Twilight Zone #9 - Atop the Fourth Wall

Welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn. In this episode, Linkara looks at a Twilight Zone comic! IN 3-D!
atopthefourthwall.com
Originally uploaded September 12th, 2011.
ORIGINAL INFO: A dimension not of sight or sound but of mind. A really stupid mind.
RUMINATIONS: I’ve been on quite a bit of a Twilight Zone kick the last year or so. I really need to do another one of the comics. From what I understand, Frank Miller’s first professional artwork gig was on a Twilight Zone comic, so that would be fun. I’m also disappointed there aren’t any Night Gallery comics. Having now watched the entire series, I’d LOVE to do a Night Gallery parody.
People have criticized the ending storyline bit wherein Pollo is taken as utter stupidity on Linkara’s part - that after he JUST finished explaining that people are taken when they’re alone, he would send out Pollo to the other room. The thing is that:
-Linkara believes he has fairly good defenses (plus with the implementation of the emergency procedures, they should be better protected)
-He doesn’t know WHAT or HOW the Entity is taking people, and when you consider that the living room is literally less than 20 feet away from them, he probably has a hard time believing that anybody could be taken without them hearing it and intervening
-He doesn’t know Harvey and Linksano were taken inside the apartment, so he probably doesn’t believe they were taken there, since something should have seen it happening.
Basically Linkara doesn’t realize yet that the apartment isn’t safe until Pollo is taken. I’d say the bigger continuity issue is what the hell took Liz and 90s Kid so long to come around the corner?

[@dancepiglover]

I love the original "Twilight Zone." The writing is so good, and it makes you think.

[@yoranger8349]

dancepiglover true plus it’s good sci fi and has great effects

[@Merit2397]

Agree 110 percent. Loved the original Twilight Zone too. Watched it with my Dad when I was little on DVD box sets.

[@ThePreciseClimber]

Poor Buffo, he got 10 seconds of screentime before MissingNo snatched him... :P

[@TheBestComicKing]

Or maybe he went filing Linkara's taxes.

[@Tareltonlives]

Linkara does a great Rod Sterling

[@ystin]

Considering what we find out later it isn't so hard to believe that 90s kid distracted liz long enough to keep suspicion off himself so he could enjoy the game a bit longer

[@jfdrac]

Dude.....I mean Dudette.....Look at this....El Pollloo Loco

[@hammeringhank5271]

Why would you brag about a Twilight Zone comic being in color? It's the perfect excuse not to use it.

[@Nortarachanges]

Hammering Hank, my thoughts exactly ^_^

[@Tareltonlives]

"Submitted for your approval: a giant mechanical spider with laser beams on its head....what the hell is in this thing?"

[@DerangedAvenger]

"Let this be a lesson: Never go on a three-day acid bender while watching Wild Wild West on a continuous loop."

[@Merit2397]

@@DerangedAvenger Agreed, no one should subject themselves to THAT kind of torture.

[@BanditIncorporated]

If the hick guy that ends up trapped in the fun house at the end, WAS the flesh peddler who gave her the black eye, and is trying to get her back. That MIGHT have given the comic SOME kind of point........some kind o_o

[@ImperatorPenguin]

On the subject of non-evil clowns. Is there such a thing as a Clown Anti-Defamation League of any kind?

[@danielwilson8604]

There should be. though this might cheer you up; There's a podcast were they parody the 'evil clown' idea by having the scary clown having a breakdown because he keep running into a woman who actually thinks they're funny and is perfectly capable of handling supernatural things. helps that she's constantly drunk, it;s a tribute to an older kind of hero

[@jeremyusreevu237]

That's a cool idea. What's the podcast called?

[@MarioWendorf]

The story was borderline unfinished. No motivation, no plot to speak of, some small bits of elements like diner thugs, a homeless girl and some vague idea of a carnival serving as the girl's true home and family. Decent but there's no meat on dem bones for anything like a plot. Its like they just did an incomplete outline of a story

[@noahmagana137]

Submitted for your approval, ten years of the ninth issue of… the twilight zone.

[@davidspring4003]

I think it would have been a better twist if the Entity had turned out to be Boffo. And technically, he'd still not have been an evil clown, just possessed by the Entity.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Nah, 90's Kid is a better twist. The Entity being Boffo is just stupid.

