This story is really fan-fiction for two completely different pieces of pop culture. The obvious visual reference is the crypt-keeper at the bottom of the page, who shows up at the beginning as well. The other one is made explicit on this page – the main character is a very young Norman Bates being tormented by his mother because he dared to make friends with a pumpkin (no really). The two panels directly over the crypt-keeper are visual callbacks to Psycho, making this a prequel.

(Heavy Metal 25th Anniversary Special, Fall 2002- Page 122 The Pumpkin’s Revenge by Mosdi and Civiello)