Horror is a favorite genre across media and that includes comic books. DC Comics led the way with some amazing horror stories brought to the pages of their comics and illustrated brilliantly by their illustrators. Some of the stories were spooky, some were scary, and others were downright chilling.
SomeDC Comicshorror stories can leave readers uneasy, as they tackle some disturbing themes. These comics use horror much in the same way other comics use action to illicit a response from the reader. In the end, these are some of the best comics for those who love horror.
10The Nice House on the Lake
This comic by James Tynion IV follows a group of friends who accept an invitation to stay at an acquaintance’s lake house. When they arrive, the world outside is plunged into chaos, and they are trapped with no way out.
The story tackles several types of horror, including psychological, cosmic, and apocalyptic horror.The Nice House on the Lakecreates a tense atmosphere as the characters confront their own mortality during a breakdown of social structures.
9House of Secrets
Debuting in 1956,House of Secretsdidn’t start as a horror title. The series focused on science fiction and superheroes, because the Comics Code Authority prevented horror stories from being released in mainstream comics. However, once those rules were relaxed,House of Secretsfound new life.
After initially being canceled in 1966, the series was brought back as a horror anthology hosted by a character called Abel. The series was known for introducing the character of Swamp Thing well before Alan Moore’s epic run in the 1980s. Unfortunately,House of Secretswas a casualty of the DC Implosion, and it was rolled intoThe Unexpected.
8Deadman
Deadmantells the tale of a ghost who can possess the unsuspecting and lead them to violence.Deadman is dead, obviously, but the curse he carries, and his own tragic history are the truly horrific parts of his story. Still, he’s able to use mindfulness and kindness to work alongside other heroes.
Deadman Vol. 2is where the story truly delves into the character’s origins. This series is a haunting tale that evolves into a supernatural epic.
7Swamp Thing
Swamp Thinglaunched DC’s horror comics revival, leading to the popularity of future titles likeSandmanandHellblazer. Alan Moore’s work onSaga ofthe Swamp Thingperfectly complimented the artwork of great illustrators like Stephen Bissett and John Totleben.
Swamp Thingcreated a legacy of terrifying stories influenced by the line of horror comics DC was focused on at the time. The popularity of this series is why horror comics fans have so many great choices from DC today.
6Sandman
WhileNeil Gaiman’s acclaimed series,Sandman, may have transcended the horror genre, many of the tales in his series had some truly horrifying elements. Whether it was a doctor causing people at a diner to do unspeakable things or deadly boys returning from Hell, this series embodies horror at its best.
This series is much more than a chilling collection of frightening tales. Some of the most talented comic book artists in the world wanted to work onSandmanto add their talent to the horror elements being presented.
5American Vampire
As one of the classic horror antagonists, adding a vampire to DC’sGods and Monstersphase made total sense. That’s whereAmerican Vampirecomes into play. The series delves into the hidden world of vampires and their experiences as members of the undead community.
American Vampireisan Elseworlds story, so it’s not connected to the larger DC universe. However, it provides a different experience for readers and presents a wonderful opportunity for a broader anthology.
4The Demon
Created by Jack Kirby, the rhyming demon known as Etrigan has been causing mayhem throughout the DC universe for years. When Etrigan combines with Jason Blood’s humanity, the pair become an antihero that has been able to transcend the pages of comic books.
The original run ofThe Demonfocused on superheroes, while a later run delved more into Arthurian legend. The series is humorous while still being eerie. Levels of deceit and magic shaping the character’s origin story.
3Forever Evil
Forever Evilis a unique horror story because it doesn’t feature any supernatural creatures. Instead, the fear factor stems from an overwhelming sense of despair after Earth’s protectors suddenly disappear. It’s not the first DC title to feature an evil version of the Justice League, butthe Crime Syndicateis particularly sinister.
Classic horror themes are woven throughout the series. Bizarro looks similar to Frankenstein’s monster. Deathstorm provides a spooky ambiance as a blazing skeleton. It’s some of Geoff Johns' best work as a comic book writer.
2Lucifer
The comic book series featuresthe Devil, himselfas the central protagonist. Building off themes covered in Neil Gaiman’sSandmanseries,Lucifersaves its horror elements for the right moments. Then Lucifer does something truly terrifying that reveals his stature and power.
Luciferalso adopts several characters that were introduced inSandmanand gives them more character development. Lucifer remains one of the most spine-chilling DC characters whether the title character is involved in the action of his book, or just overseeing it.
1Hellblazer
The longest running DC horror comics series,Hellblazerfocusedon John Constantinein his battle with demons and monster. Constantine first appeared in theSwamp Thingseries as a British Occult specialist before getting his own title.Hellblazerran from 1988 until 2013.
While the series started with heavy political overtones, the creators found a way to not distract from the horror aspect and the evils that terrorized the world. In one story, Constantine tricked infernal factions to cure lung cancer to avoid a war being fought over his own soul.