[@DinosaurFan88]

Who knew MissingNo hated clowns?

[@KitsuneRokaku]

I kinda wanna wish there were Night Gallery comics so that in your parody you could've hung up crappy artwork from bad comics. Maybe Troll from Youngblood showering? Muhahaha :D

[@danielwilson8604]

Thank you for supporting clowns in a sincere sense, i have many fond memories of clowns, circus, and carnival-themed children's craft workshops. I understand the fear of clowns to a degree intellectually, but i myself find them quite uplifting and it's nice to see that represented. also a dignified but still goofy clown is just wonderful

[@BigChill12345]

You say that clowns make people happy, but since It took the form of a clown that still haunts my nightmares, I beg to differ.

[@TheNumnutRandomness]

No, Boffo! We hardly knew ye.

[@kingofthegundam7974]

Don't worry, Boffo is still alive!

[@nathanthompson4613]

KingoftheGundam79 Still, we lost him almost immediately. He could have revolutionized the world sooner

[@spiderdoctor2269]

Honestly, I think the weirdest part of this is that it doesn't even FEEL like a Twilight Zone episode. It honestly has more the look and tone of one of the more obscure slasher movies

[@egyptspivey777]

Linkara is devastatingly handsome, that has nothing to do with the video I just wanted to mention it.

[@TheCoolestRyker]

I want his penis in my haunted asshole. Wait, what were we talking about?

[@egyptspivey777]

+Easy now ;-)

[@rikowolfin4984]

Ezfensparkovr9000 I would say you are a weirdo but im actually more interested in why the hell is your ass is haunted?! Unless its a saying that i just know, in which case please explain.

[@TheCoolestRyker]

Riko Wolfin It's a reference to a comic where one of the characters says "You need to get out of here! Your vagina is haunted!". Linkara talked about it once.

[@egyptspivey777]

Riko Wolfin I think he was referencing a comic where someone had a haunted vagina. It was on Linkara's list of comics he would never review.

[@joeywaters5559]

I stand with Linkara in his crusade against coulrophobia.

[@philipdarrenellwell1994]

That 3D hurts my eyes WITHOUT glasses. Pretty crappy gimmick...they must have needed more issues to sell or something.

[@jfdrac]

This was the 90s everything had a gimmick especially in the third parties

[@DwarfDaddy]

I somehow completely missed this episode when it first came out.

[@notaraven]

It's a hidden gem to be sure, like a prototype of long box of the damned.

[@Merit2397]

If there's anyone out there who isn't familiar with the Twilight Zone episode that has do with the carnival, it's called "Perchance to Dream". It's from season 1 and is the episode that Linkara showed in contrast to the comic he was reviewing.

[@Tareltonlives]

Also a big Twilight Zone fan here! Yeah, this comic would be a weak episode at best.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Agreed. If this comic was an actual episode, it would've definitely gone on my worst episodes list.

[@TheSunCoyote]

I love the theme~

[@MrZerothejedi]

favorite episode

[@ZeldaTheSwordsman]

He doesn't think it could take Pollo without him hearing despite the Ninja-Style Dancer being taken without him hearing? Is that because of NSD being mute, because otherwise it does bear pondering. Liz and 90's kid could be explained by him delaying things or something. What I want to know is why no reaction until now despite the radio report (and isn't that in itself a news agency taking notice?) saying BUILDINGS WERE VANISHING?!!! The people vanishing initially not causing tooo much concern until it crept above drop in the bucket levels? I can buy that. But when there was something as blatant as feakin' BUILDINGS DISAPPEARING WITHOUT A TRACE going on? THAT NEEDS EXPLAINING.

[@Smartalic10]

Don’t watch this after watching a good twilight zone episode, you will get so mad that your skull would crack from how many times you hit your head with the palm of your hand

[@jfdrac]

Its Twilight Zone as written at 2 am the night before its due

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Agreed. This comic sucks. That being said, this comic is still better than The Chaser, which is the worsr episode of The Twilight Zone ever made.

[@scotty-lad7455]

This was hilarious, Lewis. Thank you for making me laugh. :)

[@josephschmoeson470]

The panels at 9:11 aren't focusing on the leaves, they're showing the flyer... er, flying. That's what the yellow thing is.

