When I was a kid I used to read specific comics at Halloween which
were either set at Halloween or creepy enough I decided it counted. The
big one was Superman! I know Batman seems to be more closely associated
with Halloween, but Superman is no slouch in dealing with the occult.
Then a week ago Longbox of the Damned featured Superman #344 where he fought Dracula and Frankenstein.
And…the story sounded stupid. Throwing The Phantom Stranger in as a
deux ex machina at the end. It got me thinking of those stories I read
as a kid, and I was able to cobble together a list of other Superman
issues which are good enough to read on Halloween. The Man of Steel has
fought everything from ghosts to vampires, and the stories are usually
creepy and even scary.
I am including a few books that I did not read but thought were worth
a mention, and a few that Superman was in but even if he wasn’t the
focus of the book.
This list started out as 5. Yeah, I know. Anyway….
Justice League of America #145
Of course Superman is part of the story, so it counts. Superman fights
for his soul in the afterlife while the rest of the JLA must defeat
Count Crystal and the Carnival of Souls. It’s a pretty spooky tale which
includes The Phantom Stranger yet again.
Action Comics #531
I had this issue many moons ago, and I’ll admit I don’t remember it that
well. It involves a ghost haunting The Daily Planet and I really don’t
remember it. I also couldn’t find a decent synopsis online so that’s all
I can say until I re-read the issue.
DC Comics Presents #19
This is a decent haunted house story. Superman and Batgirl end up
getting involved, and the thing I like about is that it doesn’t follow
the usual haunted house cliche’s. The house is owned by a man with an
odd deformity who was sealed in the house which usually exists away from
reality, He causes people in the house to go crazy and attack each
other. Anyway since it would take to long to give a full synopsis, let’s
just say it’s a good haunted house story though for a team up it falls
flat. Superman and Batgirl hardly interact!
Superfriends #28
Yeah I know, Superman isn’t the only hero. But it’s still fun. Want a
change of pace? Felix Faust causes some people at a costume party to be
bonded to their costumes until he gets cash. Then the Superfriends
intervene. It’s campy and silly and actually takes place on
Halloween…worth a read.
DC Comics Presents #53
Speaking of taking place on Halloween. I admit it, I am not sure I
ever read this one. But I read the synopsis and it sounds creepy enough.
It’s Superman inside The House of Mystery. It has similarities to the
above Superfriends story except this isn’t nearly as campy.
Superman #422
In the final pre-crisis issue, Superman has to fight some mean werewolves. Not much else to say on this one.
Action Comics #585
Want a good story involving Superman and The Phantom Stranger? When a
magic force animates a prison graveyard, Superman must deal with the
physical manifestation while the Stranger fights the menace on more
spiritual terms.
Action Comics Annual #1
This is the one I am sure I read way back when. It’s a really good
vampire story, written by John Byrne. Batman is investigating mysterious
deaths in Gotham which leads him to North Carolina. Whne he discovers a
vampire problem, he calls in Superman for aid. It’s a very dark and
broody story and while Batman and Superman only share one page, unlike
the DC Comics Presents issue that kind of works for this story. If you
like scary vampire stories I highly recommend this one.
Superman vs Aliens
This may be a stetch, since I usually don’t hear people comment they are
watching Alien on Halloween. Its just what it says, Superman fights the
aliens from Alien. And there is one part where Superman is captured and
they shove a chestburster down his throat. Uh, yeah. Creepy as hell.
Action Comics #595
I would say that Silver Banshee is not one Superman’s more well known
enemies, but she was featured in an episode of Smallville so she must
be kind of popular. In this issue, the Banshee’s wail apparently kills
Superman! Until he comes back as a ghost to battle her. It’s a really
good issue as it turns out Superman was really in a coma and getting
special help. From who? Nah, I won’t spoil this one. I’ll just say it’s a
satisfying reveal.
Action Comics #596
Yeah, I know. Why so many from Action Comics? This was a tie in to the
Millennium event going on, so as a Halloween comic it’s not the
strongest. But two things make it worth a look. One is the fact that it
takes place on Halloween, and the second is a cute gag involving The
Spectre scaring away a couple trick or treaters out to cause trouble.
It’s good for a chuckle.
Superman #47 & #70
These issues feature the satanic villain Blaze. Blaze was pretty much
the devil, or related to the Devil, and was introduced in a three part
arc where Superman fought her for the souls of Jimmy Olsen and Jerry
White. Remember Silver Banshee? Yeah Blaze had a role in her origin
(plus Skyhook another villain who was creepy). Superman fighting in
hell? Cool! In #70 Superman joins Robin (Tim Drake) as they try to save
some souls who have been turned into vampires (though they act like
zombies in the story). This is pretty solid to though the ending seems
awful convenient.
Oh, what about Satanus? Never read those stories but they sound pretty cool too.
Superman #180
Yep. Superman vs Dracula
I have no idea where I got my hands on this, but maybe it was the
concept that made me interested. The setup is sinilar to the comic
above, Clark and Lois investigating something in a foreign country.
Unlike that Superman issue I mentioned before, which did the Hollywood
versions of Dracula, this comic is closer to the Bram Stroker version.
It’s a decent story and the best part is the end, how Dracula is
defeated. Many writers forget that Superman stores solar energy, and the
twist is really cool. Nice ending.
Superman & Batman vs Vampires & Werewolves
This title pretty much says it all. This was featured on Longbox some
time ago. What did I think? I still haven’t read. I keep meaning to pick
it up but just can’t seem to get to it. As I said I heard good things
so check it out. It’s six issues but has been collected of course. I
know I’ll read it one of these days. Yes I know it’s more of Batman
story (not to mention including Demon, Man-Bat, Wonder Woman, and Green
Arrow) but I decided it was a good one to end on anyway.
There are plenty I left off, but that’ll do for now.
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