When I completed the last Horrific Hindsight, I stated that 1995 was the year of Goosebumps, where the franchise really went from beloved series to full fledged franchise. We made it to the midway of 95 previously, and books 31-40 took us through the remainder of the big year. In between these months, Goosebumps would premiere the television show, shooting the series to a whole new world of success. As we cover the next batch, we'll talk more about how big things got, but for now, we have to focus on our previous ten books in the original 62. How did these go? Is the quality improving or getting shaky? Let's hit into that Horrific Hindsight.
Protagonist split is once again skewed male overall. Returning once more to four female (Amy Kramer, Wendy, Erin and Trina O'Dell) to six male (Cooper Holmes, Joe Burton, Steve Boswell, Duane Comack, Jordan Blake and Mark Rowe). Overall, not the most dynamic batch for the most part. Not all bad, as I liked following characters like Amy, Wendy, Erin and Steve. However, just either a lot of blank slates, or characters who were annoying or one note. I guess after 40 books you really get to that point where the Goosebumps protagonists really blend together. And these past ten were prime examples of that.
So the quality was mixed in the twenties. For the thirties, it didn't get much better. It's home to books that for the most part I don't dislike, but a lot of books that just felt "there". And that trend started with Night of the Living Dummy II. A book that isn't horrible and does the job it's set out to do just fine. However it feels like the template to the entire Slappy franchise, more so than even the original, that it always feels so superfluous. Lacking in some sort of x-factor that you would expect from a book starring who would become the face of the franchise.
And as if my concerns about the next ten were about to feel unwarranted, The Barking Ghost came up next to hammer in that this is going to be quite the batch this time. A book that is so interesting for a good chunk of it, but also a book that Stine hit a wall on and never knew how to finish in any satisfying manner. An unfortunate sign of his increasingly concerning lack of focus. But then, when all seemed lost, here comes The Horror at Camp Jellyjam to lift my spirits. A solid mystery with an iconic monster and some solid enough horror. Signs that we aren't fully in the dregs. And then in comes Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes to remind me not to get comfy yet. Stine still has time to be redundant.
A Shocker on Shock Street is next and while I still like it, it felt like it lacked that oomph that made me enjoy it the first time around. The Haunted Mask II was next and while not hitting the heights of the original, at least made it clear that not all sequels were going to be bad. The Headless Ghost followed and much like Shock Street seemed to hit less for me, but I still enjoyed its setting and concept, even if it wasn't as head strong as before. And then, lumbering from its icy sleep comes The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena, a book with so much potential, but this is still the era of R.L. Stine having no idea how to finish off a book, and thus we're left with something he gave up on.
That leaves two more books. How I Got My Shrunken Head was a step up from a few of the prior books in terms of action and story, giving us one of the better adventure stories in some time. And then, bookending this run of books, Slappy returns with Night of the Living Dummy III. And while the first book is just okay, there is just something lacking in this third chapter to make it feel like a strong entry into the forties.
"Lacking" is the perfect word to describe this run of books. A lack of something that really makes these stand out. This underlying sense that Stine is finally starting to strain to find unique content for the series. Though, in his defense, this was really when his workload got crazy. Not only the Goosebumps books being monthly, but now another monthly book in Give Yourself Goosebumps. Not to mention still writing Fear Street and the odd standalone work. Plus the annual "Tales" book. Goosebumps has gone from a series that didn't know if it was going to go past its sixth book to now pumping out as many books as possible. And that weight is already weighing heavy on the head of Robert Lawrence Stine.
Twists this time feel lacking as well. None that really hit on the level of some of the earlier books. Really, the best of the bunch is Shock Street as it feels like the one Stine put a lot of thought into and as such hits on that Camp Nightmare level of completely unexpected.
So, the thirties weren't great. Not in the level of being the worst books in the series, but just felt very stock or just lacking in the big thing to make them feel special. But how do they stack up? Let's pump out them awards.
AWARDS
May 1995 to January 1996. What was hot back then? Goosebumps, for one as the TV show premieres. Also we live in an age of WCW Monday Nitro, Donkey Kong Country 2, the first Mortal Kombat movie, Chrono Trigger, Xena: Warrior Princess, the US debut of Sailor Moon, and both parts of "Who Shot Mr. Burns?". So, interesting stretch of time, but was it kind to Goosebumps? Let's put them awards out.
GOLD STINE AWARDS
If you thought we were in the clear and things are going to get better, unfortunately #41-50 are up next. And we are in for what I refer to as the "hell slog". But we do have evil rabbits, evil cameras (again), ghost campers, vampires and something called a Lost Legend to contend with, so it'll be interesting at least. Until then.
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