Clive Barker's Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special - Atop the Fourth Wall

Welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn. In this episode, Linkara begins this year's holiday festivities with a Hellraiser comic!
atopthefourthwa...
Originally released December 4th, 2017.
ORIGINAL INFO: This comic isn’t for your eyes!

[@MaveriKat]

I saw the title card and all I could think was Little Linkara: "I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time!" Santa Pinhead: "You'll shoot your eye out... and down the dark decades of your pain, this will seem like a memory of Heaven." Little Linkara: "...You know, that football sounds awfully swell right now."

[@jagarcia0705]

"that's funny. I don't care who you are" -Larry the Cable Guy

[@Ontarioku77]

Honestly I could kinda see Atkins working as a cenobite. Not in this overly 90s extreme way but the bandoleer running through his body and that he was a soldier has some possibilities. Maybe he found pleasure in the suffering of those he killed and then is made a cenobite as a sort of attack dog; bringing pain and chaos when needed but still being leashed in when he steps out of line

[@miaeubanks5009]

Ontarioku that’s exactly how I feel! He solved the puzzle unknowingly through the tunnels so he’s not exactly wanting to be in hell so that kinda explains why he’s an asshole. But he does have a decent concept to him. I like it when people show atkins love

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

"Mac Tonight was a Cenobite?!" Well, given everything Doug said about him, it'd make a terrifying amount of sense...

[@Bobsheaux]

Ah, the first appearance of 90s Dude. For all the crap he's been through, he deserves the title. "Holy crap! Mac Tonight was a cenobite??" I believe it. I remember getting candy from someone on one of my earliest Halloweens wearing that very same mask! Dafuq??

[@GanonGhidorah]

12:43 - Well, it's kind of ironic that you said that, because it has been established - or at least implied - that Chucky has had an encounter with the Cenobytes while in Hell. Yeah; basically Bride of Chucky kind of set itself apart by establishing itself as a focal point for almost all of the major slasher horror films that were on the market back then - making references to Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to even Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street. During the movie, a nod goes out to Hellraiser when Chucky and Tiffany kill John Ritter's character - the corrupt police chief - by using the airbag to fire a bunch of nails into his face. When they later examine his now paralyzed body with nails all over his head, Chucky takes a moment to state - "Why does that look *so familiar*?" - implying that he's had a run-in with Pinhead before. It would ultimately make sense, if what this comic says about the Cenobytes - that they're ultimately meant to keep the balance between Order and Chaos, that Chucky would encounter him; especially since the original proposed ending for Freddy Vs. Jason featured the two titular characters STILL fighting even long after they've gone to Hell, only to end with Pinhead arriving to break them up. "Gentleman, is there something I can help you with?" Almost like Pinhead is the sheriff of slasher hell.

[@jaredsamples6969]

Why do I suddenly imagine an old western style slasher scene?

[@jfdrac]

Funny enough that even fits in with Chucky crossover in the Hack Slash comic

[@dvader518]

He’s licking the blood because he’s on the Atkins diet! I’ll see myself out.

[@iudsaenmotrango3271]

The soldier character in this is such a damn waste. I mean imagine someone who had lived through the horrors of the Viet-nam war; the My Lay massacre, the Hue city slaughter, the guerrilla jungle warfare etc. interacting with something like the cenobites. Someone who had gone so far into the world of human evil he couldn't conceive of any more, just to be shown something worse by the Leviathan. Or even more interesting; someone who completely lost their purpose in an unwinnable war, lost all reason or faith in anything, but found it in the (perceived) order that the Leviathan brings... I don't even need to really prove it could work, because it already has; my knowledge of the Lore is a little squiffy (so correct me if I'm wrong) but wasn't Pinhead himself a veteran of the Great war? I'm sure he was a captain in either WWI or the Second Boer war... so basically this guy is a shitty version of Pinhead, when they could have had him as a modernized version of his character, without it being so *90'S X-TREEM!* What a waste... Also the Jewish characters seem faithful (mentioning Shul, their Rabbi, and having a familial commitment to a holy order) but they also keep saying the word G-d. I don't know if this varies in different communities a lot but, if they keep the faith, shouldn't it be Ha-Shem? Eh, whatever, honestly at least someone made the effort to portray complex Jewish characters for once that aren't just comic foils or something... Also I loved the reference back to one of the classic stories of a Golem.

