Tricks and Treats Card Game

After last week's Halloween Party, it's time to divvy up your candy!

 

Tricks and Treats is another card game from Trick or Treat Studios featuring the art of Drew Rausch. The game itself actually came out in 2012 and this is an updated version with new art.

In this fast and fun game of bluffing, you must divvy up your Halloween candy fairly. Or at least, make it seem like it's split fairly. If someone else can guess which bucket is yours, you'll be forced to give up your entire haul!

This is another game where you're trying to out bluff your opponents. The goal is to have the most candy at the end of the game. To start, a number of candy buckets are placed equal to the number of players plus two. Then each player is secretly assigned one of the buckets with a card that matches it.

On your turn, you draw a card then play a candy to any of the buckets. Obviously you want to put candy into your own bucket but as part of anyone's turn, they can "tattle" on you by guessing which bucket is yours. If they're right, you're out of the game. If they're wrong, they are out of the game and you get their bucket card to add to your score.

 

The reaper above is the "game over" card. He is secretly shuffled into the bottom three cards of the deck so you never knew exactly when the game will end..assuming people don't get tattled out of the game!

There are also special baskets you can add to the mix to make things more interesting.

 

 Here's a brief overview and review of the game.

As of this writing,  Tricks and Treats is sold out at Trick or Treat Studios but I have spotted it in Barnes & Noble.

Coffin of Toys

 While browsing TikTok, an ad popped up for something I was actually interested in, can you believe it? It looked like it might a fun little Halloween treat so I pulled the trigger.

It's a 3D printed coffin (with magnetic lid) full of little critters and spooks. It's also the perfect size to fit a 3.75" action figure! Tasha is hanging out in this post for size reference.

There's a total of 10 figures stuffed in the coffin. 3D printed hinged toys seem to be the hot thing if the ads I keep seeing are any indication. The bat, spider, and axolotl are super cute. The cat is probably supposed to be lying down but kind of looks like it got run over. The ghost has a neat little feature where the legs/feet can be extended as they are here or tucked inside.

A...ghost bee? Maybe it's a boo-bee, that pun's definitely been around awhile. Not sure why there's a pigeon in with this crew but there it is. I think it'd be better if it were printed in black with yellow eyes/beak. I love the little people in the front. Maybe it's the round heads or them being a little chonky but they seem like they're having a good time.

Classic Creepy Comics - Spook

 Spook is another book brought to you from Star Publications, the same folks that put out last week's pick, Ghostly Weird Stories. It ran for nine issues From January 1953 to October 1954.

Spook is a bit of a mixed bag. You'll get at least one supernatural/monster type horror story but you'll also find crime, science fiction, and jungle stories along with a couple pages of prose fiction. This is probably due to it originally being a crime book that started in 1945 and changed names a few times.

The first issue kicks off with a Headless Horseman story (sort of) so I had to check it out. The stars of the story are teen Jerry and his pal Sergent Spook, who is in fact, the ghost of a cop. I'm guessing they had other adventures in the books leading up to this because it's just a weird place to start with no back story. The Horseman ends up being being a projection created by some guy that found oil and wanted to keep everyone away. Sounds like a case for the Mystery Inc.!

One of the things that jumped out at me looking through these books is the number of ads that seem targeted to girls. I'm not saying these comics are "just for boys" but were a lot of girls reading this stuff back then?

 

All but one issues of Spook are legally available online at Comic Book+. If you're looking to get the most horror out of your reading, I'd suggest issue 30. Although 28 has the below story, a scifi adventure, and some jungle girl action.

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Playmobil Dracula & Witch Figures

Playmobil occasionally releases some Halloween, or at least Halloween-adjacent, figures and playsets. I didn't see any last year but they're back this year with a witch and the Lord of Vampires himself, Dracula.

 

I don't have any stores (that I know of) in the area that really carry Playmobil so I usually have get them online. I haven't even found the blind bag figures anywhere lately which is too bad because they tend to sneak in a horror themed figure in each wave.

But on to what I do have...

Bicycle - Vintage Halloween Playing Cards

Here's another Halloween deck I picked up this year. The Screams at Midnight one came up in an ad somewhere and when I went to look at it, naturally I had to see if there were more Halloween cards!

 

 

I was expecting a little more Halloween art on the cards but I do like the box art. The card backs are very nice too, giving more what I'd consider retro vibes. But I guess 'vintage' is also a sliding scale depending on how old you are.

