Let Us Keep Holiday

In these earliest hours of Christmas Day, here's an artful cover from Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact (December 1966) celebrating this holiday where the "present" is indeed the presence of God. Merry Christmas, everyone.  

A Canine Campaign

Today is Election Day in the US, in a Presidential Election year. This of course brings to mind one of the most beloved "also rans" of all time—that ballot-baiting beagle, Snoopy. The Snoopy for President campaigns took various shapes, sizes and forms throughout the election years, but some of the most delightful artifacts from the nonpartisan puppy came via Interstate Brands. Bakers of bread under such brand names as Weber, Butternut and Millbrook—and most famously as the makers of Dolly Madison treats, major sponsor for many years of the Peanuts animated TV specials on CBS—this major Peanuts licensee provided some free campaign materials to Snoopy supporters everywhere.  

Bottom of The Goodie Bag 2016

Here it is All Saints Day and the spooky season is over for another year. But there are still lots of treats to be found in the goodie bag, so let's look at one more tasty item. Here's the fun deluxe comic book Giant Halloween Hex, published by IDW. This spooky read, starring Magica De Spell,  is overflowing with wicked comic goodness that won't even rot your teeth (or your brain)! And the Halloween fun is cubed because this trick-or-treat themed comic-book treat was issued with three covers. The mad magic of Magica brings our 2016 Countdown to Halloween to a close. I hope that veteran visitors and new guests alike enjoyed the Halloween treats that were tossed out between a partially open door—and I hope everyone will visit Tulgey Wood in the weeks to  come—especially for the annual Tulgey Wood Christmas Extravaganza!

  

Hanna-Barbera Monsters On The Loose (And Scooby Doo Is No Where To Be Seen)

Well, Halloween is here and the Countdown to Halloween 2016 blogathon is over. Many thanks to all who dropped by, especially new visitors, whether you had a costume or not. (If you have already done so, please check out the other participating blogs here.) To celebrate the spookiest day of the spooky season, here's Huck Finn again, with some cartoon monsters as only Hanna-Barbera could scare them up. It's all from the new DVD release of Hanna-Barbera's The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. As you enjoy these monstrous  apparitions—and perhaps consider adding the new Huck Finn DVD to your trick-or-treat bag—remember to have a safe and of course fun October 31st. Happy Halloween to one and all!

Happy Halloween From Lio

Have you met Lio? One of the best newspaper comic strips to come along, this merry but macabre comic, written and drawn by Mark Tatulli, is a complete delight. Here is today's Sunday strip, marvelously getting us ready for the big day. Speaking of that big day (and night), stop by tomorrow for the conclusion of our Countdown to Halloween 2016.

Archie Rocks And Rolls With A Creepy Concert

We couldn't let October end without a classic Archie cover. This one is Laugh # 129 (December 1961). Could the "ghoul" cats Veronica is none too thrilled to see be precursors for the Groovie Ghoulies? 

Tricks And Treats With The McDonald's Happy Meal Treat Pail (Starring Charlie Brown)

McDonald's is helping Peanuts fans celebrate 50 Years of the It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with these wonderful Halloween treat pails. Decorated with authentic art from the beloved TV special, these Happy Meal premiums help everyone get ready for the big night (whether that's spent in the pumpkin patch or going door to door for tricks and treats). Rock not included.

Mummy Meets Mark Twain (Well, Not Exactly)

A little known show with a rabid cult following, Hanna-Barbera's The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn featured live-action Huck, Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher in an animated world—where the adventurous trio often met up with monsters. Here, in the comic book based on the TV series (1968-1969), the kids encounter the Mummy. You can see all the adventures of Huck and his pals—and all the monsters they meet—in the new DVD of the show, The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: The Complete Series. And come back to Tulgey Wood for more Countdown to Halloween 2016, and you'll see more off Huck (and more monsters, too).  

"Lost Scenes" From It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

50 years ago on this date, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown made its debut on CBS. One of the greatest animated specials ever produced, the Halloween adventures of the Peanuts gang became an instant classic. However, one segment was only seen a few times: the portion of the delightfully spooky TV title sequence that showcased the sponsors of the show. Here, to celebrate five enduring decades of Charles M. Schulz's animated masterpiece, here are a few shots from that rarely seen sequence. 

Marty And The Mad Scientist

On this date, October 26, in 1985, Marty McFly met his scientist (some might call him "mad") friend, Doc Brown, at Twin Pines Mall in Back to the Future (1985). To celebrate, and to help emphasize the Halloween-like or at least horror aspects of the time-travel tale, here's the cover (or one of the cover variants) of the new comic book series, Back to the Future Citizen Brown (from IDW, that great publisher that also issues Disney Comics) featuring new BTTF adventures. It's all part of the Countdown to Halloween 2016.