[@haldon12]

Yay, Baffo! One of my favorite members of Linkara's crew

[@Morningstar91939]

First appearance of Boffo!

[@multitudeofidols]

I actually have (or had) this exact same comic. Nothing really took hold in my memories except that final panel. The image of that guy stuck in a wall next to a bunch of decaying people freaked me out. And if I recall Now Comics also had a _Married... with Children_ series. I had a few of those, as well as some _Terminator_ issues.

[@Xenobears]

Clowns only want to make people happy? You can tell this was filmed way before the rash of creepy clowns plaguing 2016.

[@New3DSLuigi364]

LINKARA'S NOT FAT; TRUST ME, I'VE SEEN FATTER ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS!!!!!!!! I DON'T SEE H-O-W HE COULD CONSIDER HIMSELF TO BE FAT

[@alexhorbacz1547]

I think that he has stated that he is not fat per say, but he is overweight of the average weight of his age group which, technically, translates to fat. Also he has much more weight than his original reviews so... Not trying to offend you Linkara but I just remember you saying this and I am clearing it up.

[@CouchSpud91]

Personally I think LInkara looks alright for being someone that's overweight. At the very least I think he looks better than he did when he first started, when he was a freaking beanpole by comparison.

[@Greendalewitch]

I don´t really care that he is fat. I wonder though whether he is happy. He has stated that he has been up many nights working on videos and put a lot into the website. I wonder if he has time to go out and socialize. If he is happy I am content.

[@nathanforester5993]

I don't think the Twilight Zone every did a werewolf episode, there is an episode called 'Howling Man' but that was someone turning into the devil.

[@aaa1e2r3]

So we now have a Beppo and a Boppo?

[@nathanthompson4613]

Athavan Rajasingham Boppo, but the Entity wasted no time getting rid of him

[@jfdrac]

What he needed was a Beebo

[@chs9999]

I am also a major supporter of clowns they are hated but they're also really funny they're going to be good scary clowns but they can also be good clown clowns

[@samuelbarber4154]

One thing I notice is that they don't tend to do stories like Kick the Can, y'know, not a lot nice stuff. Usually they do bizarre hauntings and other creepy sh*t.

[@All2Meme]

The cover looks like some kind of homage to Hieronymus Bosch paintings.

[@Rgoid]

"You unlock this door with the key to imagination. Beyond it is a fifth dimension, beyond any known to man. A dimension of sound. A dimension of sight. A dimension of mind. A dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. You're moving through a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas, the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition which lies between the pit of Man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. You've crossed over into the dimension of imagination. An area which we call . . . THE TWILIGHT ZONE!"

[@andreworders7305]

A Billion people disappear and no one notices?

[@Smartalic10]

“I haven’t seen much of the 86 series” proceeds to watch his top 15 86 series episodes

[@jdpragmatic8644]

9:50 sorry to play Capt Obvious here for a moment (And I know it was a joke) but it’s “supposed” to be a ticket

[@brendanmccabe2249]

13:46 do they float?

[@Spongeknight87]

They all float

[@TristanJHorta]

AND YOU'LL FLOAT TOO!!!

[@shadowlinkbds]

THEY ALLLLLLLLL FLLLOOOOAATTTT!!!!

[@GOFFBITZH666]

Oh yes... They *float* .

[@genericcommentor1111]

XxDAMARIESU123xX {DA ACTRUAL MARU SUIE} oh...yes...they float Sorry I get surprisingly aroused the more I talk about how much they float

[@TheZipperDragon]

Why do I forsee a plot in the far future where Baffo is gonna be the main villain.

[@matthewclark5612]

Reminds of It's choice to take on the form of a clown to lure children: 'And what child did not love a clown?'

[@susanburgess820]

His own right i meant.....lol!

