Halloween '16: Samhain/All Saints' Day Reading

After last night's blogging, I spent the rest of Samhain/All Saint's Day reading. In addition to a couple comics, a Punisher story and a manga story, I read a bunch of nonfiction on Halloween, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, and archaeology related to them. Alas, I didn't finish reading all the comics I wanted to but tomorrow, which is All Souls' Day - and the final Day of the Dead in Mexico - is another day. Bear with me, the comic reviews are saved of last!


From archaeological perspective, there are studies examing the roots of Halloween in Ireland. In the November/December 2016 issues of Archaeology magazine, there's an excellent article by Erin Mullally called Samhain Revival. Starting in 2014, there have digs in the Hill of Ward, once known as Tlachtga, where there is evidence that ancient Samhain festivals may have been held there for centuries. More of primer article but if one can find it, I heavily recommend reading it. Further studies await and we may even learn Halloween traditions may date back as far as the Neolithic Age at the Hill of Ward! Okay, that last part is pure conjecture at this point but there's evidence of feasting, burning, and one or two burials already. Samhain Revival covers it much, much better than I can. I'd provide the link but I own a deadtree version of the issue in question.


On the topic of links, I did do a little research on All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, and relation to Halloween. So for those interested in more reference material here they are: (Note: some of them contain video clips for the data-conscious...) A primer on All Souls' Day can found HERE. An excellent primer on All Saints' Day can be found HERE. A third piece from the same Catholic Online site does a great job distinguishing between Halloween, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day. You can read it HERE. Turns out there's quite a difference... Finally, I came upon a source discussing how All Saints' Day is celebrated Poland HERE rather interesting particularly with the candles and how similar it is to Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration. There was talk about how nice weather on All Saints' Day serving as an excellent omen for the upcoming year. Speaking of nice weather, the excellent weather today played a significant role in impending my planned comic book reading for the day. Even saw a flock of turkeys!


Speaking of comic reviews here they are:


I am going to only provide a vague outline but some may still consider them Spoilers.








Punisher Annual #1
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Feliz Ruiz
Color Artist: Lee Loughride
Cover Artist: I'm assuming its not the variant - Rahzzah. An excellent cover that drew me in of a scarecrow with jack o'lantern for a head wearing a punisher shirt!


Story: One of the Punisher's creators (!) Gerry Conway wrote this story that occurs on Halloween. The Punisher is more a force of nature in this story as the narrator is the lens in which this story of revenge unfolds. Absolutely loved the Halloween nods such as street punks wearing masks, a Masked Ball conducted by the gentry, and some good old-fashioned trick or treating. Alas, the kids trick or treating were tricked! A very topical story includes references to police behavior, racial purity groups, and refugees/cultural inclusion. One could even say it's a story of moral identity!


Overall: One of the Punisher's creators helped craft an excellent Halloween story that is so much more than that as well as a Punisher story that is much, much more than that. 5 out of 5 stars.


Tomie (Halloween Comicfest edition)
by Junji Ito
"Mansion"


Story: A girl is lured to a mansion where all is not what is supposed to be, discovers horror Japanese-style, and manages to escape. I'd explain more but that would ruin it! Let's just say there's some... unexpected disguises and the female demon has very unusual way of projecting some of her abilities...


Overall: An excellent done-in-one, which I am sure will collected in manga format at some point, that does a stellar job in presenting the manga horror series Tomie. Can't say that it was an excellent horror manga enough 5 out of 5 stars.


With that is my All Saints' Day entry.