These Jokers are amazing. I want a whole deck based on them! The Ace of Spades is a black cat. The face cards replace the traditional blue and yellow with orange and purple to give them a bit more Halloween feel but no fun art on them. They changed up the suit symbols a bit which helps make it a little less standard.

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Halloween Hot Wheels 2024 - '64 Chevy Impala

 The 2024 Halloween Hot Wheels keep on rolling with the '64 Chevy Impala.

This particular variation of the '64 Chevy Impala is called 'Tooned because of the proportions being squished and the comically oversized engine.

The Tooned Impala was originally released in 2004 and this is only the fifth version. Those fins popping out of the trunk are supposed to be quad exhaust pipes.

 

It's not overly Halloween-y but does have a cool spider web design along the sides. The purple metalflake paint really makes the gold accents pop.

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Now Hear This - Halloween 2024 The Sequel

Here's a few more terrifying tunes for your turntable!

 

 Click the album covers to go to Bandcamp where you can preview and purchase.

 

 

Just released Friday, is my most anticipated release of the season: the first new album from Zombina and the Skeletones in 10 years! They're one of my favorite bands because their music not only heavily features horror themes but is a fun mix of new wave, punk, pop, and surf. If you want to get a feel for them, start with the track Don't Kick My Coffin.

 

SURPRISE KIDDIES! Just when you thought the Reliquary would be forever shut, another brave or foolish soul has dared once again to unlatch its ancient lock! This time we've unearthed another unparalleled collection of terrifying tracks from some of Dungeon Synth's most notable artists around the world, as well as some brand new ones! All gathering to bring you a menagerie of music that will curdle your blood and have you screaming! As usual, recommend listening all alone on a dark and stormy night...  

 

Reliquary of Terror is a series I only just became aware of this year and this is the third release! These collections are great for setting a dreary dungeon vibe.

Next we have one of my favorites from recent years, Haunted House Party with a double release! HHP creates some frightfully funky lofi beats prefect for any Halloween party.

Speaking of lo-fi chill beats, The Jazz Hop Cafe also has a new compilation.

It’s Halloween night, you’ve fallen asleep after a long night of trick-or-treating with your friends. You awake in a state of sleep paralysis. A creak from your wardrobe pierces the silence, but you’re paralysed with fear and stomach cramps!

I discovered LBD during last year's Now Hear This posts. In addition to original music, they have a killer cover album of horror hits. This season, they dropped a cover of Hex Girl by the band Hex Girls from Scooby-Doo. The B side is a cover of "I Wish You Were a Beer" by Cycle Sluts from Hell.

Stay cool, daddy-o and check out the other Countdown blogs at the link below.

Halloween Party Card Game

 You're invited to a Halloween Party!

This Halloween Party is put out by Trick or Treat Studios and features really fun art by Drew Rausch. I collect Halloween themed games anyway but having Rausch's art gracing the cards is an extra bonus!

 

Each player is holding their own party on Halloween night, sure to be filled with spooky monsters of all types. However, some guests are better than others. To win, you must try to guess who is at the door and assemble the most festive group of party-goers!

The party-goers come in "suits" of ghosts, vampires, monsters, skeletons, and pumpkin heads. Looking through the cards, you'll no doubt catch references to some well known pop culture representations.

 

 This game is all about bluffing. You have to play a card every turn by sending them face down to the next player's door. If they let them in, the card joins their party. If they decline, the guest joins your party instead. Most of the guests are worth points and some have special effects that might allow you to steal guests from another party or cause guests to leave a party altogether, costing points.

The rules are pretty simple and fit on a small double-sided sheet. 

You can check those out here.

Here's a brief overview of the game.

Halloween Party is available direct from Trick or Treat Studios and I've spotted it in Barnes & Noble.

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Halloween 2024 MA Lottery Ticket

Last year was probably the peak of lottery tickets here in MA with the Universal Monsters. The 2024 design isn't too bad.

This Lucky 13 yielded $10 for me so that ain't bad at all. Two more tickets, please!

 

Under one of the scratches, I did hit a 13 symbol which just means you win that prize. I get they're going with the whole 13 thing but it's no different than if I hit one of the winning numbers. I think I'd just remove the winning numbers and make 13 the winner.

 

Do you have any fun Halloween themed lottery tickets in your state? 

I started an open Flickr album for people to post their state lottery tickets. If you have any, please feel free to add them to the album. Or if you send me pictures/scans I'd be happy to post them. 

 

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Classic Creepy Comics - Ghostly Weird Stories & Blue Bolt Tales of Terror

Welcome to the fourth year of Classic Creepy Comics where I talk about horror comics from the pre-code days. Most of the books I'll be talking about are public domain and available for free at Comic Book+. You can read them online or, if you create a free account, you can download them. I'll have direct links at the end.