[@ZoanBlade90]

Iudsaen Motrango Stain from My Hero Academia or the father from Baby Teeth would do this better. =D

[@iudsaenmotrango3271]

Hell yeah!

[@iudsaenmotrango3271]

ZoanBlade90: There are actually a few different characters scattered about in media that are like this, even from before the early nineties. Why they couldn't have gone for something more like that I have no idea. I'm willing to bet Clive Barker's input was something along the lines of one of those characters, but then the marketing team (or whomever) at Marvel was like: "Yeah that's pretty good, but can we give him big gun belts, and maybe replace the questioning of authority and the nature of human suffering with a big-ass gun?" Just a shame really....

[@TheSpawnfan]

You mean like Pinhead? he was a soldier, so shaken by the horrors of war (he fought in WWI) that he became an hedonist as he saw no point in living in any other way than searching for his own gratification after what he witnessed, he was also interested in solving puzzles and ended up getting his hands in the Lament Configuration, and the rest is history.

[@iudsaenmotrango3271]

Exactly! (I even mention this in my original comment, but it is quite long so I get how you might have missed it). Basically this concept could, and has, been done MUCH better in the past... even in the same series!

[@spookyrosev6467]

Also on the topic of the holidays: the War on Flesh, a way more believable war than the War on Christmas.

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

And I gotta admit-I really liked the “Nursery Crime” story. It had really haunting imagery and artwork.

[@SpeedyEric1]

A Hellraiser Christmas comic? ...I guess in the world of comic book fans who review comics on a green futon every Monday, anything is freakin' possible. I got the chance to finally see the first 2 Hellraiser movies on KZbin early on in October during my search of good horror films I haven't yet seen. Good time for me to see a review of, again, a Hellraiser Christmas comic. 8:58- Oh, so THAT'S why "London After Midnight" became a lost film. 9:30- WHO'S A CENOBITE AND A HALF!? *I'M* A CENOBITE AND A HALF! 16:28- I haven't seen Rubik: The Amazing Cube, bit I've seen that sketch of it on an episode of Robot Chicken. 26:36- The dark figure is obviously a merging of The Sandman and Owlman from DC.

[@jagarcia0705]

I could just imagine the Cenobites singing Christmas Carols.

[@Azmodeus87]

Christmas hells, Human Yells. pinhead makes his deals. Our cubes, Are better then booze to get a 'rouse out of yooou.

[@NodDisciple1]

Well, Phelous had MK Characters do that. :P

[@johnoneil9188]

Gods, I missed the Christmas opening. It is one of my highlights of the season.

[@DianaGohan]

Nice to FINALLY see 90's Dude (former Kid) in an episode that isn't just storyline related and can just be a fun gag. Though I wish you did a reference to the Kamandi On Earth's End Issue one joke when you were asking "who would like this super gun totting over muscled Cenobite Adtkins" and the just cut to 90's Dude for a second saying "dude" and then just say "besides him I mean."

[@wretneck]

Santa Pinhead asks, "what do you most desire for Christmas?"

[@madelinemccoolname]

Nursery crime is an excellent title

[@CazTheGamerGuy]

6:34 RIP AND TEAR, RIP AND TEAR YOUR GIFTS! CENOBITES, YOU HAVE HUGE HEARTS, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE HUGE GUTS! (I don't know how Linkara missed this joke)

[@AT4W]

Stinger. =)

[@CazTheGamerGuy]

Now he's replying to my comment! That can't be good... (Clever guy :P )

[@Yawgmothx]

YOU HAVE A HUGE TREE! THAT MEANS YOU HAVE HUGE GIFTS!!!

[@zoesoundglave3897]

but he didn't rely since the after credits had it

[@NodDisciple1]

I need a gun. A really big gun.

