The Top 10 Must-Read Horror Comics of 2024

When it comes to comics, there’s no shortage of amazing horror books to read year after year. We’ve previously discussed the best modern vampire comics, the scariest monster comics, and even essential Archie Horror reads for when you just can’t get enough of Riverdale and its weird secrets. Now as we cozy up for yet another fabulous fall, we’re simply going to round up the best, biggest, and most beastly horror comic books of 2024.

The looming holidays and end of the year are a period for self-reflection, celebrating the hard work and resultant bounty of the last year. Sometimes, just making it to Halloween feels like a feat of survival in and of itself. And no matter how you slice it, 2024 was a big year in independent publishing taking wide swings at horror and its many subgenres.

So, as you prepare your favorite spooky media for the autumn season, humbly consider these recent releases that shocked the shelves of local comic stores everywhere for their narrative innovation, mesmerizing art style, and gut-wrenching scares in sequential style.

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Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (IDW)

Dexter meets Animal Crossing in this cozy serial killer thriller.

Reprints, collections, convention exclusives — there’s good reason there’s high demand for Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees. Written and painted in watercolors by Patrick Horvath, with lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, this breakout miniseries has a deceptively adorable, Richard Scarry-esque exterior hiding an increasing mass of exhibitionist murders that are terrifying the animal denizens of Woodbrook. And while this understandably creates problems for everyone in town, no one is more impacted than the local sociopathic serial killer Samantha, who has always made sure to be so very careful with her kills.

Beneath the Trees is darkly thrilling, with its calculated gore made even more horrifying by the idyllic vistas and inviting storybook colors. It’s no surprise this book is as talked-about as it has been, providing a carefully crafted mystery with exponential tension as the sloppy (or intentional?) mistakes of a rival killer threaten to bring the paranoid cops sniffing around Samantha the bear’s extensive body count. The book also gives readers the head-scratching experience of rooting for a serial killer to come out unscathed, and it’s nearly impossible to look away from the action.

If you read nothing else from this list, be sure it’s this one. (But really, you should read them all!)

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Universal Monsters — Frankenstein, Dracula, and More (Skybound)

Enjoy classic creature features with new bite.

The partnership between Universal and Skybound was met with much excitement, with the promise of the world’s most classic monster movies being given new life on the page. Launching first in 2023 with Dracula by Something is Killing the Children writer James Tynion IV and artist Martin Simmonds, this collaboration gives fans highly curated, innovating miniseries featuring leading comics talent tackling the most iconic cinematic monsters ever put to page or screen. Since then, fans have also seen Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives! by writers Dan Watters and Ram V and artist Matthew Roberts, and most recently, Frankenstein by writer and artist Michael Walsh.

Each series has offered some form of reimagining or continuation, rather than straight adaptation, making these must-reads for Universal diehards. The debut series Dracula is a dizzying, dreamy look at Dr. Seward’s asylum, the seduction of Lucy, and even gives Renfield a terrifying new role that replaces much of Jonathan Harker’s story. Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives! serves as a spiritual sequel to the original film, as journalist Kate Marsden hunts a serial killer in the Amazon jungle and finds herself submerged in mystery and danger from local smugglers who are hunting something much bigger…

And finally, the Frankenstein series, which launched fresh in August, will devote each of its four issues to the acquisition of a different body part that forms the tragic creation.

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Feral (Image Comics)

Nine lives might not cut it in this contagion story.

From the creative team that gave us the wildly innovative Stray Dogs, Feral is the horror comic for readers who would say they’re really more of a cat person. Aptly titled “Masters of Petsploitation,” writer Tony Fleecs and artist Trish Forstner return for a sophomore outing with adorable cartoon critters put through horrific circumstances (accompanied by a bevy of iconic movie homage variant covers, including parodies of M3GAN, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and more). This time, a group of “indoor cats” are put through the paces of a rabies outbreak, turning wild foxes, squirrels, and even other felines into slavering, mindless monsters.

Elsie, Lord Fluffy Britches, and Patch must rush to find safety without getting scratched and succumbing to the infection — but it’s easier said than done. Human emergency services are also on their tails, prepared to eliminate the spread of the virus by any means necessary. Despite the book’s vibrant, almost animated style, it’s a frightening adventure that isn’t for the faint of heart (or anyone who weeps at Sarah McLachlan playing on the shelter commercials — we won’t judge).

Feral is currently an ongoing series, but the first collected edition of issues #1-5 released earlier this fall for fans who want to get their claws on it for Halloween.

