Without a doubt some of the Greatest and Most Terrifying characters of all time are the monsters that have been around for longer then you can count.
Dracula.
Frankenstein
The Invisible Man
The Creature from the Black Lagoon
The War of the Worlds
Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde
The Mummy
Van Helsing
The Wolfman
All are horrifying, all are brilliant ideas and ALL are Classical Horror Monsters and with Universal trying to set up their own little Shared Universe with these badboys why don't the Writers of Comic Vine take part in the same thing? Horror Classics is a Group that allows you to take a Pre Existing Classical Horror Character and Recreate them in a world that is connected and shared by other Writers. How do I define Classic?
"A Character or Concept that was either created before or during the 1960s."
So that means Norman Bates is free as well you guys.
As LONG as you can give me an argument that the Character you're writing is a Horror then you'll be able to write them. SO no trying to tell me that Superman is the next Michael Myers. :/
So let's get to the all important rules!
1. It's a Shared Universe
Feel free to set your story at ANY period in time you want! 1800s? Fine! 3000 AD? Awesome! Imagine a Dracula story set in that time period! There's just one requirement and ONE requirement only! If you're writing a Character in the 1800s that SAID Character (for this case let's say Van Helsing) CANNOT go ahead and manufacture a cure for being a Werewolf before giving the Cure to EVERY Werewolf on the planet.... and then in the 2000s we have the Wolfman running around cheerfully.
That stuff does not make sense. I mean if you WANT to do something like that then I'm not gonna stop you... but you'll have to discuss it with the Group first. If this happens then you will be asked to Edit your story. If you do not then your story will be considered Non-Canon and you will be given a Warning.
So what I'm trying to say is... Major World Changing Events must first be Discussed with the Group.
2. Recreation or Regeneration?
You have a Couple of Options here. Either Recreate a classic Character from Scratch or Continue an already existing story with the Character whilst adapting it to fit into the Group (For Example, the Invisible Man series could be a Sequel to the Original Novel).
Adapting an Existing Story is fine and dandy, however as mentioned above if you do this you'll have to adapt it to fit with other Characters.
3. Multiple Characters/Multiple Series
So let's say I'm writing the Wolfman. Then both him AND Dracula are in Transylvania at the same time. Say the Dracula Writer decides to use Wolfman in his Series and... I don't know the two characters team up, that Writer would have to ask the Wolfman Writer if he can use Wolffie in his series. A reference or two is fine. Actually USING the Character is the Opposite.
So ask for permission when you want to use a Character that is currently being written elsewhere.
So there you have it! The Rules and Background of Horror Classics! If you're interested in joining please leave a Comment below saying what Character you'd like to use and I'll shoot you a PM.
Welcome to Horror Classic... and have a Good Evening.
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