10 Spooky Marvel Stories That Will Make Your Blood Curl

by

Marvel Comics has been around for so long that it caters to a wide range of readers, from enthusiasts of bold rescue stories to those who prefer comical escapades. On the other hand, Marvel Comics also delves into its darker aspects, exploring the eerie realms where monstrous creatures reside. Given a skilled creative team, any Marvel comic can swiftly transform into a chilling horror tale, appealing to fans of the genre. Similar to the broader Marvel Universe, these horror comics display an astonishing diversity, encompassing everything from grisly tales to intense psychological thrillers and everything in between. This trend towards the darker side has become increasingly prominent in recent years, as comic books have grown more comfortable exploring this ominous facet of the industry.

Horror enthusiasts find numerous attractions in the Marvel universe. It offers unique reimaginings of traditional characters like Dracula, and twisted adaptations of renowned Marvel superheroes. Marvel demonstrates a knack for storytelling innovation, often exploring horror themes in their best standalone issues and limited series. Notably, stories involving zombies are particularly popular. One thing that’s indisputable is that Marvel caters extensively to horror fans, offering more material than can be covered in a single piece of writing.

Marvel Zombies (2005)

Zombies, as one of the timeless (and frequently used) elements in horror stories, are particularly popular in comic books. For instance, Marvel has dabbled with this concept on multiple occasions, such as in 2005 and 2024. Readers seem to be captivated by this dark narrative. It’s intriguing how the world’s strongest heroes succumb to a horde of zombies. The Marvel Zombies series, developed by Robert Kirkman, Sean Phillips, and June Chung, is noteworthy for its intensity. Unlike other Marvel productions, this series doesn’t focus on the heroes finding some miraculous solution at the last minute to save the day.

The narrative unfolds when a mysterious figure, likely a hero hailing from another realm, lands on Earth-2149. This stranger carries a contagion resembling what we commonly refer to as the zombie virus. However, this virus exhibits an unprecedented potency, outmatching even the mightiest of heroes it encounters. What sets this story apart in the realm of zombie lore is that the infected heroes maintain their intellect and abilities, making the scenario all the more chilling to ponder. This captivating series was so influential that it sparked an episode within Marvel’s “What If…” and eventually led to a dedicated animated series centered around the zombie apocalypse.

Curse of the Mutants (2010)

The X-Men aren’t new to tough situations; they’ve faced countless challenges and managed to survive. Yet, the story of “Curse of the Mutants” from 2010 stands out distinctly among all X-Men tales, earning a spot on this list. This captivating tale was crafted by Victor Gischler, where mutants find themselves in an unusual predicament – fighting against vampires with a twist. The narrative begins when Xarus, Dracula’s son, concocts a daring plan to bolster his forces – by forcefully enlisting mutants. In San Francisco’s Union Square, he detonates a bomb, but it’s no ordinary explosion. Instead of causing destruction, the blast covers everyone nearby in vampire blood, including current X-Men members. From this point onward, the story takes a dark turn as more and more mutants succumb to the vampiric curse, creating a situation reminiscent of the struggles faced by characters in Marvel Zombies.

The “Curse of the Mutants” is a connected storyline that spans across several series. To read it from start to finish, the most convenient option would be to get hold of the anthology. For those preferring to read each issue individually, there are guides available for structured reading.

The Tomb of Dracula (1972-1979)

You can’t call a comprehensive list of horrors without including Dracula. Despite being an older Marvel series from 1972 to 1979, “The Tomb of Dracula” is still a must-read for anyone who enjoys classic vampire horror! Just like any good story featuring Dracula, this comic book series embodies the essence of vampire terror. Throughout its run, the creative team has changed multiple times, showing that the series remained popular enough to stay alive amidst the changes happening behind the scenes. Thanks to the Comics Code Authority relaxing its strict control over comics in 1971, “The Tomb of Dracula” was able to delve deeper into darker themes, such as more traditional vampire behaviors, including vampire hunters and everything in between.

In contrast to being isolated, The Tomb of Dracula is a setting where Dracula clashes with various well-known Marvel characters. As expected, Blade joins the fray. Additionally, Spider-Man, the X-Men, and even a Werewolf are also part of the action.

Damnation (2018)

It’s not unexpected that one of Doctor Strange’s tales would delve deeply into horror, given his regular encounters with immense powers and terrifying entities. After all, it’s not a big leap from the supernatural to pure horror when dealing with such forces. The comic book series ‘Damnation‘, penned by Nick Spencer, Donny Cates, and Rod Reis, vividly portrays Earth as Hell itself. Mephisto is at the forefront of this narrative, along with Las Vegas, which he effectively transforms into a hellish landscape. The most disheartening aspect is that Doctor Strange unwittingly handed over the key to Mephisto for this transformation.

In an urgent bid to reverse the destruction wrought by Hydra, Doctor Strange invoked a magic that returned the city to its former glory. However, this spell inadvertently brought into existence a Hotel Inforno and granted Mephisto control over the city, along with everyone within it – including brave heroes who were previously defending humanity prior to Strange’s incantation. The gravity of the situation had never been greater, forcing Doctor Strange to reach unprecedented heights in his search for a solution to this fresh peril.

Journey Into Mystery (1952-)

Among the listed entries, Journey Into Mystery stands out as the longest-standing, boasting a rich history that spans back to 1952 when it was first published under Atlas Comics, later known as Marvel Comics. This horror/fantasy anthology series has a knack for revisiting its concept time and again, surprising fans with its recurrence. As an open-ended anthology, Journey Into Mystery offered a platform to delve into various narratives, from spine-tingling monster stories to grisly tales of unchecked killers.

Unfortunately, Journey Into Mystery faced some tough times due to the strict enforcement of the Comics Code Authority, which imposed stringent rules on horror comics. However, it’s worth mentioning that this series has several impressive achievements, such as being the platform for the introduction of Xemnu, the mesmerizing alien monster.

Absolute Carnage (2019)

Reading “Absolute Carnage” is highly recommended for both aficionados of horror and those fond of symbiotes. This crossover event was conceived by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegmen. Without giving too much away, the narrative centers around Carnage, a character resurrected by a dark cult. As one might expect, Carnage does not disappoint in living up to his destructive reputation, causing chaos and rampaging across the Marvel Universe. Of particular note, Carnage targets anyone who has previously hosted a symbiote because they possess something he requires.

It’s clear that Carnage’s specter provides an ideal base for a chilling narrative. His level of violence borders on mythic, leaving a trail of corpses behind him. Marvel enthusiasts will delight in the added appearances of beloved characters, while horror aficionados will savor the gory and brutal scenes that unfold.

Hellstorm by Warren Ellis

In an unexpected twist, Daimon Hellstrom is indeed the offspring of Stain, not a common knowledge. He might not meet the typical expectations, but his stories remain chilling with elements of terror. Known as ‘Hellstorm’, this character marks Warren Ellis’ initial foray into Marvel Comics, and he certainly delivered a home run. The narrative opens with Daimon pursuing a serial killer, sparking a bizarre discussion on the dynamics of good and evil, heaven and hell. This comic takes place in the supernatural realm of Marvel, making it reminiscent to fans of ‘Hellblazer’.

To get a smooth reading experience when following this story that spans two series, I’d recommend picking up the omnibus titled “Hellstorm by Warren Ellis.” Another option is to read issues 1-4 of “Druid” and then continue with issues 12 through 21 of “Hellstorm: Prince of Lies.

Chamber of Chills (1972-1976)

The Chamber of Chills, a horror anthology series from Marvel, was initially launched in 1972 and continued for four years. This series has an intriguing history as many of its comics were penned during the 1950s but could not be published due to the Comics Code Authority’s crackdown on horror comics. However, with the ban lifted in 1971, Marvel had the opportunity to publish these long-awaited comics. It is crucial to note that this series should not be confused with another one bearing the same name, produced by Harvey Publications.

Altogether, you’ll find 25 editions of the “Chamber of Chills” magazine. Just like any collection, there’s a variety catered to everyone. Topics span from terrifying jungle creatures to chilling aliens, and just about anything else one could anticipate or desire in a horror anthology.

The Darkhold (2021)

In Marvel Comics, “The Darkhold” is another significant event that made a substantial impact. Crafted by Steve Orlando and Cian Tormey, “The Darkhold” encompasses multiple stories within one. The narrative is initially established in “The Darkhold Alpha” and “The Darkhold Omega,” followed by six additional tales focusing on various Marvel heroes. Characters like Blade, Wasp, Iron Man, Black Bolt, and Spider-Man are among those featured. For fans of cosmic horror, this story is a must-read, as The Darkhold has recently taken over a new host. This forces the universe’s most powerful magical users to act or face the destruction of everything they cherish. Unfortunately, there’s only one method to confront The Darkhold: by consciously embracing madness.

A straightforward method to consume “The Darkhold” is by obtaining the compiled edition that encompasses all seven issues. Alternatively, readers have the option to go through it issue by issue; simply search for the “Darkhold” title at the beginning of each one.

Immortal Hulk (2018-2021)

The series titled ‘Immortal Hulk’ is one of the lengthier reads on this list, yet it’s a captivating choice. Both horror enthusiasts and Hulk aficionados will find delight in this as it ventures into uncharted territories of the Hulk cosmos with a chilling intensity. Crafted by Al Ewing, Joe Bennet, and Paul Mounts, ‘Immortal Hulk’ unfolds post-‘Civil War II’, where Bruce Banner meets his end. Despite being set within the Marvel Universe, it stands out distinctly, narrating Hulk’s revival and delving profoundly into Banner’s psyche. Essentially, it’s a haunting read that may not be suitable for young audiences.

The 51-issue run of “The Immortal Hulk” skillfully blends cosmic horror with intense psychological terror, offering readers a deep dive into the mind of Bruce Banner. It’s like a thrilling exploration of the Jekyll and Hyde dynamic, with an added twist. Essentially, this comic series dissects and reassembles Bruce Banner, resulting in a transformation that has indelibly marked the Marvel Universe.

Read More

2025-04-13 04:11