[@troublesomezorua]

I remember I had the first two trades of the comic years ago, though I'm not sure how much of it was actually in them. It's been about 10 years so it's fairly hazy, but I definitely remember Atkins feeling both out of place and bland. I do like to think that the bandoleers are actually entering his body, so there's a goopy sound whenever he fires his gun as the bullets pull and cut through his body with each shot, but even that's a bit too little too late. Kind of a shame, as a sort of "warrior-poet of the flesh" could be an awesome concept if done right. Oh Atkins, when you're considered the most out of place character in a series with a farting cherub, you know you're doing something wrong. I really like the Nursery Crimes story, though I seem to recall that I did read it in the past, as I remember being a tad disappointed that the moon was just a cenobite and didn't actually have any deeper symbolism or anything.

[@strubberyg7451]

About שדים, it's the plural form of demon. In Hebrew you add either -im or -ot to make a noun plural, depending on the noun's gender (objects have arbitrary gender, and persons are talked about in their specific gender). So technically שדים means demon's', particularly male demons (otherwise it'd be שדות)

[@strubberyg7451]

By the way, Sabaticals comes from שבת, the Hebrew name for Saturday. It's the Jew's holy day for resting. So a day that comes once seven days for resting is sabat, and a year that comes once in seven years (at least for some works in Israel, like teaching) for resting is Sabatical, or שבתון

[@Grim_Sister]

Add another י in there and you get שדיים (shadaim- boobs)

[@buddermantheamazing]

Man, I love the AT4W Christmas Intro..

[@Cdr2002]

Same!

[@garymerasty3254]

BuddermanTheAmazing -Lets Plays,Singing,and More!

[@garymerasty3254]

BuddermanTheAmazing -Lets Plays,Singing,and More!

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

"Hey I gotta idear let's make a Hellraiser holiday special"-Tony Goldmark, probably.

[@Gusterson98]

9:48 DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDEEEEE! 90's Kid I mean 90's Dude is here!

[@brendaneichler5480]

Shouldn't that be 90's DUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDEEEEE?

[@tavila]

welcome back 90s dude you have been missed

[@Carlitonsp1]

That Christmas opening song was way better than it has any right to be.

[@Howard_the_Duck]

I loved the epic hellraiser series. The hellraiser mythology is fascinating and well worth developing.

[@Artista_Frustrado]

why, the heck, would you pick a Leifeld character as an agent of ORDER? ok that idea for a rubik SatAM cartoon actually sounds fun, having the Kid & Archeologist uncle save the world by using different Rubik powers

[@brendaneichler5480]

So essentially Dial H for Hero but with a rubik's cube?

[@Artista_Frustrado]

i was thinking more of the Karate Kid Cartoon but yeah

[@TheSpawnfan]

artistafrustrado there was a karate kid cartoon?

[@Artista_Frustrado]

yes! & it was gloriously dumb

[@JMDarkly1]

Ah, 90's Dude. Haven't seen your skit in a while. Welcome back.

[@alphamegazulu6654]

"Merry Christmas" -Love, Hell

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

"This one's got an extra hook to it!" On the end of chain.

[@Moonbeam143]

It would have been neat if they was some crossover with Hellraiser and the Grinch.

[@NodDisciple1]

Well, someone all ready did Dr. Seuss Call of Cthulhu.

[@Tareltonlives]

♫You're a mean one, Mr. Pinhead♫

[@ShadowWolfRising]

And it ends with the Grinch fighting them with slapstick, MacGuyverd weapons, and maybe a Stand.

[@BionicleGio22210]

Hellraiser and Christmas........ THEY MIX TOGETHER SO WELL!!!!!

[@Raximus3000]

1/22 - PATREON: JLA/Avengers WHO ELSE IS HYPED FOR IT?

[@Grayvorn]

Raximus3000 Heck yeah!

[@joholloway8818]

holy cr@p! i'm not the only one that remembers "mac tonight!"

