Indie comics have been redefining the comic industry for a long time. In recent years, they've become a huge force, as A-list creators tell amazing stories that wouldn't fly at the Big Two. While a reader can find stories from every genre among the indies, horror books have long been a staple. Without the constraints of continuity or censorship, indie horror books have forged a bloody legacy throughout the industry.
There are many different kinds of horror but some of the best indie horror books deal with the supernatural. Many of these comics have cut a wide swath through pop culture, becoming horror icons.
10 Night Of The Ghoul Is Atmospheric Horror At Its Best
Night Of The Ghoul, by writer Scott Snyder and artist Francesco Francavilla, has just started but it's already proving to be one of the best horror books out there. The story follows Forest Innman and his son to a nursing home, as they hunt down the story of a lost horror film, Night Of The Ghoul. What they find changes their life forever.
Some stories just click right away and that's this one in a nutshell. Snyder is a horror master but it's Francavilla who really makes the whole thing shine. His art is perfect for the story, setting the right tone and giving it a classic horror movie feel.
9 We Have Demons Is A Perfect Blend Of Horror And Superhero Elements
We Have Demons, by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo, is the team firing on all cylinders. They created some amazing Batman stories and this comic is shaping up to follow in those footsteps. Following a young woman named Lam as she's inducted into the family business of demon hunting. this story takes what Snyder and Capullo do best and puts it on full display.
With a heaping helping of Synder world-building and Capullo's incomparable pencils, We Have Demons combines elements of superhero comics and horror to create an entertaining terror cocktail, one that goes from slasher movie tongue in cheek to deadly serious in a heartbeat.
8 B.P.R.D. Expands On The Hellboy Mythos
B.P.R.D. has been going strong for years, with creators like Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Guy Davis, Tyler Crook, and more working on the book over the years. Following the titular organization on its adventures as they protect the world from paranormal horrors, it's a must-read for horror fans. Starring characters from the main Hellboy book, it's been a fan favorite for years.
B.P.R.D. took everything Hellboy did so well and expanded upon it, fleshing out the characters, and filling in the gaps when Mignola was working on more Hellboy. It's a marvel of horror storytelling, incorporating supernatural threats from mythologies around the world.
7 The Silver Coin Is A Top Notch Horror Anthology
Image is about to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary, putting it among the oldest current indie publishers. Over the years, the publisher has put out some top-notch horror books and there are a lot of gems. One of the recent best is the horror anthology The Silver Coin. Overseen by Michael Walsh and boasting talent like Chip Zdarksy, Ram V, Kelly Thompson, and Ed Brisson, it's horror at its finest.
Each issue takes readers to another time and place, telling new horror stories with each issue, all connected by the presence of a terrible, evil coin. It's a horror smorgasbord, with something for every type of horror fan.
6 These Savage Shores Combines Social Commentary And Good Old Fashioned Monster Horror
These Savage Shores, by writer Ram V and artist Sumit Kumar, is a masterpiece of horror. The best horror stories use the real world as inspiration for their monsters and this book takes that tack with the British occupation of India. A monster of the old world makes its way to India, hoping to find a land ripe for conquest but learns that it isn't the only monster to make its home there.
These Savage Shores works on more than one level. Ram V is a singular talent and this work puts that on full display. Kumar's art is beautiful, creating chilling tableaus. Horror is about more than scares and this book is a perfect example of that.
5 The Walking Dead Basically Created The Zombie Craze Of The 21st Century
The Walking Dead, by writer Robert Kirkman and artists Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, is a horror icon. The story of Rick Grimes and his band of survivors making their way through a zombie-infested world spawned a pop culture empire and helped make zombies into the monster of the early 21st century. It's a savage look at humanity at its worst.
The zombies are just set dressing, as the horror comes from the lengths that the cast goes to in order to survive the hordes. The outbreak is never explained and the comic takes the typical monster narrative and turns it on its head, highlighting the human aspects of supernatural horror.
4 30 Days Of Night Is A Different Kind Of Vampire Story
Some of the best horror goes beyond the conventions of the genre. 30 Days Of Night, by writer Steve Niles and artist Ben Templesmith, took what readers expected of a vampire story and brought it to new places. Taking place in Barrow, Alaska, where the sun doesn't rise in the winter, it sees a group of vampires descend on the town, feeding with impunity without the sunlight endangering them.
A gritty survival story against the worst odds, 30 Days Of Night was a massive hit upon its release in 2002 and remains one of indie horror's best stories. It spawned a slew of sequels and a movie, as well, and changed the way fans looked at vampire stories.
3 Spawn Is Superhero Horror At Its Finest
Todd McFarlane's Spawn is one of the champions of the '90s comic industry, an iconic comic that has survived the trials and tribulations of the comic industry. While most of the other original Image founders' books are long gone, Spawn has kept going, combining a traditional superhero narrative with horror.
The story of Al Simmons and the curse of the Hellspawn, Spawn has decades of story behind it and is indy comic royalty. There's something for everyone in the pages of Spawn. The book has done it all in its years of publication and it is still one of the crown jewels of supernatural horror.
2 Hellboy Has Thrilled And Chilled Readers For Decades
Writer/artist Mike Mignola's Hellboy is one of the most iconic indie comics ever. It spawned an entire universe, combining Biblical concepts, Lovecraftian monsters, horrific history, and the mythology of the world's cultures into a tasty soup of horror. The story of Hellboy has captivated fans for decades, telling some of the best horror stories around.
As good as the horror is, Hellboy is the main draw. The blue-collar monster-fighting demon is a fan favorite, his character informing every story he's in and making them that much better. Hellboy is the best of the best.
1 Wytches Is Pitch Perfect Horror
Writer Scott Snyder and artist Jock's Wytches is the type of horror that stays with readers. The story of the Rook family, it sees one daughter disappear and another suspected of her murder. However, there's more than meets the eye going on, as a town's terrible secret is laid bare and the origins of the region's horrors are brought to light.
Wytches is next-level horror. Snyder and Jock work together perfectly, presenting imagery that will horrify readers. The story and characters stand out and the whole thing is pitch-perfect, a horror story that will leave readers begging for more.