Stephen Gammell's eerie, phantasmal artwork was to blame. To commemorate the Scary Stories book series' 30th anniversary, publisher Harper Collins opted to remove any signs of Gammells' presence, replacing the old images with new ones by acclaimed artist Brett Helquist. Yes, yes, Happy Anniversary. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones have been three of the most controversial pieces of children's literature in their thirty years of publication due to the gruesome content of the tales collected and, more importantly, the gruesome illustrations that have caused many a child to begin crying on the spot. Gammell's ability to dive into the deepest recesses of his brain and return with realistic nightmares that he then conveys in all their gruesome detail via his paintings is absolutely unrivaled. Harper Collins has demonstrated impressive resolve over the last three decades in standing firm in the face of numerous bans and controversy surrounding the immensely popular book series; so why they waited until the 30th Anniversary to relent and remove the most objectionable aspect of the books is beyond me.
But what's the bigger picture? Because they are so clever, they are probably not the greatest for youngsters. I don't even want to see them as adults anymore. I'm not claiming that no kid can manage them. Obviously, a generation or two of us grew up with such images and were probably all OK. All I'm saying is that if the old Harold were shown on TV, there would most likely be a content notice telling you to shield your children's eyes (and maybe also yours if youre sensitive, like I apparently am). He's virtually a dripping, bloated corpse dangling from a stake.
If you're a little more hardcore and like something a little spookier, like myself, I recommend The Wreck or my personal fave, Harold.
Harold is the story of a demonic scarecrow. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. Below are two of my favorite drawings from Harold (left) and The Bride (right) (right).
Nostalgia is often sparked by anything that reminds you of a better moment in your life. It doesn't matter whether it's an old commercial or a book from your childhood; it fits in /r/nostalgia. Here, we may enjoy remembering about the good old days... moments spent with loved ones, both hilarious and tragic. So get your Pogs, Surge cans, and Thriller tapes, and join us at /r/nostalgia!