[@mrtyler603]

fighting for order but recruits someone that looks like John matrix from commando. I'm sure it'll work our fine.

[@conservaduck7298]

4:07 you might want to stop burning that candle in case it helps the next villain take over the world by steeling your powers

[@erikdeusenberry5307]

the truth behind loot boxs lol so true.

[@CactusJackIV]

Merry Christmas, Champion! I hope that everyone's Christmas wishes come true!

[@feenie5567]

I'm trying so hard not to joke about the Cenobites answering to a diamond. A yellow diamond. Cenobite/SU crossover when

[@miaeubanks5009]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's thought of this

[@XanosKnyghtshade]

"The Cenobites are minions of the Devil who fight the forces of Chaos!" Then why did Pinhead kill all those people in that dance club in random ways?

[@laragallahue7127]

Xanos Knightshade To be fair they did say he went rough so he was acting out of character

[@TheSpawnfan]

Xanos Knightshade because the assassination of his character began in that movie, that's what happened after Clive Barker had to sell the characters to Hollywood

[@JadeCryptOfWonders]

Mac Tonight? More Like "We Have Such Dinnahs To Feed You!"

[@shmee123ful]

Christmas with atop the forth wall and linkara is almost always a pleasure and hardly ever a pain.

[@risingofthethorn1197]

Hellraiser? *grabs popcorn* Halloween in Christmas my wish came true!!!! BTW this has been a great year for Halloween

[@TheUncagedKestrel]

Oh my gosh, I just bought this comic AND that same lament configuration Rubik's Cube from Amazon!! What unbelievable timing! (For a horror-themed Secret Santa gift exchange)

[@WTFisTingispingis]

Kestrel that sounds _awesome_

[@NodDisciple1]

You enjoying it tho?

[@TheUncagedKestrel]

The exchange? Yeah, definitely! This is its third year running, and I've always had a good experience.

[@NodDisciple1]

+Kestrel Even w/ the bad comic book? Does the box make up for it? Have you solved it? Was there a Kinder Egg in it? Is Pinhead actually polite when having tea and cakes?

[@TheUncagedKestrel]

Alas, I bought them for another recipient (before I knew how bad the comic was); I will sadly never know the answers to those questions...

[@ignaciojacintolopez8232]

27:30 that joke was soooo goooodd😂😂 i belly laughed so much,mostly because it just comes out of nowhere

[@artistwithouttalent]

1:08 "Come on, it's lovely weather for a slay ride together with yoouuuu!"

[@Cdr2002]

Also also Moonman being a cennobite makes too much sense

[@fluidthought42]

Pleasures so dark, only the Clown could satiate them...

[@zachm1123]

TIME TO PLAY

[@benvigus8705]

Happy holiday, this configuration, happy holiday to you...

[@bloodstoneore4630]

MERRY CHRISTMAS, LINKARA!

[@MrAl360]

I know it’s gonna take awhile for before Linkera gets to them, but I would love to know what he thinks of the current Power Ranger comics. They’re pretty fun and interesting from what I’ve read.

[@justinbest9954]

The only thing stranger than Atkins would be if the Nightbreed comics had a nightbreed who was a non copyright infringing Kamen Rider

[@falsehero2001]

An explosion that resets time? KILLER QUEEN BITES THE DUST.

[@thefandomconnoisseur8518]

I've been looking forward to these Christmas reviews 1 because they're always awesome and 2 I really love the Christmas theme song don't ever change it Linkara

[@SHINOBI-03]

12:29 SHOTS FIRED! WITH BULLETS!!

[@asalways1504]

A very Merry Christmas to you Linkara! Man, I feel like this was the year of Hellraiser on this show.🎄

[@junethefox5834]

9:49!Nice to see he finally graduated from "kid" to "nickname"

[@EHH246]

My favorite part is Linkara as Atkins spouting out action movie versions of Hellraiser lines.

[@ImperatorPenguin]

I'd think he was Rogue from Rogue Trooper... anyone know that game? Main character is a blue bare-chested guy?

[@WTFisTingispingis]

drsdino I have that game!