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The Nasty (Vault Comics)

Remember, it’s only a movie. Until it’s not!

Have you ever watched a video nasty? No, not a nasty video, even if many horror films could also be described in that manner. The phrase “video nasty” is a UK-based term for low-budget, cassette-based horror and exploitation films that got a, well, nasty rep in the 1980s. Many parents and religious organizations were concerned with how accessible these flicks were for children. From Vault Comics, The Nasty is dedicated to rebellious youth and the freaky films we all watched a little too young. Written by John Lees with art by Adam Cahoon, this series follows a young adult named Graeme “Thumper” Connell whose imaginary friend just happens to be Red Ennis, his favorite fictional masked slasher.

When Thumper’s favorite local video store comes under fire by the British Moral Decency League, he and his horror-loving friends must do anything they can to save the shop. That means throwing a movie festival featuring one of the most horrific, legendary, impossible-to-find video nasties ever put to tape. The only problem is, they don’t have a copy — but that doesn’t mean they can’t make their own. However, Thumper’s love of horror and reliance on Red Ennis’ companionship starts to possess the home movie production, giving fans an all-out love letter to the genre with themes of censorship, self-expression, and lots and lots of cinematic splatter.

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Youth Group (First Second)

Friends who pray together slay together.

Billed as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Youth Group sees goth teen Kay and her perky church youth group friends learn to exorcise demons sent from hell. The YA graphic novel comes from writer Jordan Morris (most recently seen penning several Archie Horror stories) and artist Bowen McCurdy (who tackled decidedly less holy ghosts in 2021’s Specter Inspectors). While less outwardly terrifying than many other titles on this list, it offers plenty of spooky scenes and monster-fighting moments that will satisfy seasoned horror readers and make a perfect genre introduction for newer initiates.

Kay and youth group leaders Meg and Cortland aren’t just fighting with prayers, of course. In addition to the righteous power of the Lord, they’re equipped with cool relics and weapons to aid in their work. And Kay is something called a “blight” meaning that demons can’t possess her — which is both good and very dangerous. The humor is sharp as a ritual dagger, with hilarious Christian pop parody songs serving as a backdrop to the teens’ totally biblical battles against archaic evil. There are even cool, moody Wiccans and an interfaith rager. If you’re down to drink the non-alcoholic grape juice and join the mission, Youth Group might just be your new favorite demon-slaying adventure this fall.

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The Nice House by the Sea (DC Black Label)

The sequel to the breakout horror hit The Nice House on the Lake.

We’ve previously discussed how incredible The Nice House on the Lake by writer James Tynion IV and artist Alvaro Martinez Bueno is. In the grand tradition of Vertigo comics, DC’s Black Label horror hit provided a claustrophobic examination of aliens and apocalypses. Now, the series returns in the form of The Nice House by the Sea, dubbed the “second cycle” that follows another group of individuals handpicked to inhabit a house safe from the end of the world.

Where the inhabitants on the lake all had a mutual friend in the enigmatic Walter, those invited to remain by the sea don’t know their mysterious host Max. All they know is that they represent the best of society, the pinnacle of human achievement in their given fields. The cast includes a doctor, a mathematician, a writer, a priest, a scientist, and more. Each was told by Max what it was they truly deserved — to be saved, to carry on the flame of civilization. But can they all coexist in perfect harmony, not knowing one another or their host’s true intentions?

While this series is still early in its first act, it’s sure to be just as shocking and frightening as its groundbreaking predecessor.

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Hello Darkness (Boom! Studios)

An anthology of terror from today’s top talent.

Just as powerful as any long, escalating horror story, short tales of terror have been a backbone of the genre for ages. Sometimes, a quick dose of fright works best for a particular story — jumpscares catch you off guard and can leave you paranoid for hours even though they’re over and done in a flash. In the tradition of series like Creepshow, EC Comics, Black Mirror, and more, Hello Darkness is a murderous amuse-bouche of short stories running across numerous subgenres of horror — from slashers to body horror and everything in between.

Each monthly release features several standalone shorts, often mixed in with pinups and short one-panel gags from one of the modern masters, artist Robert Hack (perhaps best known for his work on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina). Other creators announced for the series include R. L. Stine, Sarah Gailey, Liana Kangas, Steve Orlando, Werther Dell’Edera, Francesco Francavilla, Sarah Anderson, and more.

The first six issues also feature a new serialized Something is Killing the Children story, and the first seven also feature another original serial about modern political fears and nuclear warfare by writer Garth Ennis and artist Becky Cloonan.

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House of Slaughter (Boom! Studios)

A compelling spinoff to Something is Killing the Children.

The House of Slaughter series is by no means new this year, but its immensely compelling arcs continue to expand the runaway hit world of Something is Killing the Children (if the number of times we’ve already mentioned it is any indication of the series’ longevity). Somewhat of an anthology series, the book’s arcs take turns delving deeper into the world of the Red Masks, White Masks, and the longest-running saga of all, the tale of Jace Boucher and his initiation into and eventual turn against the Order of St. George.

After concluding its previous arc about the White Mask hunter named Bait, House of Slaughter returned in 2024 with Jace Boucher’s final outing “The Butcher’s War,” written by Tate Brombal with art by Antonio Fuso. Fans who haven’t caught up will want to be sure to revisit Jace’s past chapters in the Slaughter-verse before he prepares for all-out armageddon against his present and former houses in the monster hunting order. The grim, swampy setting is rife with exciting new shade monsters, though the meticulous and murderous hunters themselves might be the scariest part of this story.

It’s a fantastic capstone to Jace’s arc, making him just as impactful to the world of the Order as the equally rebellious Erica Slaughter.

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Dark Ride (Image Comics)

You must be this tall … to die!

Like House of Slaughter, Dark Ride didn’t necessarily debut this year, but its finale and last collected edition did drop earlier in the summer. As the name implies, this campy horror series takes place at an amusement park called Devil Land, home to the scariest ride ever created: The Devil’s Due. Dark Ride is written by Joshua Williamson with art by Andrei Bressan, and concluded with a successful 12-issue run filled with hellfire, mayhem, and sinister secrets lurking behind the satanic smiles. The book’s themed setting and creative take on the conspiracies of horror surrounding other successful entertainment empires make it an engaging amusement ride about family, fear, and frightening fun from start to finish.

We first see Devil Land through the eyes of a longtime fan, Owen Seasons, who is finally beginning his first day on the job there. Dark Ride quickly becomes a family affair though as Sam Dante and his sister Halloween are forced to reckon with the evil underbelly of what their father, the mysterious Arthur Dante, has created. It seems the theme park patriarch might have made some deals to achieve the sizzling success that Devil Land is known for … and when death and destruction are close behind the adorable mascot Danny D. Evil, the Dantes will have to go through hell to find the truth.

With three collected editions of four issues each available now, it’s certainly worth booking your ticket to Devil Land to experience Dark Ride for yourself.

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Skeeters (Mad Cave Studios)

This oughta scratch your B-movie horror itch.

Some of the best bizarre creature features take place in small towns; think Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Slither, and Troll. Each has a memorable creature, a confined yet cozy hometown setting, and gross but occasionally charming effects. Skeeters, written by Bob Frantz and Kevin Cuffe with art by Kelly Williams, pays tribute to lower-budget monster movies as a group of mutant alien mosquito creatures descend on a beachside community in Kankakee, Virginia. It mixes horror and comedy together with lots of goop and gore that will leave your skin crawling.

Of course, every extraterrestrial threat needs a ragtag team of unlikely heroes to fend them off — in this case, Kankakee is under the watchful protection of a tired sheriff and two oddball exterminators who must protect all the clueless townies and visitors at the town’s annual seafood festival. Skeeters is brisk and funny, with extremely energetic artwork that puts you on the set of an instant classic B-movie story in two dimensions.

The collected edition of this miniseries came out earlier this year — be sure to pick it up as you prepare to fend off the wave of bitty bloodsuckers that always comes around this time of year.

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What Else Is Coming Soon?

Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive. There are hundreds of new comic releases every year, including many incredible independent creators who self-publish, ongoing webcomics, and more.Plus, horror series take time to grow their audience and their narratives. There’s always something new to discover, so be sure to keep your eyes open for upcoming releases across the board! Some other anticipated titles for the end of this year include the fairytale theme park slasher Murder Kingdom (Mad Cave Studios), the small-town satanic mystery Something Crawled Out (Vault Comics), and Meredith McClaren’s newly announced YA zombie story Meat Eaters (Oni Press).

What other horror comics are on your must-read list? Join the discussion with other comics fans at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!

Do you have a taste for terror? Are you ready to party like a vampire and wake up screaming? Run while you can … Spooktacular has come home!

Kiss your nerves goodbye during Sideshow’s Spooktacular 2024, a celebration with ghastly giveaways, deathly deals, eerie exclusive perks, and more. Join us from October 21 – October 31 by visiting side.show/spooktacular and don’t forget — sleep is for the weak!