The Addams Family. Poster of the 1964 TV series and cover of the 1938 comic book
VS3
The Addams Family
Charles Addams, 1938
TV series vs comic book
David Levy, 1964-1966

The Addams Family are a close-knit extended family with decidedly macabre interests and supernatural abilities, though no explanation for their powers is explicitly given in the series. The family is attended by their servants: towering butler Lurch; and Thing, a disembodied hand that appears from within wooden boxes and other places.


The Addams Family. Poster of the 1964 TV series and cover of the book novelization
VS3
The Addams Family
Jack Sharkey, 1965
TV series vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
David Levy, 1964-1966

The Addams Family are a close-knit extended family with decidedly macabre interests and supernatural abilities, though no explanation for their powers is explicitly given in the series. The family is attended by their servants: towering butler Lurch; and Thing, a disembodied hand that appears from within wooden boxes and other places.


The Frighteners. Poster of the 1996 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
The Frighteners
Michael Jahn, 1996
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Peter Jackson, 1996

In 1990, architect Frank Bannister’s wife, Debra, dies in a car accident. He abandons his profession and his unfinished dream house sits incomplete. Following the accident, Frank gained the power to see ghosts and befriends three: 1970s street gangster Cyrus, 1950s nerd Stuart, and The Judge, a gunslinger from the Old West. The ghosts haunt houses so Frank can then exorcise them for a fee. Most locals consider him a con man.


The Addams Family. Poster of the 1992 TV series and cover of the 1938 comic book
VS3
The Addams Family
Charles Addams, 1938
TV series vs comic book
Robert Alvarez, Don Lusk, Ray Patterson, Carl Urbano, 1992-1993

Geared towards children, much of the family’s macabre nature was toned down. Plot lines were geared around the family living in the bright, cheerful town of Happydale Heights and facing some kind of threat from a series of recurring villains or individuals who either wanted to force the Addamses from their home or capture one of them for nefarious purposes.


Freaky Friday. Poster of the 1976 movie and cover of the 1972 book
VS3
Freaky Friday
Mary Rodgers, 1972
movie vs book
Gary Nelson, 1976

School girl Annabel is hassled by her mother, and Mrs. Andrews is annoyed with her daughter, Annabel. They both think that the other has an easy life. On a normal Friday morning, both complain about each other and wish they could have the easy life of their daughter/mother for just one day and their wishes come true as a bit of magic puts Annabel in Mrs. Andrews’ body and vice versa.


Halloween with the New Addams Family. Poster of the 1977 movie and cover of the 1938 comic book, The Addams Family
VS3
The Addams Family
Charles Addams, 1938
movie vs comic book
David Steinmetz, 1977

Gomez’s brother Pancho is staying with the Family while Gomez goes to a lodge convention in Tombstone, Arizona. Gomez is jealous of his brother, who once courted Morticia. Halloween is nigh and Pancho tells the legend of Cousin Shy, who distributes gifts and carves pumpkins. Actually, Gomez has been lured off by crooks who have bugged the house in order to steal the Family fortune.