Exclusive Preview: Talking ‘Archie’s Halloween Spectacular’ With Ian Flynn And Bill Galvan

Nothing ruins a night of trick-or-treating more than getting chased by a house. Archie and his friends are about to find this out the hard way in Archie’s Halloween Spectacular. With inks by Ben Galvan, colors by Glenn Whitmore, and letters by Jack Morelli, here’s what writer Ian Flynn and artist Bill Galvan could say about this year’s festivities, along with an exclusive preview of the one-shot:

Rachel Bellwoar: Eyegore Estate has been host to many a witch and monster, but in this year’s Halloween Spectacular it’s made like Baba Yaga’s home and comes alive. What goes into turning an inanimate object into a living, breathing character? 

Ian Flynn: The pitch I was given said that Eyegore Estate goes on the attack, so I took a page out of Howl’s Moving Castle and gave it giant bird legs. 

Bill Galvan: I was influenced a lot by that movie Monster House, obviously; the house shifts and creaks and holds together as long as it can while Medusa is driving! Really fun to draw and show it lumbering along the neighbourhood as pieces fall from it, scaring trick-or-treaters!

Bellwoar: Do you have a favorite detail from your mech redesign of Eyegore Estate?

Galvan: I think the jagged mouth/porch of the house is super fun. Also the expressive window eyes!

Bellwoar: As far as holidays are concerned, where do you stand on Halloween? Best holiday ever or take it or leave it?

Flynn: It’s my favorite of the holidays, and I have my fondest memories of going out in costume every year. My mom made the best costumes. I feel like it’s getting a bit watered down lately, getting too Christmas-y in its commercialization, but I also like the spirit of being fun and fanciful prevailing over the scares. I don’t do “spooky.” 

Galvan: Best holiday ever! So much fun, and I love being a part of the Halloween Spectacular; the Halloween Archie stories are darker but goofy, with fewer rules.

Bellwoar: A few special guests have already been revealed in the solicitation text. Is there one you enjoyed writing or drawing for the most?

Flynn: I was part of the efforts to get Cosmo and Mighty Crusaders up and running again. Never did get the chance to finish those stories, so being able to revisit them in any shape or form is appreciated. 

Galvan: Fly-Girl is so fun to draw. She’s such a cool superhero!

Bellwoar: Is there a lot of thought that goes into deciding what Halloween costumes to have Archie and his friends wear?

Flynn: I want to put in some nods to the greater Archie Comics pantheon, while also doing some tried-and-true Halloween figures. The hardest part is remembering which ones I’ve already done over the years so I don’t do repeats.

Galvan: For Archie, I thought it would be funny to have him with a Frankenstein forehead that was barely hanging on through his misadventures. Also so great to draw Betty as his Bride hissing at him and Veronica as an Elvira-inspired goth girl! Jughead as a werewolf is a great reference to his Archie Horror series, too, Jughead: The Hunger.

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Ian and Bill!

Archie’s Halloween Spectacular goes on sale Wednesday, 16th September, from Archie Comics. The FOC date is today.