In season 5 we took a deep dive into the CD and Comic series, the Pendulum, which stretched from December of 1999 until January of 2022! The Pendulum series initially started out as a bi-monthly series that included a comic that told the story of The Pendulum, and a CD that would include a brand new song never heard before. This format was soon scrapped as tours, albums, Gatherings would all throw a wrench in the plans of continuing a new track every other month. For context on how long this series stretched across the Juggalo timeline, the first single would be released while the Wicked Clowns From Outer Space Tour was kicking off. The final single would be released as the Hatchet Rising Tour was wrapping up. In between those 2 tours, you would have a JCW Tour, The Shaggy Shows, Bizaar/Bizzar, Freekshow, 2 Gatherings, Tales From The Lotus Pod, 1 Less G N Da Hood, Forgotten Freshness 3, and the Bizaar/Bizzar and Freekshow tours. The Pendulum series would be a consistent through the golden era of the Juggalo culture. But, before we dive into it, we took a look at the comics that laid the foundation for this series to happen.

First, the original Wicked Clownz comic, Originally released in 1994 it tells the origin story of the Insane Clown Posse. Written by ICP and illustrated by Shaggy (minus the cover, which was done by local Detroit musician Bubba Felix of the Bumpin Uglies) the story is full of local references, like our favorite, one Governor E. This comic was later rereleased multiple times with the Ringmaster ad being swapped out for a Riddlebox one.

The Wicked Clownz comic would not only be one of the first sought after collectibles in the Juggalo world but it would set the table for their nationally distributed comic that would come 5 years later. Released by Chaos! Comics in June of 1999, that comic would follow similar lore and a similar name with “The Upz and Downz of the Wicked Clownz” (extra Z’s because it was the 90’s). The story in this first issue would tell a similar story of the “Wicked Clownz” being born via toxic waste. The comic would also tell the story of the Joker Cards leading up to the 5th Jokers Card. To keep with the collectable nature of not only ICP but comic books as well, a variant cover was available that feature a photo from the Amazing Jeckel Brothers photoshoot.

“The Upz and Downz of The Wicked Clownz” would be followed up with 2 more issues before things would shift to the Pendulum series. Issue #2 would be called “The Amazing Jeckel Brothers” and provide the origin story of the Jeckel Brothers, continuing the Joker Card lore laid out in issue #1. It would also provide some background that would set the stage for the Pendulum with the murder of “Little D”. This was released in September of ‘99. Issue #3, “Raze The Deserts of Glass”, was released in October of ‘99 and would lay out some more background for the Pendulum series with the murder of the mayor and Killnor summoning Twiztid. Both issues would have variant covers, Issue #2 using another photoshoot image and issue #3 oddly showing The Great Milenko of Jeckel style flames.

To hear more about these early issues, the eras of the Juggalo world the Pendulum stretched across, and everything leading up to issue #1, check out our Episode #0!

The Pendulum comic would also include a “newsletter” replicating the vibes of the old psychical mailer but also many times just copy and paste the news that would have been on the website for days or weeks before the comic would be out. But to give you a feel of where the Juggalo world was at in December of ‘99 when this issue was released, here is what was in the newsletter!

• ICP announces they have quit WCW a week after signing a new one year deal. They discuss the new booking team, Vampiro staying and being teamed with the Misfits.

• ICP and Twiztid are currently on the small venue “Wicked Clowns From Outer Space Tour” and plan to take it overseas in April of ‘00.

• The long awaited Big Money Hustlas will finally be be released in Christmas of ‘99 (the same month this issue dropped) according to the newsletter. Wait and see if this is accurate.

• Hallowicked ‘99 VHS will be released in January of ‘00 and will be available at various video stores..also, stay tuned to see if this is accurate.

• Dark Lotus is happening and they have recorded tracks with Godsmack and Krazie Bone….

• Media news: ICP named AP Band of The Year, interviewed on the year end Behind The Music, on the cover of Pop Smear, in GQ Man of The Year issue, concert footage on new episode of Real TV, and featured in Circus Magazine.

• Announce the creation of JCW with bookers Brian Gorie and Dave Prazack with the first show being at St Andrews Hall and being recorded for future release.

For a deep dive into the song, the comic and all the happenings in December of ‘99 in and outside the Juggalo world check out episode 1 of this season!

Where the two singles in the Pendulum series were hypnotically “new” singles, issue 3 is when things fully go off the rails. The track $50 Bucks would have already been available for a half a year or so by the time issue 3 hit the shelves. Although it was already included on Psychopathics From Outer Space the Pendulum series would put what would become a staple of ICP’s legacy sets out to a much wider audience. At this point ICP is in the full swings of the Wicked Clowns From Outer Space Tour turning the Pendulum series into a catch all, Forgotten Freshness like compilation.

As for the comic the story continues to chug along with ICP finding themselves in a clash with the Stress Squad and we also get a cameo by the dysfunctional duo that is the Amazing Jeckel Brothers!

And, to get a feel for the Juggalo world at this time. here is what issue #3 of the Pendulum had in the newsletter for June of 2000!

• Big Money Hustlas is finally being released. After initially being slated for summer of 1999, it was delayed with editing problems and legal issues with the director, but Island and Psychopathic has gained the rights and will be releasing it June 6th, 2000.

• Psychopathic Records will be attending Comic Cons with a wide range of merch and rare items. Some highlighted is action figures, Beanie Boyz, Chaos! comics, OG Carnival of Carnage, Hollywood Milenko and OG Mostasteless.

• JCW Vol. 1 (which was the show recorded at St Andrews Hall) is being released on VHS on 5/9/2000.

• The Gathering of the Juggalos is coming to Detroit this summer.

• ICP is recording their new double album entitled “HICMIG & ESOMN!!” and already have recorded tracks “Rainbows & Stuff, Questions, Fearless, and Bizzare.

• Twiztid’s Cryptic Collection is now available.

• Ryda’s solo albums from Lil Shank, Full Clip, and Bullet coming in 2000.

• The Wicked Clowns From Outer Space Tour returns to the US this summer with Esham, who is also a new member of Dark Lotus.

• Vampiro went against his WCW contract ot appear at JCW shows and Sabu has joined JCW wrestling on shows in April and May.

And as always, we check in on the newsletter to get a feel for the Juggalo world. Issue #4 is a clearest example that we start to get a copy and paste from the website as it hypes the upcoming Gathering of The Juggalos, which would have happened a month earlier:

• The Gathering lineup: Friday (Myzery, Kottonmouth Kings, and Psychopathic Rydas), Saturday (Blaze, Project Born, Twiztid, and Insane Clown Posse)

• The Gathering will also have The Freakshow and Circus Sideshows, JCW Wrestling, wrestling school, and a chance to get in the ring both days.

• A live webcast, carnival games, Karaoke, costume contest, wet t shirt contest, miss Juggalette, best tattoo contest, The Neden Game, art display, guess the weight of Missy, Juggalo open mike, and Juggalo scavenger hunt will all be attractions.

• Body alterations, merch, movies, and miscellaneous attractions will also be there.

• One big of music news is always announced. ICP is working on their new albums (now titled Bizarre and Bazarre) and will be part of the Necromonicon which also includes Twiztid’s “Freakshow” and “Tales From The Lotus Pod”. (It is interesting to see the names still not fully finalized and Esham no longer hyped in this series)