[Special Guests Article] Making a New Halloween Classic (Hopefully) with the Creators of JOHNNY PUMPKIN TIME from BOOM! Studios’ HELLO HALLOWEEN #1

2025/10/22 17:40:00 +00:00 | Shawn Patrick Boyd & Elijah Henry

[Editor's Note: As a Halloween horror treat for Daily Dead readers, we're thrilled and chilled to have writer Shawn Patrick Boyd and illustrator Elijah Henry share the creative process of pitching and creating their delectably deadly short story Johnny Pumpkin Time featured in Hello Halloween #1, a special issue of BOOM! Studios' Hello Darkness horror comic book anthology that's now available!]

Hey, all! We’re psyched to say that our second BOOM! Studios story is out today in Hello Halloween #1. In advance, we sat down to talk about the story, Johnny Pumpkin Time. We hope you enjoy the background and the story itself.

About Us

We’re Elijah Henry (illustrator) and Shawn Patrick Boyd (writer). After meeting in 2020 thanks to a connection made by Shawn’s wife, we hit it off like comets and pretty immediately dove into creating two graphic novels: Winona Forever and Van Gogh, Van Gone.

Both supernatural mysteries, those books caught the attention of BOOM! Studios' then Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon in 2023. He connected us to submit some horror ideas for an upcoming anthology series BOOM! was launching: Hello Darkness.

We sent four ideas, the editors latched onto one, and it became Dying for Quiet, a twisted eight-pager published in October ’24 in Hello Darkness #4. It was a dream for us. And then we got to keep dreaming.

Pitching a Halloween Story

In December ’24, our awesome editors at BOOM! (Bryce Carlson, David Mariotte, & Caroline Butler) asked if we’d be interested in Halloween-themed stories for a special edition of Hello Darkness.

We sent them three ideas, but we had a clear favorite: Johnny Pumpkin Time, the story of a strange, pumpkin-headed social media influencer who creates a frenzied social media challenge that gets kids gobbling his candy. Things get weird, as you’ll see.

Anyway, because Johnny Pumpkin Time was our favorite idea, we attempted to tip the scales in its favor. So Elijah did a rough sketch of the Johnny Pumpkin Time character. It was the only idea for which we submitted a visual. Who knows if that’s the reason they chose it, but it probably didn’t hurt that they could actually see this wild character live.

Finding Inspiration in Longtime Fears

For years, Shawn has been observing, thinking, and fretting about the effects of social media, AI, and technology. Tech fears have been perhaps too top of mind—perhaps too often.

When BOOM! asked us for Halloween stories, Shawn flashed back to another fear, one instilled by his protective parents: was there poison in that Halloween candy? Razor blades? LSD? Each piece had to be inspected before it was ingested after a night of trick-or-treating in the chilly Minnesota air.

The two fears—one modern; one classic—merged, coming out in this story. Once you read, you’ll see what we’re talking about. But we don’t want to spoil it for you…

Holding Out for a Hero

Shawn has always been a fan of strangely charismatic, over-the-top characters like those of Roald Dahl and Tim Burton. Those influences sprouted in his imagination, forming Johnny Pumpkin Time: a compelling weirdo in a pumpkin head; a colorful cretin who would appeal to kids and concerns parents.

Still, however cool its design or compelling its costume, a villain is only as good as its opponent. So, Shawn and Elijah came up with a mom whose fierce love could match Johnny’s insane impulses and a story that pitted them against one another in a battle for the life of a child. Now it was up to Elijah to give Johnny form.

Drawing a Loveable Menace

Johnny’s design actually came pretty easily to Elijah… almost too easily. Maybe it was divine intervention? Or demonic intervention in this case?

Whatever its genesis, the goal with Johnny was two-fold: to create a character middle schoolers would be drawn to while concealing the twisted, unsettling nature that lies beneath.

Along with Johnny’s no-brainer pumpkin noggin, Elijah gave our lovably grievous gourd wide, cartoonish eyes (enchanting, bloodshot portals to a pitch-black soul), a joyful open mouth (belying the vicious, jagged teeth within), and a slender, lanky build that could fold, bend, and crack into any infernal position. The whole thing gave Johnny a bouncy, infectious energy; the mad charisma of that party animal friend who sweeps you up in bad ideas through pure, enthusiastic momentum.

With our previous Hello Darkness story, Dying for Quiet, Elijah’s ink work was amped up to foster a consistently horrifying tone throughout the eight pages. This time around, Elijah aimed for a more streamlined, friendly-to-the-eye style to start with (just as Johnny might lure in a young fan), only to delve into a petrifying onslaught of high-contrast, stomach-churning ink work, prioritizing a careful blend of gross-out details and dark humor that makes Johnny so unique. Then Jason Wordie (colors) and Taylor Esposito (letters) made the whole thing electric and alive with their masterful contributions.

Elijah would like to say he’s proud to have brought Johnny to life. He wishes he could say he’s ambivalent about it, but he’s spent many a night lying wide awake, wondering what he’s unleashed on the innocent masses with Johnny Pumpkin Time.

Thanks To…

Brilliant colorist Jason Wordie and ace letterer Taylor Esposito for making our stories 10x better. And to Bryce Carlson, David Mariotte, Caroline Butler, our editors. Great editors take your idea and help you make it everything you hoped with wise feedback. And mega thanks to O.G. Matt Gagnon for constant support and feedback.

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Editor's Note: Hello Halloween #1 (including the Johnny Pumpkin Time story) is now available in comic book stores and it is also available via your usual digital comic book providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.

To give you a sneak peek at the festive frights cooked up by Shawn Patrick Boyd and Elijah Henry, we have preview pages and a promo video for Johnny Pumpkin Time below, as well as the Hello Halloween #1 cover art!

To learn more about Hello Halloween #1 and the latest from BOOM! Studios, visit: www.boom-studios.com

To keep up to date on the latest from Shawn Patrick Boyd and Elijah Henry, be sure to visit:

Hello Halloween #1: "Trick-or-Treat yourself to a fresh batch of nightmares. BOOM! Studios’ acclaimed horror anthology Hello Darkness gets festive with the inaugural HELLO HALLOWEEN #1, just in time for everyone’s favorite holiday!

Dare you turn the page? The hit anthology series returns with another chilling installment of bone-rattling horror! Terrifying new tales arrive just in time to haunt your seasonal reading list!

Featuring top tier talent and a can’t-miss, brand new Graveyard Club story from horror master R.L. Stine and Carola Borelli as well as a new installment of “I Can’t Take You Anywhere” plus shorts from comic horror icons Robert Hack, Megan Hutchison, Shawn Patrick Boyd, and Elijah Henry.

HELLO HALLOWEEN #1 features cover art by Frazer Irving, Drew Rausch, Jeremy Bastian, Jenny Frison, and Mattia De Iulis.

Johnny Pumpkin Time Preview Pages: