Horror in comics comes in all shapes and sizes, but the best ones know exactly how to get under your skin and leave you questioning what you just read. From grotesque body horror to bloodthirsty vampires and terrifying cosmic mysteries, these five comics deliver some of the medium’s most unsettling experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned horror fan or new to the genre, these comics are guaranteed to leave you sleeping with the lights on.

These five horror comics are ranked from least scary to most scary (subjectively), taking into account their disturbing imagery, psychological impact, and more. However, readers should be warned that these comics are intended for mature audiences and may contain graphic violence, gore, disturbing themes, and other adult content. Reader discretion is strongly advised, as some of these stories venture into truly horrifying territory. So, if you’re ready to have nightmares, read on!

5

Aquaman: Andromeda

Ram V (Writer), Christian Ward (Artist and Colorist)

Some readers might do a double take at this entry, especially those familiar with the Golden Age version of DC’s Aquaman, who is often seen as the ‘dorky’ Justice League member AKA the least scary character in DC Comics. However, Ram V and Christian Ward’s Aquaman: Andromeda is nothing short of a masterpiece, elevating Aquaman from the butt of fish jokes to a king of horror.

Deep in the Pacific Ocean, at the farthest possible distance from any land, sits Point Nemo: the spaceship graveyard. Since the dawn of the space race, the nations of the world have sent their crafts there on splashdown, to sink beneath the silent seas. But there is something…else at Point Nemo. A structure never made by human hands. And that structure seems to be…waking up. The crew of the experimental submarine Andromeda, powered by a mysterious black-hole drive, have been chosen to investigate this mystery.

But they aren’t the only ones pursuing it. Anything of value beneath the ocean is of value to the master pirate Black Manta…and anything that attracts Black Manta attracts Arthur Curry, his lifelong foe, the Aquaman! But heaven help them all when the doors of the mystery at Point Nemo swing wide to admit them…

Aquaman: Andromeda is cosmic horror meets deep-sea dread, and is one of the most gorgeously rendered comic series on this list. This is the perfect pick for readers who aren’t looking for a traditional slasher or gore-filled story, but rather a terrifying mystery that builds an unsettling atmosphere of dread.

4

Through the Woods

Emily Carroll (Writer and Artist)

Emily Carroll’s Through the Woods is a five-story graphic anthology that is essentially Grimms’ Fairy Tales on steroids. This entry will particularly appeal to fans of gothic and supernatural horror. Like Aquaman: Andromeda, Through the Woods doesn’t rely on constant gore or jump scares to be effective. Instead, it delivers haunting artwork and unsettling twists that will stay with readers long after they finish the anthology.

Through the Woods will also appeal to fans of psychological horror and stunning artwork that creates an atmosphere of dread just as spine-chilling as the stories themselves. Our personal favorite story in the anthology is “His Face All Red,” an original webcomic hit by Carroll.

3

From Hell

Alan Moore (Writer), Eddie Campbell (Artist)

From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell will tickle the brains of our readers who gravitate toward psychological and historical horror. Set in Victorian London during the infamous Whitechapel murders of 1888, From Hell delivers a chilling fictional interpretation of the infamous Jack the Ripper. Although the story is fictionalized, readers will be blown away by the extensive historical research that informs this haunting work.

From Hell suits readers who prefer mature, intellectually demanding horror over straightforward killer stories. In fact, readers may find that the murders are the least frightening aspect of this comic when compared to its exploration of human depravity, misogyny, class, and institutional power.

2

30 Days of Night

Steve Niles (Writer), Ben Templesmith (Artist and Colorist)

Of the entries featured in this list, this is perhaps the most ‘classic’ and quintessential horror story. Written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Ben Templesmith, this series is a masterclass in vampire and survival horror. While these subgenres can sometimes feel overdone, 30 Days of Night delivers something as special as it is horrifying.

Set in Barrow, Alaska, where the sun disappears for 30 days during the polar night, the story explores what happens when a group of vampires realizes the prolonged darkness offers the perfect opportunity to attack the isolated town without worrying about sunlight. This sets the stage for a classic vampires-versus-humans conflict, but with a terrifying twist. If you enjoy extreme gore, violence, and a combination of isolation, vampire, and survival horror, 30 Days of Night is a MUST-READ.

1

Ice Cream Man

W. Maxwell Prince (Writer), Martín Morazzo (Artist), Chris O’Halloran (Colorist)

If you’re in the mood to have nightmares for the next two weeks, then W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo, and Chris O’Halloran’s Ice Cream Man should skyrocket to the top of your TBR list. This ongoing horror anthology is already 45 issues strong and covers one of the widest ranges of horror subgenres, with everything from psychological, surreal, and grotesque horror to cosmic, supernatural, and even existential horror.

Chocolate, vanilla, existential horror, drug addiction, musical fantasy… there’s a flavor for everyone’s misery.

ICE CREAM MAN is a genre-defying comic book series featuring disparate “one-shot” tales of sorrow, wonder, and redemption. Each installment features its own cast of strange characters, dealing with their own special sundae of suffering. And on the periphery of all of them, like the twinkly music of his colorful truck, is the Ice Cream Man—a weaver of stories, a purveyor of sweet treats. Friend. Foe. God. Demon. The man who, with a snap of his fingers—lickety split!—can change the course of your life forever.

What sets this entry apart is that its horror isn’t limited to traditional scares. Instead, it explores the frightening realities of being human, including addiction, grief, and loneliness, before twisting these experiences into surreal nightmares that are likely to haunt readers long after they’ve finished reading. Another unique aspect of Ice Cream Man is its heaping dose of dark humor, which makes its disturbing stories all the more unsettling.

If we missed a horror comic that deserves a spot on this list, let us know in the comments below!