As I was digitally digging through the horror books, the covers and art for this one grabbed my attention. I love everything about this! The gruesome monster, the slime dripping font on The Thing from the Void. So good!

Ghostly Weird Tales (rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it?) was released by Star Publications from September 1953 to September 1954. The company went under shortly after this time due to the outcry from the United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency that convinced some people that comics were a bad influence on kids. Can you imagine?!

 

The origins of the book go all the way back to 1940 when it was a completely different comic. It featured the superhero Blue Bolt and was one of the first titles to use a single characters name.

Marvel Legends Hallows' Eve Figure

 I picked up Hallows' Eve a few months ago but managed to put off opening her until now. It only seemed fitting to talk about her in October.

Although her regular human identity has been around since '95, Hallows' Eve only made her debut in 2022. Like a lot of comic characters, there's a lot of back story but the quick version is that she is the girlfriend of Parker-clone Ben Reilly and was given her powers by Madelyn Pryor in Limbo. She has an awesome power and it's why I love this character so much even if she's a bit on the shady side: she can create Halloween masks that give her the abilities of the character.

 

A few examples are a ghost which lets her become intangible and invisble, a witch that lets her cast spells, and she's even made a Spider-Man mask that gave her Spidey's powers and web slinging. She can also create something "normal" like a police officer to disguise herself. The ultimate Trick or Treater!

Let's get a closer look at her after the break.

Bicycle - Monster Playing Cards

 Today. we've got a fun deck of cards themed around monsters.

The card back has a ton of great elements: black widows spiders and webs, skulls, bats, a creepy castle, stake and hammer, and a goblet with an eerie green smoke drifting out.

The court cards have some fantastic monster art. They even worked in a Gill Man type creature on the Jack of Clubs so I have to applaud them for that! The suits are the same as regular deck but they symbols have been stylized.

The Queen of Spades is a selkie, not a monster you see very often. They are mythological creatures that can shapeshift between human and seal form. If you look closely, you can see the seal skin bunched up at her waist. The weird alien on the Jack of Diamonds is crazy with his big brain and multiple tentacles.

Something really fun they did with this is include three King of Spades, each one showing the werewolf in different stages of transformation. The Jokers are monster hunters but I don't think they're ready to take on what lurks in this deck! The guy has what looks like a flint lock pistol with a laser sight which is a little odd.

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Halloween Hot Wheels 2024 - Barbaric

 Roaring out to rip you a new one, it's the undisputed king of the full moon demolition derby: Barbaric!

This car was first released in 2009 and this is only the ninth incarnation. In 2018, it was part of the Star Wars Classics line and featured a Yoda theme. I'm not sure if this particular model is the best fit for Yoda, but it does look pretty cool.

Not only does Barbaric sport an armored front but it's got a wicked steel rail for carving its way through any opposition. From the wheels to the windshield, the red accents really pop.

 

 And of course that snarling wolf deco really makes it fierce!

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Now Hear This - Halloween 2024

 Welcome to the first Halloween 2024 edition of Now Hear This! In these posts I'll be sharing some spooky tunes to get your crypt rockin'! They may not all be new releases but hopefully, they'll be new to you.

Clicking on an album cover will take you to the artist's site where you can preview/buy it. 

Halloween 2024 is coming out swinging with new releases!

 

  Kicking off the annual line up is, of course, Sam Haynes! His latest release has got a mix of darksynth and the occasional pop tune with vocals. There's also some bonus tracks exclusive to the Bandcamp release.

This is my second most anticipated release this season! If you're not familiar with the previous volumes of Sean Keller's Killer Sounds of Halloween, you're missing out on modern holiday classics. It's all original songs with each song being done by a fake band that has a very recognizable style. He said the third one was his last, but you can't keep a good killer down!

 

LVCRFT is also back with a new album called Under the Covers. As you might guess, it's got plenty of cover songs that make their way on to spooky playlists. I think my favorite is "We Got the Treats," a parody of The Go-Gos "We Got the Beat".

You can always count on Nancy Nightmare and the Wizard rising from their graves this time of year with some fun tunes. This new album may just be my favorite of theirs. Check out the track Spooky Halloween.

If you've been to Universal Hollywood's Horror Nights in recent years, chances are you've heard something from dastardly dub-step artist Figure. He recently released Triple Feature with his mixes of The Addams Family, The Munsters, and Beeteljuice themes.

Stay tuned for more music next week!

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