[@spookyrosev6467]

Kind of weird rewatching this seeing how Twilight Zone Guy is now backup Moarte

[@andreworders7305]

Darlene can afford the Carnival

[@samuelbarber4154]

So the next time someone tries to tell you Carni folk are good honest people, you can spit in their faces for me. -Barney Gumble

[@jennifermoriarty2188]

My idea would be two people trapped in the past to the point it destroys them. They go through a door where they must slove the funhouse where you have toys coming to life to kill you possessed by the souls who failed the funhouse. Have one pass and use the experience to move on with their life never bothered by the past again. The other is trapped inside with rotting bodies and skulls and is consumed by their past becoming part of the funhouse

[@boopagm8275]

I'm from Binghamton hometown of Rod Sterling

[@SparrowwithaMachinegun]

1:53 He's called The Stig.

[@southernheroesrock]

I'm surprised he didn't put the theme song in black and white

[@ilovehertodeath]

The opening had more to offer in the Twilight Zone then the comic did.

[@andreworders7305]

What is the Twilight Zone in the Twilight Zone? I know there’s not really any continuity in the show but I can’t help wanting to look for it.

[@majorfanboy2005]

I always assume that's just another dimension where all this weird crap like Gremlins on airplanes, kids with psychic powers and evil fortune cookies are real.

[@TennantJunkie1993]

Speaking of Tales from the Crypt, what's your top 15 favorite episodes if you watched them? I LOVE "Korman's Kalamity", "Seance", "Fitting Punishment" and "The Assassins" among others.

[@LizardOfOz69]

"I'm not that thin"

[@skyslasher2297]

This comic would’ve definitely beifited being longer the idea and the ending are good in spite of the lack of development and being rushed but it could’ve used proper build up is all

[@Isaac-gh5ku]

Scary. Anyway, which is scarier, that Twilight Zone comic or horror comics from the 50s and 60s?

[@evilarmyofdeadness17]

+Isaac Adam EC Comics made some damn fine comic books with way better story telling than this comic. They re-released them in hardcover around 2007 for comics like Shock Suspense stories and Tales From The Crypt.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

I love the Twilight Zone too, Linkara. In fact, I made 2 videos talking about my pick for the Top 10 best and worst episodes of The Twilight Zone, which you can view here: Best Episodes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6GcgaVofdOJp9U Worst Episodes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmLPd52daM1_o80 I'd love to hear your thoughts on these episodes. Also, 1.There's a TV movie called The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics, which is 2 stories by Rod Serling, framed by James Earl Jones. You might like it, if you haven't seen it already. 2. What are your thoughts on The Twilight Zone Movie from 1980 and the new one with Jordan Peele?

[@Targisvear]

Rut Jenkins is Frank Miller.

[@SUPERMEDIABROTHERS6]

Considering what we know now, is this technically the first cannon appearance of Moarte?

[@jmiles86]

5:05, calling it now! Baffo is fucking EVIL!

[@peneloperayner8594]

Clown rights are human rights

[@susanburgess820]

Yes, i am a forrest whitteker(sp?) Fangirl, but i think they couldnt have picked a better "rod". Really admire jordan peele(sp?), but not as the host. His voice doesnt seem to give it the same oomph that forrest brings to it. Yes, i do think mr peele is a genius as well in homis own right. Truthfully no one, but no one, could replace mr serling. He was one of a kind, and we were blessed. And we're still blessed over and over again to watch tz and night gallery. Also all the books he's written, and written about him and his work.

[@destendgem]

I'd have gone with a reference to Convoy with the name Dirty Lyle.

[@seymorbuns5363]

CLOWN RIGHTS!!!!!

[@Krebons1200]

First episode i saw of the twilight zone was downright illogical. An alien race claiming to be want to help humans, but actually wanted to eat them, left their cookbook write in the hands of the UN. Also, south america is apparentally one country on the show XD

[@jakehetzler3007]

You should do body bags

[@SuperRider108]

Pause at 6:33 for dialogue from the Fun House. Says all to the reader....

[@TheAlexSchmidt]

Isn't Dirty Lyle from Convoy?

[@samuelbarber4154]

I like Walking Distance.

[@rockofsteel23]

Wait, was that moarte who was speaking at 2:00?

[@susanburgess820]

Subbed❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheSefirosu200x]

What was with the creepy high pitched voice sound then Boffo disappearing? A Twilight Zone episode reference?

[@ripleyjlawman.3162]

TheSefirosu200x That’s The Entity, a glitch in the fabric of the universe given mind.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Please review more Twilight Zone comics.

