Written by Phil Nutman
Drawn by Justiniano
Published by Chaos Comics

In November 2001, Chaos published it’s 3rd and finale issue in their trilogy of comics based on the Halloween film franchise. What’s immediately interesting about this issue is that, as I noted in my review, the first issue of this trilogy appeared to continue the original film franchise continuity that had left off with Halloween 6, following up on Tommy Doyle’s actions after the events of that film, where Michael was considered dead and Tommy was now researching Michael’s background to write a book about him, only to discover that Michael was very much alive and coming after him. And thus it was ignoring the events of Halloween H20, which retconned the events of Halloween 4, Halloween 5, and 6.

Well, this comic actually ties them all together! I’d noted in my review of H20 that you could still fit in the events of the previous 3 films if you wanted to (and as was the original plan from the studio, from what I’ve heard), and this comic does just that, although it’s not a perfect fit, which I can just attribute to some unusually sloppy writing from returning scripter Phil Nutman.

Okay so this issue says it’s been two years since the events of the first two comics, which took place on the same night. Except it clearly states that it’s taking place on Halloween 2001, when the previous issue clearly stated that it was taking place on Halloween 2000, so that’s one year. That’s the first timeline error.

Tommy Doyle has been in Smith’s Grove Sanitorium since he was framed for the murder of Sherriff Brackett. Apparently, the leaders of the Cult of Thorn who secretly run Haddonfield managed to get him declared insane and sent there, where Thomas Wynn, the leader of the cult, was in charge (although he appeared to have been killed in Halloween 6, another error here). When Wynn tries to arranged to have Tommy killed, as a human sacrifice for the cult, of course, Tommy fights back and escapes.

The comic also reintroduces Lindsay Wallace, she was the other little kid that Laurie Strode was babysitting back during the events of the original film. Now an adult she is a reporter, and she’s looking into the disappearance of Laurie. We see her watching an old news report from “a year go” , that covers the events of H20 (so that would be the year 2000, except the film took place in 1998). We learn that after that film Laurie disappeared, and all the cops found when they caught up with the ambulance that she stole, was the headless and horribly burned body of what they believe to have been Michael Myers.

Tommy and Lindsey reconnect as he tries to convince her of his innocence. And Lindsey reveals some of her research, getting some more into the Cult of Thorn mythology, and the next thing you know they finds themselves being hunted by Michael Myers!

How did Michael survive his beheading?!?

Well, I’m going to go ahead and spoil the ending of this issue. When they manage to subdue Michael and unmask him, they find out it’s actually Laurie Strode! It turns out that after chopping Michael’s head of she went nuts herself and adopted his mindset, essentially becoming him. And she made her way back to Haddonfield to continue his killing spree. She’s now locked up in the asylum, unspeaking, as it’s left a bit ambiguous as to whether or not she’s just insane or actually cursed by the Cult of Thorn now.

I have to say, despite the errors, I appreciate the attempt at reconciling the film franchise continuity. And while the idea of Laurie becoming the new Michael is not necessarily the direction I would have wanted the films to go in…well, it’s better than what we got with Halloween Resurrection a year later. So there’s that.

Artist Justiniano does a great job with the arts, and helps finish this little trilogy in grand style. For the hardcore Halloween film fans, this is a must-have.

Good luck finding an affordable copy, though.