halloween Annual: Special Sneak Peek

Thu, 10/01/2009 - 7:00am | DCE Editorial

Many of you already know that this month Vertigo will publish its first HOUSE OF MYSTERY HALLOWEEN ANNUAL. Now here’s your chance to see a few pages of what to expect--you’ll have to pick up a copy to see the amazing Halloween party 2 page spread at the HOUSE!

HOUSE OF MYSTERY:
homhs_1_dylux-1-copy

homhs_1_dylux-2-copy

Merv Pumpkinhead makes an appearance in HIGH SPRITS:
homhs_1_dylux-8-copy

homhs_1_dylux-9-copy

And meet the cast of I, ZOMBIE:
homhs_1_dylux-30-copy2

Tags:

house of mysery, house of mystery halloween annual, i zombie, merv pumpkinhead

Tales from the HOM Halloween Annual

Tue, 09/15/2009 - 7:00am | DCE Editorial

This October, Vertigo is publishing its first ever HOUSE OF MYSTERY Halloween Annual with insert stories from some of our ongoing series including HELLBLAZER, MADAME XANADU, and the upcoming I, ZOMBIE.

This special issue also includes some fun Halloween related questions answered by many of its amazing contributors. Here’s an exclusive sampling. Enjoy!

What’s the eeriest thing that’s ever happened to you?

MICHAEL ALLRED, artist I, ZOMBIE
When I was in high school I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep. I opened my eyes to find a black figure looking down at me about eight inches from my face. It had no features. And it filled me with pure terror. It absolutely had an evil presence to it. There was a street light outside my window giving the room a soft glow, yet I couldn't make out anything but a shape as I froze in a freaky staring contest. I eventually got the nerve to move and quickly rolled off the other side of the bed and grabbed my baseball bat on the floor. When I sat up it had moved to the far side of the room which was open to the stairs. The figure had its back up against the wall and slowly oozed down the stairs. I yelled for my folks who slept downstairs. I heard them stirring. They were kind of mad actually that I was yelling my head off late at night. I ran to the light switch and as soon as I turned on the lights, the shape was gone. I hope I never see it again.

GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI, artist HELLBLAZER
I have no eerie story, but if you allow me, I can tell you this: I met my wife at Halloween (which makes it very easy for me to remember the day we met!). It was at Lucca, in Italy, during the annual Comic Convention. I met Jessica in the evening, through common friends, and we really couldn’t wait until dinner was done to kiss each other, when she invited me over the counter, to have a couple of drinks on our own, in a more intimate corner. That was an unforgettable moment for us. Oh, wait, now I remember an eerie detail: The day after we met, at night, we were making out in my car, and at some point we heard some noise, and there was a bunch of cosplayers from the Comic Convention passing on the street: an elf, an ogre, a magician—Now, that was creepy!!

MATTHEW STURGES, writer, HOUSE OF MYSTERY
I went rock climbing once when I was twelve. I'd just pulled myself up onto a narrow ledge and had begun to ascend the incline beyond when I slipped on a loose rock and tumbled backward. In that instant, I pretty much knew I was dead, because the ground was about fifty feet below me. Instead of plunging to an early demise, however, I slammed into a tree that was growing improbably out from the corner of that narrow ledge. Now, the weird thing about this was that when I was climbing up the ledge, that tree WASN'T THERE. I'm sure of this, because if it had been, I would have used it to climb up. I climbed down, shaken, and didn't climb anything more dangerous than stairs for years afterward.

Tags:

giuseppe camuncoli, hellblazer, house of mystery halloween annual, i zombie, madame xanadu, matt sturges, mike allred