5 Comics That Will Creep You Out As Much as Backrooms

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It’s already shaping up to be a fantastic summer for horror fans, particularly those who enjoy original stories. Two independently made horror films are gaining a lot of attention and success in theaters. One of these is Backrooms, the first feature film directed by Kane Parsons. Based on his popular online series of the same name (inspired by the “Backrooms” creepypasta), the film follows a furniture store owner and his therapist as they stumble upon a bizarre, otherworldly dimension hidden in the store’s basement. It’s been both a financial and critical success.

The series Backrooms is a truly unsettling and mind-bending experience, creating a slowly building sense of dread that makes it a captivating watch. But once it’s over, you don’t have to leave that feeling behind. Comics can help you continue exploring the atmosphere and fear inspired by Backrooms. If you enjoyed the show and are looking for something equally creepy to read, here are five excellent choices – though maybe save them for daytime reading!

5) Clean Room

Written by Gail Simone and illustrated by Jon Davis-Hunt, Clean Room is a compelling horror series from DC’s Vertigo line. It centers on journalist Chloe Pierce, whose fiancé Phillip died shortly after becoming obsessed with a book by the enigmatic Astrid Mueller. Chloe begins investigating Astrid, hoping to uncover the truth behind her and her work. Her investigation leads her to a supernatural conspiracy involving actual demons and a strange virtual reality experience called the “Clean Room.” This Clean Room is designed to expose your deepest fears, but it’s far more dangerous than it seems. Fans of The Backrooms will appreciate the Clean Room’s unsettling atmosphere – it’s a sterile, otherworldly liminal space that distorts your sense of reality and creates a feeling of intense dread. Overall, Clean Room is a well-crafted story with rich lore and plenty of terrifying twists and turns.

4) The Nice House on the Lake

James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno’s comic, The Nice House on the Lake, follows Walter, who invites ten friends to a beautiful country house. What starts as a relaxing retreat quickly turns terrifying when the guests witness the apocalypse on their first night and find themselves unable to leave. To make things even stranger, Walter may not be who he seems. The story creates a deeply unsettling atmosphere – think creepy, isolated spaces, strange architecture, and the feeling of being trapped. It’s a psychological thriller that stays with you, especially when you learn there’s a second story, The Nice House by the Sea, following a new group of people.

3) Night of the Ghoul

Scott Snyder and Francesco Francavilla’s Night of the Ghoul might not perfectly capture the feeling of Backrooms, but it delivers a similar kind of creepy atmosphere. While it doesn’t feature a traditional, unsettling location, it still taps into that same horror nerve. The story centers on a horror fanatic who uncovers what he thinks is a lost film from 1936, also called Night of the Ghoul. But this isn’t just a movie – the monster within is a genuine, ancient being with deadly intentions. The comic offers a deep, thought-provoking horror experience with its own intricate backstory. The idea of discovering hidden footage is central to the plot, as the film was never meant to be found. Despite the detailed artwork, the comic has a raw, almost homemade feel. It’s genuinely frightening and sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

2) The Unsound

If you enjoy the unsettling atmosphere of the Backrooms, Cullen Bunn and Jack T. Cole’s The Unsound is a fantastic choice. The story centers on Ashli Granger, a new nurse whose first day at a psychiatric hospital quickly spirals into something far stranger than she anticipates. She’s confronted by the asylum’s terrifying secrets – bizarre creatures, enigmatic patients, and disturbing supernatural forces – forcing her to question her own sanity and fight to survive. The setting of a psychiatric hospital perfectly creates a creepy, otherworldly feeling, and the story’s twists and turns only intensify the sense of unease as Ashli struggles to determine what’s real.

1) Sub-Mariner: The Depths

Did you expect a Marvel comic on this list? Probably not but trust me when I tell you that Peter Milligan and Esad Ribic’s Sub-Mariner: The Depths is creepy as all get out and it’s great if you loved Backrooms. The Marvel Knights series follows Dr. Randolph Stein, a scientist on a deep-sea expedition to find Atlantis. However, what he and his crew find is anything but. Instead, they find themselves hunted by Namor, the terrifying and vengeful protector of the deep. They also encounter the deep ocean itself and the horrifying psychological toll it takes, causing them to question their own sanity, experience madness, and wonder if Atlantis is even real. It’s the mind bending and questions of reality that really make this a fantastic choice, but there’s also something vaguely unreal about the deep ocean that really sells it.

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2026-06-10 17:12