The Comedy Roots of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps

If you grew up in the United States in the 1990s, chances are you came across the "Goosebumps" books. You remember-the spooky young adult novels that made you check under your bed before turning out the lights at night. Still one of the best-selling book series of all time, this month marks the 25th anniversary of "Goosebumps'" first release. But get this: before the series' author Robert Lawrence (R.L.) Stine was scaring kids, he cut his teeth on bizarre comics and funny stories. Stine even spent the first 10 years of his writing career on comedy books. But, after an author dropped out from writing a young adult horror novel with the publisher Scholastic, Stine stepped in and his book was a hit. He decided to switch gears and go full horror, and the rest is history. But he credits his twisted sense of humor for the success of his spooky stories.
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[@MartinTabanag]

R.L stine is definitely one of the best writers in the world! i do hope he does tutorials haha

[@aus-li]

Martin Tabanag Tutorials for what?

[@rocketscience4259]

VoidX to write scary stories

[@aus-li]

Brennan Ison that's just pathetic. Goosebumps is for kids, there's way better "horror" stories out there.

[@MartinTabanag]

to write stories bro. writing stories is not that easy.

[@billyjoeidel2]

Martin Tabanag slow down there, he writes books for kids.

[@noahhenderson3164]

I love how R. L. just decided to go home and write a scary book. Eventually when he finally finished it, boom becomes bestseller eventually.

[@noirblanque5324]

sorta contradicting to say "Boom!" and "eventually" in the same sentence

[@blueg6983]

Noah Henderson uuuu

[@user-pr3jm9jx1f]

@@johnsmith-tq5zn what's the book called?

[@johnsmith-tq5zn]

@@user-pr3jm9jx1f Fixed the link. Try again.

[@user-pr3jm9jx1f]

@@johnsmith-tq5zn nothing is showing yet 😅 by chance do you remember the name of it?

[@chesney1022001]

this guy writes my childhood

[@x-Abraham-x2]

Finn Saeeem

[@boisterousboys]

Finn I

[@marmalade6538]

Finn I know right I have been reading and watching goosebumps my whole life and I still do

[@ricenoodlesproductions9581]

Cool I never read a goosebumps book in my childhood because mine consisted with school, alcohol, weed, and getting hit

[@chesney1022001]

nice

[@Ratih1945]

aaaah.....this reminds me of childhood, when lots of elementary brats like me going to public library and read Goosebumps like a champ. And after that I've got the scariest nightmare and couldn't sleep for 3 days. Worth it

[@AntonnyTan]

Ratih Sanitri I tried to read mangas trying to forget that nightmare but, goosebumps really scared us.

[@greyghost2492]

goosebumps was the best, its right up there with scary stories to tell in the dark.

[@pokadot]

R.L. Stine is one of the greats among child literature I remeber reading The Horror at Camp Jelly Jam. Even though I was 19 and was working my shift at Mc Donalds and got fired for that.... Still... worth the read.

[@arahossain893]

R.L. Stine*

[@piedoeshobbies2540]

The horror at camp jelly jam I think is probably one of the more scary ones.

[@TheBoyBanditKing1911]

Stine

[@Justice_H2O]

“Only the best”

[@kingheehee2661]

@@Justice_H2O only the best

[@elianal6726]

what a legend

[@Moontess]

So glad a new generation is discovering Goosebumps - these books were definitely part of my childhood (along with Babysitters Club - remember those???). They were just perfect for a tween discovering the macabre - enough horror to freak me out but not so much to screw me up (I think - haha)

[@aprox23]

Tim Jacobus play a huge role in the success of goosebumps also. The artwork was what first caught my eye to even pick up a goosebumps book in 1st grade. I loved the vivid colors and illustrations. I always looked foward to seeing the new cover as I did reading a new story.

[@noahhenderson3164]

But he WAS a comedy writer! I can't tell you how many times I laughed to myself at 2am for making the horrible life choices of reading these books in the dark as a child.

[@GenericallyBarberic]

Noah Henderson I used to have my dad read me them to sleep when I was a kid :p

[@kieakewii]

I agree with this

[@charlesfowler3949]

A genuine staple of my childhood.

[@amaliaputri6537]

I really enjoyed his adventure books, where the page you read depends on what you choose :) Thank you for all the goosebumps, mister! :D

[@lizadele213]

Choose your owb Adventure!!...My Son Loves These!!

