Archie Horror’s first foray into children’s horror was last year’s FEAR THE FUNHOUSE anthology one-shot, inspired by genuinely scary children’s horror like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? This year’s Month of Mayhem event is rounded out by a return to that dark universe with FEAR THE FUNHOUSE PRESENTS… TOYBOX OF TERROR on October 18. It boasts three middle-grade chillers written by Timmy Heague, owner of Arsenal Comics and Games, Danielle Paige (Mera: Tidebreaker), and Michael Northrop (Teen Titans Go!) with art by Ryan Caskey (The Spooky Tarot), Tango (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and Ryan Jampole (Sonic the Hedgehog).
“Since the release of the M3GAN movie earlier this year, I was inundated with pitches for stories about toys coming to life, and it became clear what the theme for this year’s Funhouse would be,” Rotante said. “Pulling from both M3GAN as well as iconic series like Child’s Play with a dash of Small Soldiers thrown in for good measure, the writers for TOYBOX OF TERROR all delivered big time on their stories, with each one being a unique take on the theme, all with a special Archie flair.”
“TOYBOX OF TERROR prompts readers to play nice, or else!” Lovallo said. “Ryan Caskey, who made his Archie debut on last year’s anthology, returns as a cover artist and lead story artist for this new collection of terrifying tales. And also returning on variant cover art is the exceptional Sweeney Boo! Both Ryan and Sweeney know just how to scare our pants off with their mastery of illustrating unsettling expressions and dynamic compositions!”
That frame story, “Love Evernever” written by Heague, sets in motion a terrifying sequence of events that leads to an evil toy invasion of Riverdale. As Heague explains, the chaos is instigated by Evelyn Evernever, a character from classic “Little Archie” comics making her Archie Horror debut here: “In the days before the Chock’lit Shoppe, when the Riverdale gang was hanging out on the playground, little Evelyn Evernever’s heart was crushed. Now, with the help of a mysterious villain called the Toymaker, she is unleashing a Toybox of Terror to get her revenge and bring back what was lost to her many years ago. The Riverdale Gang beware! Evelyn Evernever and her demonic dolls are coming for you!”
The theme of human creations taking on a life of their own was top of mind for all three writers. Paige added, “With the advent of AI and riffing on the enormously popular M3GHAN, I had the immense pleasure of giving a lonely Midge Klump her own CH3RYL doll. Come on Dollies, let’s go party! Midge ultimately has to choose between her new doll BFF and her real friends, and when CH3RYL feels like she’s maybe losing Midge, how far will she go to hold onto her?”
Northrop captured the spirit of the season—and the Month of Mayhem!—saying, “Archie is perfect for this kind of horror. That safe, familiar suburban setting is like a perfectly raked leaf pile. It’s nice and cozy but also just begging to be wrecked—and probably wrecked by a kid!”
CHILLING ADVENTURES – THE ANTHOLOGY COLLECTION and MADAM SATAN: HELL ON EARTH are available for pre-order now from only the most haunted comic shops, and the rest of the Month of Mayhem lineup will be open to order on July 21, 2023. |