90s kids everywhere are rejoicing (or lamenting) the release of Columbia Pictures’ Goosebumps adaptation, out this week. We here at Bloody Disgusting are huge fans of R.L. Stine’s book (and subsequent TV) series, so we thought we’d take a look back at some of the series’ best book covers!
10. Ghost Beach
“Ghost Beach” was the Goosebumps‘ better covers that featured a ghost. It’s creepy and (dare I say it?) haunting, even if the ghost does look like the Green Ghosts from Scooby-Doo, Where are You?
9. Deep Trouble
The “Deep Trouble” cover immediately calls Jaws to mind, and that is certainly not a bad thing.
8. Stay Out of the Basement
Creepy plant person (or in the book’s case, your father’s plant person doppelgänger) hiding in your basement? Absolutely terrifying.
7. The Haunted Mask II
The first “Haunted Mask” gets all the accolades (it’s my personal favorite Goosebumps book), but the second one is actually a pretty good book, and it certainly has a better cover. That old man mask is creepy as Hell. Teeth are a the first thing I notice on a person, so that snaggletooth gets major gross-out points.
6. The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight
There are few things more terrifying than scarecrows, and the one on this cover has a sinister face to boot! It could give He Who Walks behind The Rows a run for his money.
5. The Barking Ghost
This dog looks more terrifying than Stephen King’s Cujo. Seriously, just look at those eyes! I love dogs, but something about a dog’s snarling face is particularly terrifying. his cover nails that look.
4. Werewolf Skin
That skinned werewolf looks pissed. What makes this cover so good is that it’s just a unique design, and the artist displays more talent for drawing some seriously evil-looking animal eyes.
3. The Curse of Camp Cold Lake
This cover reminds me of the zombie introduction scene from Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, but the image of a skull with eyes is horrifying to a child. Just look at the nose! When I read this book growing up, I avoided looking at the cover at all costs.
2. You Can’t Scare Me!
Okay, so the idea of swamp mud monsters is pretty silly, but their design on this cover is grotesque. The visuals didn’t translate very well on screen, but this is still one of Goosebumps‘ more striking and memorable images.
1. Night of the Living Dummy
Slappy the Dummy is arguably the most well-known figure from the Goosebumps franchise, so it’s only appropriate that his book cover top this list. Of course, most people don’t remember that Slappy didn’t feature prominently in the first book, it was Mr. Wood. Still, dummies are pretty creepy, and this cover captures that creepiness remarkable well.
What were some of your favorite Goosebumps covers? Let us know in the comments below!
