Bummer news, man. Kurt Vonnegut thinks it’s funny, though.

He’s not scary, just a little bit hairy.

A slightly uptight wolfman.

Listen to “Hell’s Bells.” Doesn’t this song swing? I learned some information about the song from Uncle John’s Crazy Town. He also posted several cartoons that feature “Hell’s Bells,” of which “Red Hot Mamma” with Betty Boop is excellent.

Hell’s Bells by Syd Peltyn

I remember one October as a kid, hiding in leaf piles in the back yard, wearing my werewolf mask with a few dabs of fake blood on my arm, ready to pop out and scare the folks and the sister. I waited and waited. And waited. Until finally … they bagged me and put me by the curb.

These sketches are based on the scary werewolf in the back yard that we all wanted to be at one time or another.

Another character design for my own project. This character is “The Cod,” who used to be “The Caped Cod,” a tights-wearing superhero before the scientific accident that gave him his powers turned him into a monster.

The Countdown to Halloween continues, though slightly differently than planned. I’ll return to new, finished pieces next week!

Character design for a personal project.

Another sketch this morning. The story of Stingy Jack is the backstory of today’s jack-o-lanterns.

Hell’s Bells ringing in my ears. Based on this peppy 1932 song from Syd Peltyn and his orchestra, “The New Yorkers.” Get a load of that licorice stick.

More about the song tomorrow, and the devilish final piece!

Welcome to Dragsylvania! Drac’s ‘32 hearse is ported, relieved, strokin’ four, she’ll do 140 in the top end floor, and if it had a pair wings, man, I know she could fly. So Dracula’s got that going for him.

Oh, the horror of these lyrics stay with you long after you hit stop (which will probably be around the 13 second mark.) From 1965, I give you:

Dracula’s Deuce – The Ghouls

Special bonus song! (Amazing how many tunes there are about Dracula drag racing.)

Dracula Drag – Dickie Goodman

A much better tune for this illustration is “Dragula Au Go Go” from a great surf band, the Moon-Rays. I wish I could embed it, but head over to their MySpace page and it’s in their playlist. That platter’s got bite!