Making sense of the Halloween series can be quite the strenuous undertaking. Every sequel (with the exception of the Michael Myers-less third) stems from John Carpenter's groundbreaking original, but while parts four through six function as continuations of the franchise's first and second films, H20 and Resurrection exist as alternate timeline sequels. Then there's Rob Zombie's reboot and its sequel, and last, but certainly not least, there's 2018's Halloween, which wipes the sequel slate clean and stands as a direct follow-up to the 1978 original. And if that isn't enough to make one's head spin, there are also a range of comic book tie-ins that stem out of those various timelines.
One particularly spooky comic spin-off is Halloween: One Good Scare by Stefan Hutchinson and Peter Fielding, a one-shot set within the H20 timeline. This short story is told through the eyes of David Loomis, the son of Doctor Samuel Loomis. David followed in his late father's footsteps, becoming a doctor at Smith's Grove Sanitarium, but unlike his father, David is careful not to let the darkness of his patients consume him. But that all changes when Lindsey Wallace is admitted to Smith's Grove.
Fans of the original Halloween will remember Lindsey as one of the two children Laurie Strode babysat on that fateful Halloween night in 1978. It turns out that although Lindsey survived that dreadful experience, the traumatic nightmare of Michael Myers never left. In and out of therapy and rehab her entire life, a now thirty-two-year-old Lindsey ends up in David's care. Soon enough, David becomes just as enthralled with Lindsey's fear of Michael as his father was with the madman himself. And Lindsey's manic paranoia is at an all-time high as just one year prior - on Halloween night - Michael left Lindsey a cryptic message by sticking multiple kitchen knives into a jack-o-lantern she had only just carved, letting her know he was in the shadows, watching and waiting.
As a hysteric Lindsey anticipates Michael's arrival in Smith's Grove on Halloween night, David consoles her and assures that her fear is only in her mind. But for any victim that's been marked by the terror of the boogieman, Lindsey knows that the destiny awaiting her is inevitable. Sure enough, Michael arrives, leaving a trail of bodies as he pursues David and Lindsey through the hospital corridors. When Michael finally corners them, David is paralyzed by fear and hides under a desk as he witnesses Michael slice Lindsey's legs before dragging her away. Lindsey's corpse is later discovered strung up like a scarecrow in a pumpkin patch with multiple kitchen knives jammed in her body - a twisted reminder for David that Michael will soon be back for him.
One Good Scare stands out among the many Halloween offshoots because it sticks to what made the original film such a dread-filled phenomenon. While so many movie sequels attempt to provide a convoluted explanation for Michael Myers' penchant for killing, One Good Scare reminds fans that what made Michael so scary in the first place was his unknowable evil - a shape that anybody's fears can be projected onto. The story utilizes the stalker-like creepiness of Michael that was featured prominently in the original. Just as Michael made his presence known to Laurie and her friends before initiating his attacks, One Good Scare sees Michael Myers terrifying Lindsey Wallace long before he does her in. Though it may come as a surprise to some, the most faithful Halloween sequels can actually be found in pages of comic books.