Posted By Dan Greenfield on Oct 29, 2026 | 1 comment

The Great Pumpkin is coming…

Peanuts: Linus’ first mention of the Great Pumpkin, October 26, 1959

By PETER BOSCH

“From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us.” — Scottish prayer, 19th century.

In two days, it’ll be All Hallows’ Eve, the day when we laugh, dress up in funny costumes, and terrify ourselves with scary movies. Yet, somewhere in the back of our minds, we have a feeling that everything we fear in the dark corner of the room or under the bed is real.

Halloween has its origins in Samhain, an ancient observance by the Celtics in Ireland, over 2,000 years ago. Their new calendar began November 1, and to ward of the spirits of the old, who on October 31 were free to roam the Earth, the Celtics wore disguises and masks in order to not be recognized by them.

So, before the ghosts, hobgoblins, and witches make their presence known Saturday, enjoy these 13 HALLOWEEN COVERS!

Oh, and just one more word — Boo!

Harry Sahle (1943)

Was this the inspiration for the Bewitched TV opening credits? Walt Kelly did the inside comic art, so possibly the cover is his, as well. (Peter Wheat Bread and Bakers Associates, 1949.)

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E.E. Hibbard (The Flash) and H.G. Peter (Wonder Woman). Unconfirmed artist for Green Lantern. (1945)

Issue #39 (1945): unknown artist(s)

Dan Gordon (ACG, 1948)

Carl Barks (Nov. 1952)

Issue #25. Unknown artist signing for Leon Schlesinger (1943, Dell)

Lee Elias (Nov. 1948, Harvey)

Curt Swan pencils and George Klein inks (1962)

Frank Kelly Freas (EC)

Sheldon Mayer, 1959

Unknown artist (1960)

And, finally, though the following came out two months after the holiday, it is one of the most memorable Halloween-type covers ever:

Carmine Infantino pencils and Joe Giella inks (1965)

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MORE

— BATMAN #237: What DENNY O’NEIL and NEAL ADAMS Revealed About the GREATEST HALLOWEEN COMIC EVER. Click here.

— MONSTER SMASH! 13 Favorite, Fantastical Fiends. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor-at-large PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, was published by TwoMorrows. (You can buy it here.) A sequel, American Movie Comic Books: 1930s-1970s — From the Silver Screen to the Printed Page, is out now. (Buy it here.) Peter has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. He lives in Hollywood.