Over the years, many fantastic horror comics have been published, and some of the most impressive ones aren’t from Marvel or DC’s traditional superhero lines. Instead, they come from publishers like Dark Horse, Image, IDW, Boom Studios, DC’s Vertigo, and even Archie Comics. These publishers have created horror series that are genuinely scary and offer some of the best horror stories you’ll find anywhere. The comics also boast talented creators, including Robert Kirkman (creator of Invincible), Cullen Bunn (a former X-Men writer), and Scott Snyder (who used to write Batman).
Beyond Marvel and DC, explore some of the best horror comics featuring everything from classic monsters and zombies to spooky ghost stories and terrifying witches.
10) Harrow County
Harrow County is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics, created by writer Cullen Bunn, known for his work on titles like X-Men and Deadpool, and artist Tyler Crook, who previously worked on BRPD: Hell on Earth. The story began as a prose novel called Countless Haints, written by Bunn, and was later adapted into a comic with illustrations by Crook. It centers around Emmy Crawford, who discovers a connection to the land and its supernatural inhabitants on her eighteenth birthday.
Emmy is a witch thought to be the reborn Hester Beck, a powerful figure capable of altering reality itself. The comic book series Harrow County, which has been nominated for an Eisner Award, combines elements of folk horror, dark fantasy, and Southern Gothic storytelling. The main story spans 32 issues, and its mythology continues in a spin-off series called Tales from Harrow County.
9) Afterlife with Archie
It’s surprising, but some of the scariest comics actually take place in the world of Archie Andrews and his friends. While known for its classic stories, Archie Comics has become a major player in the horror genre, as seen in shows like Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The most terrifying title is Afterlife with Archie. This comic was unique for Archie, as it was initially only sold in comic book stores due to its genuinely frightening and mature horror themes.
Afterlife with Archie is a comic series geared towards older teens and adults, known for its intense violence, graphic imagery, and frightening scenes. The story begins when Reggie unintentionally hits and kills Hot Dog with his car, prompting Jughead to ask the witch Sabrina to revive him. While she succeeds, bringing Hot Dog back has terrifying results, unleashing a zombie outbreak. Critics praised the series, and it’s considered one of the most chilling and suspenseful comics of the 2010s.
8) Wytches
Published in 2014, Wytches is a six-part comic series created by Scott Snyder, known for his work on Batman, and artist Jock, who previously worked on The Losers. From Image Comics, the story follows the Rook family as they relocate to a new town after their daughter is accused of harming a classmate. They quickly discover the town holds dark, supernatural secrets. As they learn about the local “wytches” – beings who demand sacrifices to protect themselves – the family’s painful past begins to resurface.
What really makes this series stand out is Jock’s artwork. It’s raw and unsettling, using lots of dark colors to create a truly creepy atmosphere in the small town where the story takes place. He also cleverly avoids showing the creatures clearly, making them even more frightening when they appear. Combined with Scott Snyder’s story, which builds from a slow, creeping sense of dread to shocking bursts of violence, this is a horror series that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
7) Fatale
As a big fan of crime comics, I recently dove into Fatale, and it’s seriously cool. It’s got this amazing blend of gritty noir and straight-up horror, which is a combination I didn’t know I needed. It’s by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips – those guys are a powerhouse team, you might know them from Criminal, a fantastic series they did a few years back. Fatale centers around this woman, Jo, who’s basically a classic femme fatale, but with a twist: she seems to be immortal and has been around since the 1930s. It’s a really unique take on the genre.
Jo possesses a dangerous and uncontrollable ability: she can make men fall obsessively in love with her, leading them to desperate and often devastating actions. Adding to her troubles, she’s relentlessly pursued by a cult devoted to terrifying, Lovecraftian deities. The story jumps across different eras – the 1930s, 50s, 70s, and 90s – seamlessly blending the suspense of noir with the dread of horror, rather than simply combining them. The comic series, Fatale, has been highly acclaimed, earning multiple Eisner Award nominations.