[@arahossain893]

@@lizadele213 own*

[@en2p187]

My absolute favorite, I remember having all the pages folded down to mark each ending so I didn't repeat it lol

[@alexverheek2645]

"Are you R.L. Stine?" "No, I'm the goosebumb"

[@jennifer9084]

This was so cool. I didn't know this of him. Unfortunately for me as a kid I wasn't allowed to read his books but now as an adult I might start reading his books to see what I missed out on.

[@kevinmartinez3815]

i love goosebumps reminds me of my childhood. 😊wish i could go back.😢

[@mitziolet]

And you can.

[@bv83x]

@@mitziolet Lol

[@mitziolet]

what is it with people and replying to my really old comments lmao

[@steinmark27]

The memories are still fresh. Mid 2000's when i was in Middle school, we use to scavenge our school library for Goosebumps. Everyone in our group used to read a Goosebumps and one of us would narrate a story in the bus on our way back home. And the rest of us would listen with such keen. During the weekends i would go to the book shops with my mom and gape at the large collection of goosebumps stacked . I would spend quite a lot of time in the shop figuring out which ones should i pick. All of them looked pretty interesting and scary with their attractive covers. And when i start reading those back at home, sometimes it gets too scary for me that i would call out my mother who would be doing her chores across from the hall and when she answers the call, i will be relieved. And then there are those TV shows which are equally scary like the books. Good old days mahn! I would trade anything just to relive a little bit of that childhood which went out in a flash ! But here i am now, an adult out in a chaotic world full of responsibilities and constant worry about his future. If any of you school kids are reading this, this childhood you have now is beyond precious. You may sometimes dread it, curse it, praying to be a grown up soon but trust me , these carefree days of yours without a worry in the world are the best days of your life. You just don't know it. Have fun while it lasts.

[@x-Abraham-x2]

Man, he was such an amazing person. As a kid, my dream was to collect all of the Goosebumps books. I actually have like most of the old Goosebumps books. Still want to collect the rest

[@TheGirlInSneakers]

My childhood! These books were in my elementary school's library and my friends and I used to go there all the time during recess or after school just to look at the cover and read a few pages to scare ourselves and each other.

[@TJWatsnthescyfytraveler]

my mom read goosebumps when she was in middle school and high school. i read goosebumps throughout fifth, sixth, and seventh grade. and now my 7 year old brother has discovered the books and loves them so much. R.L Stein has created a world that has spanned across three generations in my family. he wrote my mom's childhood, mine, and now my brother's.

[@jack_lin5946]

I hated reading when I was young, but it all changed when I came across your books. Goosebumps sparked my love for reading and I thank you for that Mr Stine. 😊

[@DechenVlogs101]

REASON i STARTED READING BOOKS,... THANK YOU R.L STINE. YOU ARE LITERALLY A LITERAL HERO FOR MANY SECLUDED KIDS.. YOU LED THEM CREATE THEIR OWN WORLD :)

[@MyWorld-eb9oz]

I kinda wish a could've been the first person to walk up to the first store bookshelf where Goosebumps books were ever kept, and be the first Goosebumps fan ever, starting the road of fans to where we are now. That would be incredible!

[@abdullahazzam2437]

R.L Stine and Roald Dahl will always have a special place in our hearts 💛💛

[@itzyaboybugz]

He seems so humble and down to earth!

[@elmatador9086]

I always loved the ridiculous twists he put at the end of his books. I guess a little bit of his comedy carrier carried over.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Alan Garcia The twist ending to `A Shocker on Shock Street' still blows me away!

[@seal3081]

Jordan Peele did the transition from comedy to horror very well. I think the genres actually share a lot in common.

[@rahulmathew8713]

He is the only reason why I even started reading books. I once saw his book in my school library and I started collecting his books ever since. It became an addiction for me.

[@jasonRhawt]

selling his books without advertisement gotta give this guy props

[@LouveAsterion]

book's of my childhood :-D

[@NindyAkvalentin]

not really sure if kids these days still enjoying goosebumps as we did..

[@dave_space9503]

Nindy Akvalentin we are

[@Giveitupforday23]

Nindy Akvalentin Trust me. We are. (If middle schoolers count?)

[@t.e.p.theenchantedporkchop1326]

Nindy Akvalentin Goosebumps is great

[@atillaatescosar5947]

Nindy Akvalentin he still does them there's a new series for this generation it's not as good as the old but it's alright

[@proudk09]

Nindy Akvalentin They are. My school Goosebumps books are very rare since they already been borrowed by someone.

[@dylanwolff218]

Goosebumps has always been my favorite book series growing up. Even though I never grew up in the 90s when they first came out, they were still popular among my generation in the 2000s to the 2010s. The one thing that attracted me the most was the cover art as they were so nightmare fueled but amazing at the same time for bring the stories to life. RL Stine is one of my favorite writers with lots of personality and he made me get into the horror genre. I also thank Tim Jacobus the illustrator, for creating such great cover art for the books.

