6 Horror Comics That Are Way More Terrifying Than Any Slasher Flick
1/8While so much of comics sticks to the superheroic, a world without heroes can be pretty thrilling, too. There’s nothing quite like a horror comic — they get in your head as quietly as your favorite scary story, while still making use of how spooky a good visual can be. From good witches to bad witches, serial killers to the well-meaning undead, comics figuratively pick up the horror medium and take a chainsaw to it.
(Not into being scared, but like cute spooky stuff? We’ve even got a few just for you.)
2/81. Locke and Key (IDW Publishing)
Art: Gabriel Rodriguez
Writing: Joe Hill
This book makes it onto every “favorite horror comic” list, with good reason. The story of the Locke family’s attempt to find normalcy after their father’s brutal murder is so much more than just ‘spooky.’ It’s tragic, beautiful, and most of all, incredibly relatable.
The story’s no longer currently running, but collected into six volumes that you’ll devour. With every volume, you find yourself unlocking another door, another mystery in Key House.
3/82. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Archie Comics)
Art: Robert Hack
Writing: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
It’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch...only, not at all. The folks at Archie Comics have been doing all kinds of amazing renovations, but my favorite — and truthfully, one of my favorite comics on the shelves right now — is *Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. *
The whole story flawless blends bobbysocks and sacrifices, school plays and immortal witchcraft, in ways that are both chilling and relatable. This one doesn’t have a collected paperback yet, but if you get the single issues from your local comic book store, you’ll enjoy the classic-horror asethetic of the covers.
4/83. Wytches (Image Comics)
Art: Jock
Writing: Scott Snyder
I think there are few things scarier than being a young girl trying to fit into a new place — maybe that’s why this is the third story on the list that involves just that theme. Snyder and Jock’s *Wytches * is the story of Sailor Rook and her family’s arrival to a new town after Sailor’s attempt to defend herself against a bully goes awry.
Part of the terror of *Wytches is that it’s hard to believe Sailor — and she doesn’t know who to trust. Snyder (who also currently writes * Batman) is awesome at the slow build, and sets up the “rules” of witchcraft in a way that feels uniquely terrifying - and tempting. It all builds up to an ending that leaves you breathless, and desperate for a second volume. (They’re working on it now, don’t worry!)
5/84. Nailbiter (Image Comics)
Art: Mike Henderson
Writing: Joshua Williamson
If you like your horror deadly without the magic, gritty without the spooky, read Nailbiter. * If the end of * Dexter and *Hannibal left a hole in your life that needs filling, read * Nailbiter. If you bite your nails…
...you never will again after reading *Nailbiter. *It’s almost a disservice to say anything more than that. Enjoy.
6/85. Revival (Image Comics)
Art: Mike Norton
Writing: Tim Seeley
I recently watched *A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, *and when I was done, noted that it wasn’t exactly a horror story…just a story with horror elements. If you’re more into the ‘what ifs’ than the ‘get me out of heres,’ check out *Revival. *
It helps that Norton’s art is soft and stunningly beautiful for such grim topics, and Tim Seeley writes badass ladies really, really well. Officer Dana Cypress has the unfortunate job of dealing with the recently-revived, and I’ll say this: I prefer her style to Rick Grimes’ any day.
7/86. iZombie (Vertigo)
Art: Mike Allred
Writing: Chris Roberson
This one’s a bit of a gimme. You might already be a fan of Gwen from her hit TV show — where they call her Liv — but they sure get her look right. You’ll recognize artist Mike Allred’s art from the show’s opening credits, but his bright, pop-art designs continue the whole way through. The comic, being a comic, gets a bit zanier than the show you’re used to, but it does a great job of keeping the fun, realistic, ‘everygirl’ tone. The comic gives our lead a savvy, jaded, funny way of looking at live after death that makes Gwen feel a bit more like a grown-up Addams girl than the cutie Liv we see on TV.
Besides…zombie dog. You can’t go wrong with a zombie dog.
