Halloween: Michael Myers Is Transformed Into Children’s Book Character
Halloween villain Michael Myers gets reimagined as a children’s book character. Ever since he stalked and stabbed his way through John Carpenter’s Halloween, released in 1978, Myers has gone through several different iterations and updates.
Most recently, thanks to the hit 2018 reboot of the franchise, which was directed by David Gordon Green, Myers has experienced a renewed relevance. Fans can’t wait to see the masked menace face off with Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) once more. Though the sequels to the reboot, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, have both been delayed due to COVID-19, Myers will still be showing up to terrorize Laurie. It’ll just be a more unexpected take on the horror icon.
In a sneak peek revealed by EW, fans have their first look at The Legend of Halloween. Written by Green, and illustrated by Summer of Blood director Onur Tukel, the book is produced by is produced by Malek Akkad and Ryan Freimann in association with Further Front Publishing. What’s striking, and probably necessary about The Legend of Halloween, is how it transforms Michael from a notoriously menacing figure to a sort of pitiable character with a sort of sad expression. Still, in spite of the change, Michael still seems bent on destruction in the photos below.
The Legend of Halloween, which is available for pre-order on the book’s official website, recreates some of the most indelible moments in the original Halloween by showing how Michael takes the time to stalk his victims and also adding in some clever rhymes. In creating the adaptation, Gordon told EW that he hoped to tell the story of Halloween to his nine year-old twin boys while still being mindful of the content they absorb. For those who are reluctant to experience the full weight of a horror film, it often helps to present the story in a different light. Countless parodies have sought to lessen the feeling of freight surrounding personas like Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Vorhees by presenting the villains in a more comedic manner. The Legend of Halloween seems to take a different approach, retelling the narrative of the 1978 film but treading lightly on some of the more gruesome moments featuring Michael.
The shift is evident in the cover of the illustrated adaptation. It depicts Laurie as an amazingly brave protagonist, shielding all the other characters from Michael’s knife. This presentation taps into the success of the seminal horror movie, showcasing why the basic setup has endured for decades. At its core, and at its best in the eyes of many, the franchise is about Laurie and Michael. A simple, engrossing tale of good against evil that can appeal to a broad audience. Even though a children’s book focused on one of the scariest film characters of all time might sound counterintuitive at first, it ultimately speaks to the universality of the themes explored in Halloween.
Source: EW