Too Ghoul For School

After a four year absence, Ghoul & The Gang make their triumphant return to the Countdown!

Puns From The Crypt

Superkernel supporting characters and Mini-Me versions of some universally recognizable horror icons, C. C. Ghoul and the Gang eventually came out from under Superkernel's shadow and made it to the big time in their very own Weekly Reader Book Club activity book that was full of gags so awful that I'm sure even my seven-year-old self was groaning and puzzles so lame that they don't even rate scanning. And now I just have to start a new sentence because that last one was starting to get out of hand.

















The preceding Franken-pun goes out to Mr. Rozum.



Up until I was scanning this page I had thought that this character's name was 'Lynx' which always confused me as to why they would give a wolfman character a feline name. Then I suddenly noticed that his name was actually 'Lynk' and now I'm confused as to whether or not he's a wolfman character or a missing link type Bigfoot character. If he's a wolfman why is he named 'Lynk' and if he's a Bigfoot character why is he barking. And why am I capitalizing the word 'Bigfoot?' It's not his name, it's what he is. I don't capitalize 'dog' or 'tree' or 'sandwich.' Unless it's a really good sandwich.

Superkernel: The Bonus Material

There was a ton of Superkernel stuff that I scanned that just didn't fit anywhere in our 4 part look at the Corn of Steel, so let's cram it all into one post and call it a bonus!

First let's discuss Superbucks-
Superbucks were printed on the back of certain issues of "Superkernel Comics" and were redeemable for all sorts of Superkernel Swag and some other junk as well...

I collected enough 'bucks over the years to get myself the frisbee, the light switch cover, the DC super-hero book covers and that very cool tote bag which I own to this day. I wanted that puzzle as well, but they stopped carrying it before I had accumulated enough cash. In later issues of the comic all the cool Superkernel stuff was dropped in favor of boring (and more expensive) Grit-like prizes of generic AM/FM radios, thermos jugs and the oddest thing of all- "The Better Homes & Garden Family Medical Guide!" Wonder how many kids shelled out 7 Superbucks + 8.50 for that?

Every issue of "Superkernel Comics" included two pages of 'Superkernel's Amazin' Games.' These were printed on the opposite sides of a mini-poster centerfold of one of the Cornville cast, so most of the comics I own are missing them. I tore those posters out and hung them on my wall until they had disintegrated into nothingness. These four pages are all that remain-

I can make a lot more than eight words out of 'producer' and only about half of them are dirty.

If the main Superkernel story ran short of eight pages, then a one page gag strip would take up the slack. The Space-Niks usually appeared on the game pages in a two or three panel strip, but here they graduate to the big time-

Besides the one-page gags, C.C Ghoul & The Gang also made occasional appearances in the main Superkernel story. It was like when the cast of Scooby-Doo would show up on Dynomutt-

Beside C. C. & the Count, the Gang also consisted of a stunted little werewolf named Lynx, a talking potted plant named Jules Fern and a mummy, an invisible man, and a Creature from the Black Lagoon-type critter who's names escape me.

Finally, Superkernel shills for the Sweet Pickles book club-

And that's it for Superkernel, until I inevitably come across more related junk in some dark corner of the house, in which case- prepare yourselves for Superkernel: The Director's Cut!

A Kernel Of Truth & Justice: Part 4 of 4

It's the super secret Secret Origin of Superkernel today! Sort of. Point of fact, you don't really learn all that much about Superkernel's background in this issue's story. No hint as to where he came from or how he got those amazing corn-fueled powers of his, all you really get is a brief mention of how he and Hoot came to be best friends and then how they both ended up starring in a comic book all their own. So it's really more the super secret Secret Origin of "Superkernel Comics" when you think about it. But you really shouldn't. Think about it, that is. It's not worth wasting the brain cells over.

This story first appeared in vol. 3 iss. 12 of the comic book and could very well be the last original story created for the book. Every issue I have of vol. 4 of the series is a reprint of an earlier issue. The story would serve well as a last issue as it's a nostalgic summation of all the previous issues with a reassurance at the end that Superkernel would still be having new adventures aplenty, even if nobody would ever again put them to paper.

So without further ado-

And while that story served as a nice introduction to the world of Superkernel it was short of actual story and not very heavy on the humor. So I'm throwing in another issue for you as well, my personal favorite. This is an alternate universe story. A What If? An Elseworlds. It's Superkernel Old West style and it still makes me chuckle when I read it today. Reprinted in vol. 4 iss. 1 from one of the very earliest issues of "Superkernel Comics"-

Made me laugh!

Don't go away (well you can go away, but be sure to come back sometime) 'cause there's more Superkernel goodness in our next post! But wait, you say, isn't this post clearly labelled as being 'Part 4 of 4?' How could there be more goodness of the Superkernel kind still ahead? Because in this day and age the consumer demands much more from the products they buy or happen upon with the "Next Blog" button, so our next post features- Superkernel Bonus Material!

At no extra charge.