October Classics Vol 3: The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
A hit Cartoon Network show introduced a new generation to the spooky and macabre
Hello, everyone, Astro Demon Press is back with a new entry in our October series. This week, I decided to cover one of my earliest introductions to the horror genre, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.
Created by Maxwell Atoms, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy originally aired as a segment of the show Grim and Evil, alongside another cartoon network show, Evil con Carne. It featured a zany cast of characters, with main three being the dumb, fun loving Billy; the cynical, sarcastic Mandy; and their friend, the dour Grim Reaper, Grim. It takes place in the town of Endsville and features the characters going on supernatural adventures.
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy was a dark comedy for kids, that drew inspiration from a number of sources. It referenced old Hammer Horror films, anime, old folktales, mythology, Kaiju films, the Twilight Zone, and even had an episode about Cthulhu. Classic horror icons like Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Mummy were introduced in the show. Plots often involved supernatural creatures like zombies, aliens, wizards and monsters.
The show had an interesting view of continuity. Multiple episodes would end with world ending events, or even show the characters getting killed off or erased from existence. One episode even ended with reality being warped and the main characters becoming the Powerpuff girls (it kind of makes sense in context).
By the next episode though, everything would be back to the status quo. The characters never aged, although occasionally, references were made to the future. The show also had some interesting anachronisms such as Abraham Lincoln being the modern day president.
Billy and Mandy was a big hit and naturally got several TV specials. The first of these specials was the hour long Halloween special, Billy and Mandy’s Jacked up Halloween. This Halloween special was technically the last episode of Grim and Evil, although no segments from Evil Con Carne aired during this.1 It features the new villain Jack O’Lantern, voiced by Wayne Knight.
The plot of the special is that Billy, Mandy, and their friend Irwin are getting ready to go trick or treating on Halloween. Billy is dressing up as the Grim Reaper and borrows Grim’s scythe to complete his costume. While they are getting ready, Grim tells them the story of Jack. In the medieval ages, Jack was a resident of Endsville who loved to play pranks on everyone. The town became annoyed with his antics, so they framed him for playing a trick on the Queen of Endsville (it is never explained why Endsville used to have a Queen, by Mandy does question it). He is sentenced to be executed. Before his death, Jack cuts a deal with Grim to become immortal. Grim grants him immortality, but Jack is forced to have a jack-o lantern as a head.
Jack O’Lantern now forever haunts Endsville, coming out each Halloween. After the kids go out to trick or treat, Billy wanders off and finds Jack’s house. Jack at first has no interest in Billy, until the boy brags that he has the actual Grim Reaper’s scythe. Jack tricks Billy into giving him the scythe, and uses it to start a rampage through Endsville. The group is eventually able to defeat Jack, after Irwin accidentally trips several pranks and Jack laughs until he can’t fight back. The episode ends with Jack banished to the underworld, where he is tortured.
This first tv special captures all of the aspects that make Billy and Mandy such a great show. Despite how funny and kid friendly it is, the story still feels like an old horror story. The slapstick antics of the characters complements the spooky atmosphere well, lending to the overall zaniness of the special.
For me, and I suspect a lot of kids, the show Billy and Mandy was one of our first introductions to the world of horror. The show was always funny, but it never hesitated to show it’s influences. It definitely leans more towards the genre of dark comedy, with some episodes feeling more like movies like Evil Dead 2 rather than a kids show. The monsters, comedy, atmosphere, and overall edgier tone of the show set it apart both when it aired an today.
I have previously written about the show’s Christmas Special. You can view that article here.