Looking ahead to the fall, Diamond Comic Distributors has announced via a press release that the fourth annual Halloween ComicFest will take place on Saturday, October 31 and feature almost two dozen free comics for attendees to choose from.
The comics come from a variety of publishers, including Marvel, DC, Archie, IDW Publishing, Boom! Studios, Dark Horse and more. Titles include special HCF 2015 editions of "Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers" #1, "Doctor Strange: The Oath," "Donald Duck's Halloween Scream!" #1, "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" #1 and more.
This year's offering will consist of 13 full-size comics and eight mini-comics and will be available in participating comic book retailers across the world. Comic shops are also encouraged to host events and giveaways to engage with the local comic community. In keeping with the event's Halloween theme, the mini-comics will be available for purchase in bundles of 25 in late September so they can be given away to trick-or-treaters.
The release states that a list of participating retailers will be made available in late August or early September. You can check out the list of comics below.
HALLOWEEN COMIC FEST FULL-SIZED COMICS
ACTION LAB COMICS
ACTION LAB ACTIONVERSE SPECIAL-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W) Vito Delsante, Various (A) Ray-Anthony Height, Sean Izaakse
(CA) Ray-Anthony Height, Various
ACTIONVERSE DEBUTS! Get a peek at the creator-owned event of the year that everyone will be talking about from Action Lab... ACTIONVERSE! Action Lab ties its creator-owned superhero properties together in a universe-shattering event never before attempted by a comic publisher! Preview the Midnight Tiger, Molly Danger and Stray crossover; get the who's who on all the major Heroes and Villains, and get a special first look at our new series, Action Lab: Dog of Wonder! (STK682501)
32pgs, FC PI
VAMPBLADE FEATURING ZOMBIE TRAMP-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W) Jason Martin, Dan Mendoza (A) Winston Young (CA) Winston Young, Dan Mendoza
Get a look at the latest offbeat genre heroine from Danger Zone... Vampblade! After appearing in the pages of Zombie Tramp and then guest-starring in a limited series with the queen of the undead, the mystical blade-wielding Vampblade is all set to debut her own ongoing series in 2016! Here's your chance to see what the book is all about and also take a peek at Zombie Tramp and friends! (STK682503)
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC PI
ARCHIE COMICS
CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA #1-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W) Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (A) Robert Hack, Jack Morelli
(CA) Robert Hack, Rosario "Tito" Peña
There's no better way to kick off your Halloween than with Archie Comics' newest horror series! Terror is born anew in this dark reimagining of Sabrina the Teenage Witch's origin. On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, the young sorceress finds herself at a crossroads, having to choose between an unearthly destiny and her mortal boyfriend, Harvey. But a foe from her family's past has arrived in Greendale, Madame Satan, and she has her own deadly agenda. Relive all the horror with this special black and white presentation of the critically-acclaimed first issue. For TEEN+ readers.
32pgs, B&W PI
ASPEN MLT
ASPEN PRESENTS: THE ADVENTURES OF PSYCHO BONKERS!-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W) Vince Hernandez (A/CA) Adam Archer
A pulse-pounding Psycho Bonkers action-adventure story for fans of all ages! Join the cast of this completely brand-new, full-throttle series - featuring Fathom's Ernie the Seahorse and characters from many of Aspen's most popular titles - as they team up to win a thrilling, issue-spanning race! Aspen Comics once again offers a unique comic and coloring book package that includes a crafted full-length story geared for kids to color, plus added puzzles, mazes and other fun-filled activities for children and readers of all ages!
32pgs, FC PI
DC COMICS
DC COMICS KIDS TITLE TBD-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W/A) Various
A scary good DC kids title! Check back in an upcoming issue of PREVIEWS and at halloweencomicfest.com for the title and contents of this comic!
32pgs, FC PI
DC COMICS TEEN TITLE TBD-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W/A) Various
A frightfully fun DC teen title! Check back in an upcoming issue of PREVIEWS and at halloweencomicfest.com for the title and contents of this comic!
