Pioneering horror director and composer John Carpenter, alongside his wife and creative partner Sandy King, has quietly entered the confectionary world, unveiling a line of small-batch chocolate bars. The venture, which King spearheads through Storm King Productions and Comics, marks their first foray into food after decades of collaboration on films, TV shows, podcasts, and comic books.
King, who met Carpenter on the set of his 1984 film “Starman,” explained the project’s genesis: "You know, sometimes doors open and I just walk through them and go, ‘Why not?’" She added that the goal is always to please the audience, "whether it’s a movie, a book, a podcast or a candy bar." The idea for the chocolates began in 2024 during a conversation with an L.A. neighbor about Halloween, who suggested the Carpenters create their own candy. Instead of trick-or-treat sizes, they conceptualized full-size bars. While neither knew how to make chocolate, they aimed for unique flavors rather than competing with established brands.
The hefty, nearly half-pound bars were first launched last October at New York Comic Con. They are currently available at their traveling booths at comic and horror conventions, select comic shops across the country, and locally at Burbank’s Horror Boodega. This L.A. convenience store specializes in horror- and sci-fi-themed snacks and nostalgic movie treats.
There are two distinct flavors. "John Carpenter’s Boo Bar" is a milk chocolate bar crunchy with potato chips and Pop Rocks, incorporating the fun, nostalgic textures Carpenter enjoys in classic concession stand candies. Its label features a grinning gargoyle illustrated by "The Boys" co-creator Darick Robertson, weaving in their love of horror through branding rather than overt gore. For dark chocolate enthusiasts, the "Dark & Stormy" bar is laden with candied ginger and toffee, a favorite combination of King’s, and is named in tribute to her comic and production companies. Even Carpenter, typically a milk chocolate fan, has been caught enjoying the Dark & Stormy bars.
King began researching chocolatiers, eventually connecting with Asher’s Chocolate Co., an 1892-founded, fifth-generation sweets company in Pennsylvania. A neighbor tipped her off to Asher's, and King visited one of their factories in July 2025, noting its high quality and positive atmosphere. Barton McBride, Asher’s vice president of business development, described the collaboration as a "no-brainer" given Carpenter’s recognition and the family company’s desire for "fun" projects. King and Carpenter went through six rounds of flavor testing, soliciting feedback from neighbors and staff to perfect their unique combinations.
The couple has intentionally kept batches small and marketing limited to word-of-mouth, which has been particularly effective among their dedicated fan base. King observes, "Horror people like to eat," and are generally "kind to each other," making shared candy a natural progression.
While the chocolates can be hard to find – King joked they’re "like the creeping unknown" – sales are picking up, with Boo Bars selling out at this year’s New York Comic Con. The team hopes to expand distribution to more comic shops and old-school movie houses. Direct online sales are currently on hold due to concerns about shipping chocolate in increasing temperatures.
For Southern Californians looking to try them, in addition to the year-round availability at Horror Boodega, King and Carpenter will be at Melrose Avenue’s Golden Apple Comics for a sold-out Sunday appearance, signing their annual "John Carpenter’s Tales For A HalloweeNight" anthology.
King has considered adding a white chocolate bar to the lineup, though she jokingly called those fans "heathens," noting that scaling up with two varieties is challenging enough. She emphasized their approach: "We stick to what makes us laugh."