[@itzyaboybugz]

This man inspired me to write scary children stories for class in elementary school. Which lead to writing lyrics and me being a recording artist today!

[@hafiztajuddin5229]

As a non-mother tongue english speaker, Goosebumps was a good introduction to english language. Story was quite simple and it did not made me sleepy.

[@Channel-rh7lh]

First a Comedy magazine Then spooky books Then a 1980s tv series Then a movie What a legacy RL Stine has led

[@nachosniewolnosci3147]

He also made Fear Street and Babysitter.

[@dimensionshark8129]

why is this the most aesthetically pleasing video i have ever seen

[@ciarrawilson6080]

One of my favorite things is when I find old goosebumps books at the library from the 90's and early 2000's.

[@calebrands4912]

What's really sad is I really love horror and never really got the chance to grow up with Goosebumps. I remember finding the books' covers terrifying as a kid and yet I was obsessed with looking at them as if I was daring myself. Unfortunately my elementary school was so bad that I didn't really learn to read until after I was transferred to another school. Now here I am, twenty years old, finally picking up Stephen King and getting into reading and I can't help but wonder what I missed out on as a kid. It's like am I too old to still get into Goosebumps?

[@sunilchopra4568]

Goosebumps are the best in this world , these books have made my childhood much better , i got a whole collection of them which i want to keep forever! Absolute No words for the writer ! Goosebumps books never failed to give me goosebumps 🙌🏻

[@flinggonza5688]

Goosebumps were wacky and scary. They integrated wacky things into scary stuff.

[@jobernardo4321]

Thank the illustrators too! Those covers creeped me out yet they were so alluring when I was younger.

[@juniebugjune08]

Since I was a kid, Night of the Living Dummy has been my favorite :)

[@Nani-rh2ml]

His Fear Streets were my very first story books. I love the suspense and thrills in his stories.

[@Corvaire]

Top notch production *_Great Big Story_* - always well done! ;O)-

[@robloxking2578]

If it weren't for kids, "Goosebumps" wouldn't be legendary. R.L. Stine, thank you so much for creating the "Goosebumps" series! ; )

[@adrianac3258]

Love Him soooo much !!!

[@lazyb3e]

Thanks to kids the Goosebumps series wouldn't have skyrocketed. Now that's amazing 😃

[@juggernauttanker8316]

R.L stine is and still is the best childhood horror book man he is a legend

[@nugrohoamar8038]

i remember when i was a kid a public library gave me a book as a reward for visiting frequently, while what i was doing back then was just finishing all the 'goosebumps' collection they had

[@DJSAT0]

I miss goosebumps, I'm gonna go buy some to read

[@MOVIESNCOMICS]

Which ones did u buy?

[@user-ny1mz5kq1k]

Blind Date was really a precursor to the Fear Street series. Goosebumps wouldn't begin until 8 years after Blind Date was published--in fact, he didn't even want to do it because he thought it would screw up Fear Street.

[@moviezone9992]

Well am 15 and still read GOOSEBUMPS!!!!

[@MizzzKitty]

I was one of those kids! I loved and still love!🖤...

[@donovanbradford8231]

A fun upload and very much enjoyed reading Goosebumps. I had a hard time readying growing up as a kid but once I could read some what well Goosebumps books were the first ones I picked up having wanted to read them for years. I still have a few and enjoy them for what they are a small piece of my childhood.

[@ZandieBird]

I actually wanna go to a book signing and meet him sometime. His books are what got me into reading. Without Goosebumps, I would have been stuck in my room without interaction and no friends. Goosebumps was my solution to loneliness. I made friends that I still have to this day, and my boyfriend is one of them.

[@norahabdulsathaar4243]

goosebumps is pretty much what got me started with books when i was 8. such memories 💙

[@andrewacornwell8678]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3iTZammdpmlh68 So if you're going to be Stephen King you have to be Sesame Street and the Muppets too you have to spread it out you just contribute to all the narratives we have scribes

[@ameliab9391]

First books I’ve read, it got me into reading. It worked, now my room barely has any space left for books.

[@juneloh2085]

R.L. Stine is a nice guy :)

[@cabbage4254]

I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE goosebumps!

[@rocketscience4259]

What would happen if r.l stine read creepypasta?