6) Hellboy
Hellboy is arguably the most popular horror comic ever created. Starting in 1993 with Dark Horse Comics, creator Mike Mignola developed a rich and expansive universe around the character and his allies. The story centers on Hellboy, a demon rescued as an infant from the Nazis and raised by Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, who later founded the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BRPD). The comic’s lasting success is due to its engaging, ongoing stories, team-ups with other characters, and adaptations into movies and television.
Hellboy eventually joined the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BRPD), a global organization dedicated to fighting supernatural threats – everything from demons and monsters to Nazis and witches. The Hellboy comic series has been consistently published for over three decades, and in 2002, creator Mike Mignola began the BRPD comic series as a companion to his main Hellboy stories.
5) 30 Days of Night
The comic book 30 Days of Night is considered one of the most terrifying vampire horror stories ever created. As the title suggests, the story centers around the town of Barrow, Alaska, which experiences a 30-day period of complete darkness each year. This allows the vampires to hunt continuously without the need to hide. The story follows Vicente, an older vampire, who travels to Barrow hoping to control the other vampires and prevent them from exposing their world to humans.
Sheriff Eben takes a drastic step to protect his town: he injects himself with vampire blood, hoping to gain the strength needed to stop Vicente. Vicente intends to kill the town’s residents to conceal the existence of vampires. This three-issue comic series, created by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, became a huge hit, even inspiring a film adaptation. Its popularity led to multiple sequel series over the next eleven years before the story concluded.
4) Something Is Killing the Children
James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera’s Something is Killing the Children, published by Boom! Studios, is consistently praised as one of the most compelling horror comics available. The series centers on Erica Slaughter, a monster hunter dedicated to protecting children from terrifying creatures. Erica is a standout character in the horror genre—a flawed and determined woman uniquely equipped to face these threats and save those who can’t protect themselves.
This artwork is unsettling but compelling, featuring Dell’Edera’s monstrous creatures that feel genuinely threatening and predatory. The series also includes classic horror elements, like a mysterious organization called the Order of St. George, and a peculiar toy octopus named Octo, who holds secrets of his own – offering plenty for horror fans to explore.
3) The Walking Dead
No horror comic has achieved a wider reach than The Walking Dead. Robert Kirkman’s original black-and-white zombie series was already incredibly popular, and that popularity exploded when Frank Darabont adapted it into the first season of the AMC television show. Since then, The Walking Dead has run its course in both comic book and television form, with several spin-off shows now expanding the universe.
New, full-color versions of the comics are being released, giving new readers a chance to experience what made them so popular. The story centers on Rick Grimes and his group as they struggle to survive a zombie outbreak and navigate the dangers posed by other people, all while searching for a safe haven. The comic book series has a different conclusion than the TV show, making it a great read for fans of horror comics.
2) American Vampire
Vertigo Comics is part of DC Comics, but it’s known for more mature stories that stand apart from DC’s regular superhero comics. One standout title is American Vampire, a truly excellent horror comic that any fan of the genre will enjoy. The character Skinner Sweet is a fantastic vampire – easily one of the best in comics, and as compelling as many of the famous vampires you’ll find in movies and TV.
This comic book series presents a unique take on vampires, showing them as a diverse group living secretly among us, with some holding influential roles. The story centers around Skinner Sweet, a vampire from the Old West, and Pearl Jones, a 1920s silent film star who becomes one of the undead. Created by Scott Snyder and with contributions from Stephen King, the 68-issue run offers a deep and fresh perspective on vampire lore.
1) Locke & Key
Joe Hill, author of the story behind the movie The Black Phone and son of Stephen King, created the horror comic Locke & Key. The story centers on the Locke family, who relocate to their old family home after a tragic murder. Once there, the three children find magical keys that unlock doors to mysterious and frightening places within the house.
Gabriel Rodriguez’s artwork brings this 37-issue comic series – plus an 8-issue spin-off – to life. It’s a truly inventive and captivating horror story, featuring a demon-possessed child seeking revenge, journeys to the American Revolution, and mysterious keys that unlock incredible, otherworldly rooms. Many consider it one of the best horror comics ever made.
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2025-10-27 22:20