Worried about repeating last year's real Halloween horror, where you showed up at a costume party only to find sixteen other people also dressed as Spiderman? Have no fear - analysts says there should only be five or six Spideys at each party this year.

Unlike last year's Spiderman costume domination, or the post-9/11 rush in firefighter & policeman garb, no one theme has taken over. Traditional Halloween characters have made a comeback - witches, action figures, a variety of movie characters. Though the Hulk is popular with kids, his costume popularity is nowhere near last year's Spiderman level.

Known faces dominate over new ones. Old characters, like the decade-old Power Rangers, are making a comeback. Horror blockbuster-inspired characters like Freddy and Jason, and "Scary Movie"-style masks remain popular as ever.

Though no one monster/ghoul rises above the costume fray, there's great news for Bubba Ho-Tep fans. 2003 marks the first year that an official licensed Elvis costume will be on the market. So if you want to be Elvis - the singing, hearthtrob Elvis or the old, zombie-fighting one - now's your chance.

Source: MSNBC [1]