Culture

Simple but this should get you in the mood. Kochalka tells us he drew this map for the Halloween party at son Eli's school. It lists the various activities, but some abstractly. "For  instance, 'silly windsi is a ping pong ball race where you blow the ping pong balls with a straw."

A Halloween costume contest at a comics shop -- isn't this the most natural promo ever? Be there and take pictures!

Jennifer Hayden is at Bergen Street Comics, and you will be there in your Ben Cooper costume!

-- Cartoonist Jason asked about print vs digital in an interview at The Casual Optimist.

There's been much speculation over the fate of Krypto, Superman's pet dog who somehow came with him to Earth, in the New 52 -- it seems, based on comments at NYCC, that in this grim, no future world of economic collapse, there is no place for a dog in a cape. We'd argue that the opposite is true -- the world needs a dog in a cape more than ever! -- but it seems that Superman's dog will only be seen in flashbacks set on Krypton, like the above Gene Ha variant cover to SUPERMAN #3. He's also been given a grim and gritty makeover as an albino dire wolf, like he wandered over from the set of Game of Thrones. Those who miss Krypto will definitely enjoy the art that is going up in an auction for writer Steve Niles's greyhound Sonny, who is undergoing a very expensive treatment for lymphoma. Artists have been donating art for Niles to sell at auction and collect into a print set to raise money for the treatment. Here's a Bernie Wrightson piece, which really should be in the 31 days of Halloween folder:

Everyone has been linking to the various Halloween goodies at Wonderful Wonderblog and the pictures of old Ben Cooper kids Halloween costumes from the 70s and 80s. It's a pretty remarkable sign of the progress in human evolution that we have gone from a holiday based around molded plastic masks of various characters accessorized with garish nylon jumpsuits to a holiday based around Sexy Nurse.

Earlier today we noted Stan Lee's penchant for pacting. Sadly, his partner in the Marvel Age, Jack Kirby, did not live to see the era where his creations and influence dominate pop culture. In fact, his family is right now engaged in a bitter dispute with Marvel Comics over the rights to the characters he created. Some have called, passionately, for a boycott of Marvel over this. and they would have the high ground. But if a boycott isn't your style. Nat Gertler has started his own way to remember The King, a program called A Buck for Jack, which suggests you donate a dollar every time you go see a movie based on Kirby's creations.

From reading her comments here and elsewhere, we knew that cartoonist Susie Cagle was tough as nails, but interviewed about her experiences at Occupy Oakland on Tuesday night when police teargassed and shot beanbags and rubber bullets at Cagle and hundreds of other protesters in Oakland, you'll see how tough.

To cleanse our palate from the previous Stan Lee story, happy news that Jim Woodring's website has been relaunched. Mary Woodring tells us "Be advised that Mr. Woodring has a brand new web site (designed by Plexipixel of Seattle) that is loaded with such features as an extensive gallery, ecards, wallpaper and links to various relevant media as well as other eye-tingling and spine-watering delights."

Long time web-cartoonist Millholland (rhymes with witch) is posting a story called The Last Trick or Treaters with some lovely watercolors AND cute trick or treaters.

If you've longed to attend one of those life-defining cartooning schools like CCS, SCAD or SVA but can't travel, why not take Frank Santoro's 8-week Correspondence Course. If you've longed to attend one of those life-defining cartooning schools like CCS, SCAD or SVA but can't travel, why not take Frank Santoro's 8-week Correspondence Course.

BY JEN VAUGHN - Comic writer, podcast host and serial blogger at his own website, The Invincible Super Blog, and Comics Alliance, Chris Sims sat down to have a chat with me about his upcoming Dracula comic to be fully released on Monday, October 31st, also known as Halloween. Six delicious pages are up as a preview now.