That comic-book/comic strip Archie superstar is a Countdown to Halloween perennial...but that redhead from Riverdale is nowhere near to be found in this monstrously captivating cover (attributed to Samm Schwartz) for Laugh no. 130 1962, all the better to include that classic monster, the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
There are good Gremlins and bad Gremlins, but the problem is that the good leads to the bad (but only when fed after midnight). Released in 1984, Gremlins was heavily merchandised (a lunch box, trading cards, publications, Golden Books), including this glorious Colorforms Adventure Set. Featured are lovable Gizmo, evil Stripe, and even Gizmo’s human friend Billy (Zach Galligan). Enjoy the ghastly Sticks Like Magic setup as we Countdown to Halloween.
Jack Pumpkinhead from L. Frank Baum’s Oz books is a most suitable character for the spooky season. He is, after all, a living jack o’lantern. Here’s Jack front and center on the poster for the cult-classic Disney film Return to Oz (1985), celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This artful poster also serves as a tribute to acclaimed artist Drew Struzan, who died today, October 13, 2025. This celebrated illustrator created iconic posters for everything from Star Wars to The Muppet Movie. Can you find Drew Struzan’s famous “drew” signature within the poster’s art?
For Countdown to Halloween 2025: One of the least well-known but most delightful cartoon witches, Granny Goodwitch was created as a foil for Post Cereal spokes-bear Sugar Bear in his animated commercials for Sugar Crisp. When the Linus the Lion Hearted TV series—with a cast of Post's animated cereal mascots—debuted on CBS in 1964, Sugar Bear was naturally included, but so was Granny (wonderfully voiced by the great Ruth Buzzi), as seen here on the cover of the Linus tie-in LP record. Episodes of Linus the Lion Hearted are now seen each week on Sunday night on the indispensable Me TV Toons channel. Word has it that a DVD of the masterfully remastered and restored Linus episodes will be released in the not-so-distant future. (Dare we hope that at least some of the Post cereal commercials will be included?) Of all the Post mascots that star in the show, only Sugar Bear is still active, as seen on every box of Golden Crisp (known as Sugar Crisp)—but unfortunately without Granny Goodwitch.
Master illustrator-writer Carl Barks drew up his share of spooky comic book covers over the years, such as this "spooky kooky" entry for his "House of Haunts" adventure story in Uncle Scrooge no. 63 in 1966. A perfect way to celebrate our Countdown to Halloween.
Although Disney had already firmly established that the art of theatrical animation was more than capable of compellingly depicting horror, UPA created The Tell-Tale Heart (1953). Drawing upon its signature elements of striking design—in this case, expressionistic visuals and minimalist backgrounds—and powerful cinematic technique, including distorted angles and high-contrast shadows, UPA produced an engrossing and decidedly unsettling adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's short story, converting it into a stark statement of psychological horror. Such was the power of director Ted Parmelee's short that Life magazine celebrated its considerable movie-making merits (click on the images below for a larger view), a perfect entry for our Countdown to Halloween.
Artist for over 100 covers for The New Yorker—the first in 1932, the final in 1997 —acclaimed illustrator and author William Steig contributed this wild yet whimsical Halloween cover to the issue for October 31 (the day itself!), 1959. An honored part of the 2025 Countdown to Halloween.
One of the all-time classics of cinematic suspense, Jaws is celebrating its 50th anniversary—so why shouldn’t this iconic “monster” movie be part of our 2025 Countdown to Halloween? Especially since Collgeville created a Jaws Halloween costume? This is one mask that may have hid its wearer’s face, but its smile toothily outshines any grin any trick-or-treater could ever come up with. ("What big jaws you have!" "All the better to devour my Halloween treats, my dear.") Also pictured is a costumed action figure from Series 7 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of (chomp) Jaws—and its toothy tie-in costume.
In the bewitching bevy of merchandise created for the 1971 release of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the Big Golden Book is a standout. The cover art alone captures the specific movie magic of this Disney classic with typical Golden Book flair. (With a flair, you might say.) The emphasis is on the titular Bedknob itself, sparking with the power of the Marvelous Traveling Spell, an iconic moment that is challenging to portray, the relatively small size of the bedknob being one factor. The film premiered in the witchy month (appropriately) on October 7th in London (also appropriate), a magical milestone that cannot go unnoticed as we Countdown to Halloween 2025.
Continuing the Countdown to Halloween for 2025: Tonight, October 6th, we will experience a Full Harvest Moon that is also a Super Moon. See details below. (The moon will also be almost as spectacular tomorrow night, October 7th.) Such an October moon always puts me in mind of the spectacular Halloween moon seen in the backgrounds created by Ed Leviit for the classic Peanuts TV special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown—a perfect reference for the 75th anniversary year of Peanuts.