32pgs, FC PI
DRAWN & QUARTERLY
THE BIRTH OF KITARO: A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W/A/CA) Shigeru Mizuki
Shigeru Mizuki's The Birth of Kitaro tells the spooky origin story of the legendary mangaka's most popular character. This preview is taken from the golden era of the late 1960s, when Kitaro truly hit its stride as an all-ages supernatural series. Mizuki's Kitaro is both timelessly relevant and undeniably influential, inspiring a decades-long boom in stories about yokai, Japanese ghosts and monsters. This Halloween Special is the perfect introduction to the new all-ages Kitaro series coming in 2016 from D&Q!
32pgs, B&W PI
GRAPHIC INDIA
STAN LEE'S CHAKRA THE INVINCIBLE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W) Stan Lee & Various (A) Jeevan Kang, Various (CA) Jeevan Kang
Straight from the Free Comic Book Day release and based on the animated shorts seen on Angry Birds ToonsTV with over 30 Million views worldwide, Chakra the Invincible is the latest superhero from legendary creator, Stan Lee. Join Chakra and his friends for a very special Halloween as Dr. Singh sits you down by the campfire and tells you about some of Chakra's most sinister villains and spookiest adventures! (STK681608)
32pgs, FC PI
IDW PUBLISHING
DONALD DUCK'S HALLOWEEN SCREAM! #1-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W/A) William Van Horn (CA) Dan Noonan
Classic Disney haunts are home for the howl-idays! In "It's In the Bag" and "Public Ugly #1," trick-or-treating Donald scares up a literal ton of candy... then is forced to get rid of it by fair means or foul!
32pgs, FC PI
MARVEL COMICS
DOCTOR STRANGE: THE OATH-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W) Brian K. Vaughan (A/CA) Marcos Martin
Doctor Strange embarks on the most important investigation of his career, as he sets out to solve an attempted murder - his own! And with his best friend near death, Stephen Strange turns to an unexpected corner of the Marvel Universe to recruit a new ally!
32pgs, FC PI
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN AND THE AVENGERS-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W) Joe Caramagna, Jim Zub (A) Ron Lim, Mario Del Pannino
(CA) Kalman Andrasofszky
When Peter Parker has a terrible day, he discovers that none other than Nightmare is behind it! But how can the Ultimate Spider-Man defeat a foe that's inside his own head? Guest-starring Doctor Strange! Then the Avengers take on their spookiest mission yet when they travel to Castle Doom to face Dracula! And if that's not enough, Dracula's brought a horde of bloodthirsty vampires with him!
32pgs, FC PI
VIZ MEDIA
FRAGMENTS OF HORROR HALLOWEEN SPECIAL-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W/A) Junji Ito
An old wooden mansion that turns on its inhabitants. A dissection class with a most unusual subject. A funeral where the dead are definitely not laid to rest. Ranging from the terrifying to the comedic, from the erotic to the loathsome, these stories showcase Junji Ito's long-awaited return to the world of horror. For TEEN+ readers.
32pgs, B&W PI
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT
GRIMM TALES OF TERROR: WEB OF DECEIT-HCF 2015 EDITION
(W) Shane McKenzie (A) Przemyslaw Klosin (CA) Sean Ellery
Inspired by Tales from the Crypt and Creepshow, Zenescope goes back to its roots of horror for this special Halloween Comic Fest reprint of Grimm Tales of Terror #2! When a group of treasure hunters heads to the Amazon in search of the priceless Spider King relic, they will find that the "Web of Deceit" they've spun has put them in a horrifying predicament!
32pgs, FC PI
HALLOWEEN COMIC FEST MINI-COMICS
ACTION LAB COMICS
THE GARLICKS: HOW SHE MET HER MONSTER-HCF 2015 MINI-COMIC (BUNDLE)
(W) Philip Kim (A/CA) Rick Koslowski
Olive, a curious butcher's apprentice, decides to crash a monster's party on Halloween Eve. Disguised as a goofy vampire alpaca, she meets an equally goofy vampire horse named Vourdain. But what is Olive going to do when it's morning and time for all monsters to unmask?