[@crissa1505]

I'm not a 90s kid but I knew about Goosebumps since I was little and it's my fave ❤

[@superdriller14]

Thanks RL STINE for making a scary and fun book series

[@Maria-qs2bn]

I owe my childhood to this man 🥺❤️

[@silver_wolf6406]

This dude is honestly one of my favorite authors! And, he is one of my inspirations on becoming an author

[@okas425]

Am I the only one who likes Geronimo Silton

[@MortisTheMortal]

TheBlue Gamer I do

[@contentbot2.9]

“Hello, I’m R.L. Stine. I write the Goosebumps books.”

[@MetalJuggalo]

I feel goosebumps is just kinda one of those things that will never go away

[@christianrenzpueyo6705]

Goosebumps Series, savior of my high school boredom.

[@thezandroid875]

2:47 I guess you could say, if they were to call, they'd be CALLING ALL CREEPS, HAHAHAHA. I HATE MY LIFE.

[@baseafterbase1048]

the Zandroid I love this so much

[@cntfoolmebuddy]

AT LEAST 8 OF THESE BOOKS MOLDED MY CHILDHOOD.

[@CookieCruncha95]

I know I'm not the only one who clicked on this video and was greeted by an advert for a writing class taught by R.L. Stine himself. Thumbs up if it happened to you too!

[@oredstudio9396]

hats off!! i am just speechless!! i want to handshake this man!

[@bigfezz178]

This guy shape and mould how I speak and write ..in English. And thank you for the positive impact you've made. I've read 50.horror books of yours. 25 years ago

[@rohanjgeorge]

that's pretty cool...I never thought to look up RL stines story..thanks great big story..great stuff

[@Mattthewshaw]

I got to meet him a couple years ago at a con, he was extremely nice, and I think one of the few people who didn't charge for a picture or signature. My love for horror definitely stems from reading Goosebumps as a child. Vampire's Breath is still a better Vampire story than Twilight lol

[@kimyongin1987]

His books are on both my school and city libraries. Back then I do not know about whose the guy is. But, I remember read several Goosebumps books back then and it was a pleasant experience. I am not into any literary thing when I am still in my childhood, but Goosebumps is different.

[@thegreattreeofknowledge4375]

I was one of those kids. I was 6 years old reading them I couldn’t put them down. There was teen ones forgot the stories but they were amazing as a kid who was becoming a teen. I had nightmares often having to sleep With my brother in his room. 😂

[@DougUnfunny]

I Can tell you as kid what made them sell was seeing in the catalog and seeing the covers. then when you got the book you can feel the bumps on the cover of goosebumps font.

[@videodude2010]

I love this channel so much!!!!

[@horrorchan5893]

This man made my childhood awesome

[@sup-abandonedaccount54]

*Reads title and saw "Goosebumps"* The theme song is coming back!

[@itzyaboybugz]

R.L. Stine is my fave author of all time!

[@_CtrlAltDelete_]

I swear I always loved Goosebumps to this day my ringtone is the Goosebumps theme song 😂❤

[@yulinmcneil3891]

We had just about all of these books growing up, but I didn't read any of them because the covers scared me so much

[@bins1]

This guy can make a bestselling book in one swoop. While me here still struggling with my frickin essay.

[@P3TER116]

I love goosebumps I wish we can go back in time to 1997 I miss da og goosebumps series so much

[@lphastings]

Yay! You should really credit the videographers at the end, because your videos are so good!!

[@travelsonic]

R.L Stein was also co-creator of the 80s/90s Nick Jr. show "Eureeka's Castle."

[@iambetterthenkevin7628]

When I was a little girl I owned a lot of his books. Always read them. Always loved them.

[@itisme8076]

I love R.L. Stine and all of his books!!

[@nicolewickhamhowell7154]

I have all the goosebumps books Thank you for all the books you wrote

[@nichenostalgia4438]

What a neat guy. He seems like the 'cool uncle' type

[@Lvrzoee]

I LOVE HIS BOOKS he is a awesome writer

[@anushkalols]

He's so lovely and warm irl😁♥️

[@ruggypuggy5970]

R.L stine should make a book about we’re all the monsters met, and terrified the town

[@534]

Thank god he is still alive

[@pikachucollector6699]

I love R.L Stine's books!

[@wazzal7]

I used to collect and read his books in the mid 90s, also animorphs!

[@tipsycat27]

I loved Goosebumps as a kid. I had a goosebumps bedsheet set back in the 90s that was hideous but I loved it. I forget which one it was called but the one with the roadkill cat was my fave.

[@ritodey]

I have read goosebumps so many times that I know every lines by heart...

[@macias7125]

This takes me back to my elementary school years. Man these books where great and still are

[@JimGamingTV]

I never knew Nicholas Cage had a more successful brother