Temperatures are dropping as fast as the bright autumn leaves in the most wooded of forests, which means that Halloween is just around the corner. For some folks, October means pumpkin spices and apple ciders. For others, it's time to get in a spooky mood and embrace a touch of horror, whether it be through TV, movies, or comic books.
Whether you're planning an epic costume, a monster-themed party, or just want to get in a dark and ominous mood for the holiday, having quality horror stories will help achieve those goals. Luckily, there are a ton of great indie comic books available to spark both chills and inspiration.
1 Grim Gives Readers A New Take On The Grim Reaper
Reapers who usher the souls of the dead into the afterlife are a common character type in stories, from Death in Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, to the Shinigami of the manga and anime Bleach. Grim, from BOOM! Studios, written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Flaviano, takes that trope and gives it a brand-new feel.
This ongoing series follows the adventures of Jessica, who is one of a number of reapers. Unlike most other reapers, Jessica can't remember her past, but that's the least of her worries after unexpected events set her on a surprising new path. The rich artwork and interesting story combine for a great read, with more to come.
2 The Closet Combines Childhood Fears With Parenting Nightmares
The Closet, from Image Comics, bills itself as a tale of existential familiar horror, and it definitely delivers on that promise. Writer James Tynion IV is a master of horror writing, and his skill shines in this new story. Scenes with the child of the family, Jamie, often without any text, can be truly chilling. And the conversations among the adults highlight how the stress of parenting can impact the children in the family with a completely different type of fear.
The basic plot of the story concerns a family planning to move to a new city. Things are not great between the parents, and young Jamie has been having nightmares of monsters in his closet. The art in this comic, by Gavin Fullerton and Chris O'Halloran, sets a perfect mood for the tale with the dark-toned panels adding to its feeling of dread.
Thomas Jane’s Horror Leap: From Comic Buff to Creator
3 The Bone Orchard Mythos Began On Halloween
On Halloween 2021, Author Jeff Lemire and artist Andrea Sorrentino announced a new horror series releasing in 2022, The Bone Orchard Mythos. In the style of H.P. Lovecraft, this is a series of stand-alone stories that are contained within the same story universe, any of which can be enjoyed alone or as part of the series.
Lemire is an expert horror storyteller, and the bleak colors by Dave Stewart set the mood properly for Lemire's dark stories and Sorrentino's detailed artwork. So far, the team have released Prelude: Shadow Eater, The Passageway, and Ten Thousand Black Feathers, with another story on the way in November.
4 Creepshow Is A Classic Halloween Anthology
Fans of shows like Tales from the Crypt should definitely pick up the Creepshow anthology from Image Comics. In this five-issue series, different creators tell chilling short stories. The first issue featured a story about trick or treaters who showed up at the wrong house, by Chris Burnham, and another about a creepy birthday clown who was definitely not there for cake and presents, by Paul Dini, Steve Langford, and John McCrea.
The first issue of this limited collection was so popular that a second printing will be on shelves soon. The second issue, with stories from David & Maria Lapham, Steve Foxe, and Kelley Jones, was released just in time for Halloween.
5 The Night Eaters Combines Beauty And Horror
For some reason, horror comics often have beautiful art. Perhaps the contrast between the beauty of the art and the horror of its content serve to emphasize each other. Regardless, The Night Eaters has heaps of both. This new horror story comes from the team behind the highly acclaimed series Monstress (also a great horror read), Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda.
This story follows a family that emigrated from Hong Kong to the United States. The twin daughters are forced to clean out an old abandoned house where a murder took place, but the girls are in for a nasty surprise. The art has a more sketchy quality than Takeda's work on Monstress, but it is still gorgeous, and the perfect backdrop for Liu's creepy tale.
6 Farmhand Is Growing More Than It Seems
In Farmhand, the Jenkins family operates a farm on which they grow human organs that can be transplanted into patients. The crop seems like a miracle, but there is a dark secret buried underneath. Zeke has returned to his father's farm to try and reconnect, but it seems as though he's in for more than just a family reunion.
Rob Guillory, who both wrote and penciled this series, with colors by Taylor Wells, is best known for his work on the comic Chew. Guillory's style is cartoonish and thoroughly enjoyable, and the details he adds in to his art will keep readers entertained as they try to find all the hidden gems in each panel.
7 The Last Book You'll Ever Read Is A Chilling Promise
Cullen Bunn is a brilliant horror writer, and his recent title for Vault Comics may be one of his best. The Last Book You'll Ever Read concerns a writer whose bestselling book, Sartyr, appears to create a murderous bloodlust in its readers. Despite this effect, she decides to do a book tour. She hires a bodyguard with the caveat that he can never read her book. Somehow, it seems likely that those instructions will eventually be ignored.
Leila Leiz and Giada Marchisio created the art for this comic, and it fits the story beautifully. The slightly cartoonish style helps the reader to stomach some of the extreme violence that people are committing as a result of whatever is causing their madness.
8 The Autumnal Provides The Perfect Setting For Halloween Season
After the death of her mother, Kat decided to pack up her daughter and move from the busy streets of Chicago to quaint and cozy Comfort Notch, New Hampshire. The town seems idyllic, but strange things keep happening there, from missing children to dead bodies stuffed with leaves. Top it off with a spooky local legend that may be tied to the strange occurrences, and this is definitely a Halloween-worthy read.
Daniel Kraus's writing expertly explores the generational trauma both of Kat's family and of the town of Comfort Notch itself. Meanwhile, the art, by Chris Shehan and Jason Wordie, brilliantly transitions from the cozy feel of autumnal leaf colors to the more horrific later on, much like the month of October itself.
9 In Stillwater, No One Dies
Stillwater, an ongoing title from Image Comics, is set in the town of Stillwater, where no one ever dies. Immortality seems like a blessing, but when protagonist Daniel West comes to this small town, he discovers it can be anything but. The town has a dark, secret agenda, and will stop at nothing to keep its secrets.
Small towns make for some of the best horror stories, and the setting of this book provides plenty of opportunities for Chip Zdarsky's always-interesting storytelling. Zdarsky also tends to add a hint of humor into his work, which can be a nice relief in the horror genre. Ramón K. Pérez and Mike Spicer provide excellent art and color to accompany the story.
Midnight Universe Official Trailer Marvel Comics
10 Horror And Humor Join Forces In Blood Stain
Written and drawn by Linda Sejic, Blood Stain follows Elliot Torres, a chemistry major, as she struggles to find a job after finishing her degree. In desperation, she is drawn to a mysterious old job posting looking for a lab assistant. Although warned by students that the employer is somewhat shady, she is desperate and gives it a shot.
This comic started life as a web comic, but was later published by Image Comics. Although the story revolves around the traditionally creepy venue of a mad scientist's lab, the book is more of a slice of life story, with plenty of humor thrown in. For readers looking for lighter entertainment in the Halloween spirit, this comic is a great pick.
Comments
0 comment