30 Days of Halloween Horror Nights: Which HHN Icon Is Your Least Favorite?
This may prove to be a controversial choice, but my least favorite Icon is Jack the Clown. How can one’s least favorite Icon be one of the most popular? Well, read further and see if you think we’re justified.
- He’s overexposed. Jack the Clown made his debut as the Icon for HHN X. In that year, he was the star of his own house, “The Fearhouse.” Since 2000, Jack has re-appeared at least 11 times in Orlando alone:
- Icon in 2001 (replacing Eddie)
- “Horror Nights Nightmares” house (2004)
- co-Icon in 2006
- co-star of “The Arrival” show (2006)
- “Psychoscareapy: Maximum Madness” house (2006)
- headliner Icon in 2007
- “Jack’s Funhouse in Clown-O-Vision” house (2007)
- “Jack’s Carnival of Carnage” show (2007)
- co-Icon in 2010
- “Fear Revealed” scarezone (2010)
- “Psychoscareapy: Echoes of Shadybrook” house (2010)
- “The Cabin in the Woods” house (2013) – cameo
- He’s no longer mysterious. Jack’s origins were retconned in 2007 to give him more of a circus-themed background. With the revelation of “how he came to be,” Jack’s backstory became much clearer and many previously-unknown elements of his character were filled in. As with any horror story, what we fear the most is what we don’t know. When a character is revealed, they become much less scary to us.
- He’s goofy. In 2006’s “The Arrival” show, one of Jack’s favored means of murder is a man-sized blender. While a prop like this looks great on stage and results in a suitably theatrical (and entertaining) ‘blending,’ it’s not the most fear-instilling piece of equipment. Also, and this is a personal gripe, I think Jack talks too much. I am personally much less frightened by a character who cracks jokes and makes terrible puns, regardless of how dangerous they’re supposed to be.
So, that’s our reasoning for choosing Jack the Clown as our “Least Favorite HHN Icon.” Do you disagree with us? Who’s your choice? Leave us a comment on Facebook!