[@chs9999]

Evil lovecraftian God be like: e

[@mimkyodar]

So, is that the same Host from the Twilight Zone series you did Lewis? Does that then mean that this is the first undercover appearance of Moarte?

[@Cdr2002]

What’s the music for the dramatic Pollo’s gone revelation?

[@AT4W]

It's from Doctor Who, made by Keff McCulloch.

[@Cdr2002]

@@AT4W thank you 😊

[@andreworders7305]

When did Linksano get taken?

[@AT4W]

The Backstreet Project.

[@LizardOfOz69]

how did "90's kid" take pollo if he was in the room with Linkara and Liz?

[@AT4W]

The Entity is larger and more vast than just the small bit you see possessing 90s Kid.

[@LizardOfOz69]

@@AT4W oh... first of all, thanks for the info. And secondly, OMG THE MAN HIMSELF REPLIED TO ME. I've been on a storyline binge lately since Covid seemed to have halted progress for a bit. Also, why is Ultimate Warrior's workout on the storyline playlist? If it's because of the segue into the cry for justice reviews, why that bit isn't in the compilation video? Also, the ruminations for the Zeo episode seemed to suggest that the mechakara fight was NOT supposed to happen in between the second and third parts of Cry for Justice, hence been uploaded earlier and been placed before the first part on the playlist. But then in the compilation, it's been placed as it was originally. Am I rambling?

[@user-wx4sn6ve8y]

Linkara does a great impression of Rod Sterling but in 7:01 he does pretty good Vincent Price too. *I am not that thin?* It's there on purpose, right?

[@gagecrawley6223]

Does Baffo ever return? Will he return? Because I see potential in his eyes.

[@kimifw58]

He returns for Captain Tax Time and Batman Jazz and some others I don't remember.

[@kimifw58]

Sorry. Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham, not Batman: Jazz.

[@leonardomaranhao2861]

This look like a story of Tales from the crypt not The Twilight Zone.

[@davogifman542]

After that singing intro,and attempt at humor. I'm amazed I lasted five minutes through this,but everyone has a threshold of pain. Mine was 6:33 that lightning strike you seen on the page was me clicking the hell out of here. I'm sure you already aware of this,but Jay Leno want's his dry cracked humor,and his chin back.

[@AT4W]

Cool.

[@wagerobot5231]

Take that clown haters!

[@SomeGeekTalking]

*honk!* You said it, Boffo!

[@Sonichero151]

*And then The Void Takes Boffo from us*

[@Nightwing9597]

Boffo?? Eeh, must be on a break.

[@kareneastman9695]

Poor lady and her dog.:-O:-(:-( Not the dog.How coud you,Truck Driver.Noooooo!!!:-(:-(:-( You didn't mean to kill her dog nor hit her with your vehicle.You might just have to pay a fine and or do community service.You don't have to go after Darlene.:-):-D There is no need for threats.:-O:-O:-( Is Mr Lyle a werewolf? The dog is fine??Whahuh??

[@mathieuleader8601]

do you like night gallery

[@AT4W]

Love it. I did a "Top 15 Night Gallery Segments" on the site itself last October.

[@islamroks11]

Linkara-AtopTheFourthWall You like to use the phrase "By Diehard's Crotch", right? Well, how about some these: By The Twin Clones of Hitler! By The Goddamn Batman! Mr.T's Crack Baby! Ludicrous Liefeld!

[@PallysCafe]

Yay bafo

[@io6741]

How do you spell the blue robot's name, anyways? xD

[@AT4W]

+Le Derp Français Pollo, like the Spanish word for Chicken. ^_^

[@TristanJHorta]

+Linkara-AtopTheFourthWall Why did you name him Spanish chicken, then?

[@kimifw58]

+That Kid With A Camera Because he has a beak, I guess?

[@abouttwentysevenducks]

I think its puoyyo

[@kimifw58]

Shawn Zdrojewski Lewis already answered.

[@SpeedyEric1]

4:56- I take it that you're on the defensive side on the Creepy Clown arguments.

[@SgtTwilight]

As a huge Twilight Zone fan myself, this comic blows. The twist is weak and it doesn't have an interesting story to tell at all.