[@NintendoHighSchool]

I really like the christmas version of the theme song.

[@calebhelterbrand6306]

Oh god! Atkins was subjected to the worst form of pain and torture. Youngblood's disease!!!

[@rebornkusabi7264]

23:40 - 29:11 The short story here, "Nursery Crime", is honestly the best one to me. It is the right blend of character development (admittedly for a thoroughly unlikable one, but development nonetheless) and uses my favorite type of horror besides Asian-horror, surrealist horror where reality as we know it just breaks the f**k down on a molecular level and grotesque abstract nightmares decide to rule in its place. Just the ending alone is pretty chilling and I loved it a lot!

[@arturoreyescortez2476]

Why does beings obsessed with pleasure and pain want order? Also, Morty Smith would be triggered by all the moon imagery, and there's even an ugly living sun like in Rick and Morty.

[@1rhpsfan]

8:59 That's not Lon Chaney it's Pavi Largo!

[@RoseThorn1987]

The re-Neducation thing really got me. XD

[@dannybuckle3763]

Looking at this made me realise something about the Big Two: They seem to have stopped caring about horror, and no, DC's Vertigo lineup does not count, seeing as it has been defunct for years and was more focused on weirdness than horror in most cases. I would love some sort of horror anthology series from DC that would have basically no limits. One tale could be about Metamorpho, the next one Plastic Man, then after that it could be Hawkwoman, and so on. Of course there's certain characters more suitable for horror than others (just imagine the possibilities with the aforementioned Metamorpho, for example), but I could see pretty much all the DC heroes having one good horror tale in them. Heck, it doesn't even need to be in the current continuity, it could just be its own thing that could be worked into the main canon, but isn't written to meld perfectly with it (or at all, as most of my later suggestions may make clear). This could allow for some excellent stories featuring characters that DC has been neglecting in recent years. Ignoring those who I've already mentioned, there's B'wana Beast, Doctor Light II, Pantha, Wildcat, Sandman, Crimson Avenger, Vigilante (these four being their Golden Age versions), hell, even the reformed Riddler (something I really wish had stuck) could get in a story or two! I can think of stories for each of these guys just off the top of my head. I would love one from Marvel as well of course, but currently I feel more confident in DC making a good horror anthology, if only because DC's cast of characters seem to meld with the concept better to me personally.

[@Djinsin]

So Buso Renkin and Hellraiser occupy the same universe? I really didn't expect that.

[@jssmith0225]

Not only are rubiks cubes still popular but there is a cube that comes in a way that you can out stuff in it’s called “Oskars treasure chest” also there’s a lot of variations that increase the difficulty of them from having cubes up to 13x13x13 there are increasingly harder variations of even the 3x3 cube such as the ghost cube

[@brendaneichler5480]

I'm saddened that you ddin't make a Lament Configuration/Millenium Puzzle joke...

[@TitaniaBird]

"Come, Yugi Moto. We have such sights to show you. Have you ever experienced the pleasure of crushing your enemies in a children's card game?"

[@AbyssalPrince]

This is my favorite version of the opening theme

[@JaelinBezel]

"Eruugh! I just thought about Clive Barker's Jericho!" -Yahtzee.

[@BrightSpark]

[throws a black sock in with the white laundry] *Screw you, hell!*

[@AngusStewart01]

Best atop the forth wall intro

[@mikebest9349]

Dude great review I used have this back n the day

[@meganpayette5181]

Two things that you wouldn't think would go well together: Christmas and Hellraiser. Let's just see what happens, shall we?

[@ThumbsUpping]

Nebby isn't in the bag. Also what's the Bulbasaur all about? I've been watching for a year and I'd want an explanation for it.

[@Cdr2002]

New character at some point maybe?

[@AT4W]

Well, the Bulbasaur seen in the last few episodes is new - it's the Build-a-Bear one that comes with a hat and scarf, so appropriate for a winter setting. =) The other giant Bulbasaur plush was made a few years ago - even made it into the commercial bumpers at the time.

