Smörgåsbord: Art to Awaken Your Halloween Spirit

graphic by Jennifer Ren Pieces of art that truly capture the spirit of Halloween are hard to come by. This collection features works that are more on the lesser-known and obscure end of Halloween-related art. Although they may not be your typical horror flick, they have effectively combined gothic themes into their own original and creative artform. These pieces of art included show that the spirit of Halloween lives on and will continue to thrive for generations to come. 1940s EC Comics The genre of horror comics emerged in the late 1940s following World War II, as many readers started to veer away from the typical heroes that defined all of the graphic novels at the time. Readers soon became fascinated by the grotesque, ghastly ghouls whose existence were limited to the depths of the mind. One of the publishing houses quick to adopt the new genre was Entertaining Comics, more commonly referred to as EC Comics, releasing many Smörgåsbord: Art to Awaken Your Halloween Spirit

distinguished comics throughout the early 1950s such as Tales From “The Crypt,” “The Vault Of Horror,” and “The Haunt Of Fear.” Though the stories were despised at the time by parents and older generations, the stories were a favorite of a then teenage Stephen King, who still believes that the comics are the true essence of horror fiction. The impact the comics had on horror’s greatest works and what the genre has become is extraordinary, making them the perfect read for comic book lovers and horror fans alike this Halloween. Shaun Kama Shaun Kama is by no means a new name in the tattoo industry. With 20 years of tattooing professionally under his belt, his zeal for blending themes of horror and Halloween through his art has greatly distinguished him from other artists of the trade. Kama’s tattoos often feature the supernatural, references to classic horror films, and various characters from Tim Burton’s animated films. His talent for design along with his tastes for horror have definitely contributed to his reputation of being the king of Halloween tattoos. Kama’s abilities are not only exclusive to the ink and needle; he is a skilled painter, known for his acrylics and watercolors. Kama, prior to breaking into the tattoo world, launched a career in music, playing in an LA punk band called Hello Disaster. The Misfits As the famous lines go, “bonfires burning bright, pumpkin faces in the night, I remember Halloween.” The Misfits, formed in 1977, were an influential band during the 1980s, with their lead bassist Jerry Only initially forming the band over an appreciation of horror movies. With lyrics describing a fascination with gore, zombies, mutants, and killing monsters, the band successfully integrated its appreciation for punk rock and horror films into its own distinct sound, that of horror punk. The band embraced its gothic roots with rugged punk clothing, bold and unsightly hairdos, and elaborate face paint resembling that of ghouls and skeletons. The band’s peculiar lyrics and celebration of everything eerie will guarantee its name being forever synonymous with horror and embracing the spirit of Halloween.