Mini-Comic, 6x9, 12pgs, FC (Bundle of 20) PI
AMERICAN GOTHIC PRESS
FAMOUS MONSTERS PRESENTS: SPOOK-A-RAMA-HCF 2015 MINI-COMIC (BUNDLE)
(W) Art Baltazar, Franco (A/CA) Art Baltazar
Cory loves monsters. He dresses up in monster suits and reads monster magazines, much to the chagrin of his mother, who would rather he be working in a mailroom. But when Cory learns about his hero Wilbur Atchison's studio tours, he suddenly sees an opportunity for greatness! But he soon finds out that not all of Hollywood is make believe. An all-ages adventure in the spirit of The Goonies and Monster Squad!
Mini-Comic, 6x9, 12pgs, FC (Bundle of 20) PI
ARCHIE COMICS
WORLD OF ARCHIE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL-HCF 2015 MINI-COMIC (BUNDLE)
(W) George Gladir (A) Fernando Ruiz, Rich Koslowski, Jack Morelli, Barry Grossman
(CA) Bill Galvan, Bob Smith, Rosario "Tito" Peña
Strange things are going on in Riverdale! You're invited to the best Halloween party of the year - exclusively for monsters! Is it possible that Archie and Jughead have really stumbled into a Halloween party where the guests are not in costume, but are actual, real-live monsters?! Find out for yourself if this tale is a 'trick' or a 'treat' in "For Monsters Only!"
Mini-Comic, 6x9, 12pgs, FC (Bundle of 20) PI
BOOM! STUDIOS
BOOooOoOM! STUDIOS HALLOWEEN HAUNT!-HCF 2015 MINI-COMIC (BUNDLE)
(W) Jones Wiedle, Jeremy Sorese, Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson
(A) Jones Wiedle, Coleman Engle, Brittney Williams, Felicia Choo
(CA) Michelle Ankley
Enjoy three, spooky tales for your reading pleasure in this BOOM! Studios Halloween Special, featuring short stories from Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and Lumberjanes. Perfect for passing out on Halloween instead of/in addition to candy!
Mini-Comic, 6x9, 12pgs, FC (Bundle of 20) PI
DARK HORSE COMICS
GRIMMISS ISLAND-HCF 2015 MINI-COMIC (BUNDLE)
(W) Art Baltazar, Franco (A/CA) Art Baltazar
The Volcano Goddess threatens the Mama Woogees' tiny island! What can their creation Grimmiss do to stop this terror? Between an eye exam, a tough lesson in love, and stopping the Tiki Monoliths, there are lots of things for a little guy with a skull head to do!
Mini-Comic, 6x9, 12pgs, FC (Bundle of 20) PI
MAGNETIC PRESS
BITTEN PREVIEW SPECIAL-HCF 2015 MINI-COMIC (BUNDLE)
(W) Cornelia Funke, Raul Garcia (A/CA) Francisco Herrera
Some Hollywood Horror stories are true! Based on best-selling YA author Cornelia Funke's "Little Werewolf", comic artist Francisco Herrera (Venom, Megamind) and Disney Animator Raúl GarcÃa (Aladdin, The Lion King) bring you a fun new short story and activities set in the world of the upcoming graphic novel, Bitten!"
Mini-Comic, 6x9, 12pgs, FC (Bundle of 20) PI
IDW PUBLISHING
SKYLANDERS: 2015 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL-HCF 2015 MINI-COMIC (BUNDLE)
(W) Ron Marz, David A. Rodriguez (A) Fico Ossio (CA) Fico Ossio
Happy Halloween from Skylands! Enjoy this special comic treat as we introduce you to the candy villainy of Pain-Yatta! This issue reprints a special selection from the Skylanders: Light in the Dark storyline featured in Skylanders Volume 4 coming next month!
Mini-Comic, 6x9, 12pgs, FC (Bundle of 20) PI
VIZ MEDIA
YO-KAI WATCH HALLOWEEN SPECIAL-HCF 2015 MINI-COMIC (BUNDLE)
(W/A) Noriyuki Konishi
Nate Adams is just an average kid until the mysterious Whisper gives him a device that allows him to see what others cannot, Yo-kai of all shapes and forms! Now, armed with the Yo-kai Watch, Nate, Whisper and their new invisible friends embark on an all-new supernatural adventure!
Mini-Comic, 6x9, 12pgs, FC (Bundle of 20) PI