[@ThumbsUpping]

Linkara-AtopTheFourthWall This is the second time you replied to me IAMFREAKINGOUT!!!! You first replied to me in your TMNT review last year.

[@altejoh]

Yay, the return of the holiday theme song!!

[@justinbest9954]

Makes me want to see a Nightbreed Christmas special.

[@jagarcia0705]

21:32 (a line from the 2004 Punisher movie) *Candelaria:* Vaya con Dios, Castle. Go with God. *Frank Castle:* God's gonna sit this one out.

[@yourbrosive7752]

Hey linkara I’m been a fan of your for awhile the first episode I watched of yours was the gokiagers episode you did and I loved it and since then I’m been a fan. I’m really glade to be one

[@AT4W]

Thanks! Glad you enjoy the show! ^_^

[@theinsanegamer1024]

that description is SOOOO helpful.

[@gargoyles9999]

Theinsanegamer10 whenever he pits anything in the description his videos get Demonitized, so he purposefully keeps them blank

[@joedredd1168]

Atkins looks an awful lot like freaking Rouge Trooper!! Guess his designer was a huge 2000AD fan.

[@tannerprice2018]

Hellraiser is my favorite Christmas movie.

[@gratuitouslurking8610]

I was waiting for that stinger ever since the Doom Marine comparison.

[@ZekeStaright]

THEY'RE RADIOACTIVE ! THAT CAN'T BE GOOD !

[@Cdr2002]

Also Titans Return Soundwave should be Pollo’s next body. It has working arms! Maybe the appearance here could be foreshadowing.....

[@justinbest9954]

I'll admit I laughed at "Angels to some, Demons to others, Killing machine to everyone"

[@TevyaSmolka]

Happy holidays

[@cherry-cj9iq]

I thought I wouldn't have anything to comment on this video since I hadn't even HEARD of Hellraiser… but my god. It's a Liefeldian character in a Christmas comic from a...horror franchise? How did we end up here… Edit: Agreed with the points on the stories, I liked the last and first one a lot more… can't take sad endings :")

[@covenantslayer1]

A Christmas-themed Hellraiser comic? What dark sorcery that Linkara probably messed with at some point is this? And Mike Mignola work on one of those comics cause I think I saw his art style for a panel in the overview for the Hellraiser comics in that series.

[@AT4W]

Yep! Tons of creators worked on it, including Mike Mignola and Neil Gaiman.

[@TitaniaBird]

Neil Gaiman writing a Hellraiser tale? ...I can see it.

[@Cdr2002]

I know the true history of horror.......crappy jump scares and bullshit hidden stories that exist for Matpat to figure them out so the creators don’t have to do any actual writing

[@Shatari]

Having played Clive Barker's Jericho, Doom marine guy doesn't surprise me.

[@New3DSLuigi364]

@3:47-5:03 AT4W Christmas Theme Song

[@TangledLion]

One of the best things about the Christmas season.

[@oblivious8868]

Crows stealing your money with three card Monty? That explains all the money you get from the birds and resident evil 4!

[@drow_Lilith9940]

i mainly learn about this series from the film den and she made me a big fan

[@Tareltonlives]

"Fezzik and Inigo Montoya are hearing this and going 'dude, let's just go the other way'"

[@Tareltonlives]

I love all the Liefeldian 90s jokes about the totally out of place 90stastistc character.

[@AnimeFreakatyoutube]

The cenobites are like a metaphor for black Friday

[@kmaru80]

love the EA shot

[@KidSnivy69]

First AT4W Christmas episode!

[@rorylumley4727]

I think a mitlristic cenobite isn't a bad idea. Either a general who leads other cenobites and keeps everything orderly. Or a private who fells taking orders is his duty and is obentient to levithin and other cenobites. Basic idea miltary cenbotie good idea adkins bad excution of that idea.

[@nathanielcurtis1003]

The holidays are here yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay or at least don't wait for them

[@Gat720Dua]

I would like someone to redesign that commando Cenobite, give it the REAL Hellraiser treatment, for curiosity sake.