The Super Powered Fancast

Headless Horseman Halloween Annual 2024

Dark Horse Comics

Written by David Dastmalchian, Leah Kilpatrick, Ben Stenbeck, Lukas Ketner, James Asmus and Jay Martin

Art by Sara Stella Scalia, Matt Smith, Eryk Donovan, Chris Panda and Jay Martin

Colors by Mauro Gulma, Ben Stenbeck, Eryk Donovan, Chris Panda and Jay Martin

Letters by Frank Cvetkovic

The Rundown: Five tales of terror for the Halloween season.

Leech Lake

Kay takes Halloween very seriously and has ever since she was a kid. When she gets older, she discovers something in Leech Lake that makes the day even more special. Something that her friends discover too late. Something everyone around her will discover as the lake has a strange and interesting effect on her.

A wonderfully classic monster tale from Dastmalchian with a great rise in tension and fun and interesting art. I especially loved the final splash page reveal.

Feeder

A strange man finds fulfillment in the midst of a zombie apocalypse as his strange nature allows him to blend in with the zombies as the world goes to hell. Jeffrey loves living among the dead and he has a special treat for his new friends in the form of his brother. A treat that will make everything great with his family.

A strange, fun and entertaining story with an interesting twist and a great sensibility. I also really enjoyed the art style and how it adds to the absurdist humor of the story.

Stingy Jack and Old Nick

A selfish man named Jack gets the attention of the Devil who comes for his soul. As the morally bankrupt Jack cons him into losing a bet, the Devil takes a liking to Jack, but promises to come get him the next year. As clever as Jack is at avoiding his fate, he will find that winning a reprieve from hell will have its own problems.

The Spice of Life (And Death)

Vic and Shae have moved to the suburbs to their first home together and Shae is determined not to change who she is to conform to the suburban housewives obsessed with pumpkin spice everything. As she continues to draw their ire with her Halloween decorations, her husband Vic succumbs and she discovers a truly terrifying suburban nightmare when their neighbor Karen insists on Shae trying her holiday treats.

A fun and funny satire on suburban culture with some great art.

Little Rabbit

A woman finally breaks free from being locked away in the basement of a home. As she makes her way through the woods, she finds herself being confronted by the police who take her to an unexpected place.

This story has a great opening and premise, but it falls apart towards the end because it feels like there is more story to tell and no context to the world of it. I really wanted more.