Comics as a medium have unique storytelling capabilities that neither novels nor movies can quite replicate, something which has enabled them to tell some of the greatest horror and fantasy narratives of all time. This past year has seen some fantastic examples of each genre, especially in the world of indie comics (though DC and Marvel have also had their fair share of gems).
Whether dealing with epic adventures, classic fairy tales, macabre nightmarish body horror, or some other genre, these comics showcase some of the best and most imaginative works currently on the market. All comics fans are sure to find something to love from these great titles.
10 Conan The Barbarian Is An Exhilarating Sword & Sorcery Epic
Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian series has been one of the best depictions of the character since Robert E. Howard first introduced the Cimmerian as a reaver, thief, and slayer going on adventures “between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas.”
Writer Jason Aaron and artist Mahmuh Asrar began working on the current Conan the Barbarian series in 2019 before a new writer, Jim Zub, took over. Zub has perfectly captured the essence of Conan, carving stories out of the Hyborean past in a way that Robert E. Howard would be proud of and recreating the Cimmerian's battles against harrowing enemies on his epic adventures.
9 Die Is A Dark Narrative That Delves Into The Roots Of Dungeons & Dragons
Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans’s Die has just begun its final story arc, bringing this emotionally cerebral series to the beginning of its long-awaited end. The book follows a group of characters who were trapped in a fantasy roleplaying game as children, escaped, and then returned to the game world twenty-five years later as middle-aged adults.
Die is a masterclass in tight smart storytelling with beautiful art and rich characters. The story delves into deep literary themes, looking for the buried treasures of profound truth like D&D adventuring parties tunneling through dungeons for magic items. There are allusions to The Lord of the Rings, Lovecraftian horror, and even cyberpunk, while the characters struggle to be heroic (or at least do more good than harm) while burdened with their own flaws and traumas. Do not miss this book.
8 Vampire: The Masquerade - Winter’s Teeth Is A Brooding Gothic Masterpiece
One of the all-time great roleplaying games to emerge from the 90s was Vampire: The Masquerade, a brooding sophisticated title that was the first of White Wolf’s World of Darkness games.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Winter’s Teeth is a tale of dark fantasy and cutthroat politics set in the Twin Cities as the Camarilla court of vampires finds itself assaulted by threats from within and without. The main story follows a jaded Brujah enforcer named Cecily Bain as she takes in a new Childe, while a second story deals with a group of Anarchs living on the fringes of the city as they are hunted.
7 Two Moons Is A Historical Fantasy About A Pawnee Man In The American Civil War
Two Moons is a twisted and brilliant piece of historical horror by writer John Arcudi and artist Valerio Giangiordano. Set amid the turmoil of the American Civil War, Two Moons follows its titular protagonist, a Pawnee soldier, who is menaced by both Confederate and Union armies, even as he grapples to accept the spiritual legacy of his ancestry.
Books about Native Americans in the American West have a complicated legacy, especially when depicting the religious traditions of the First Nations. Two Moons captures the complicated legacy of Native identity under colonialism while engaging with both supernatural elements and real-world horror.
6 Nocterra Is Set In A Dystopian Future Of Perpetual Darkness
Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel’s comic Nocterra is a dark supernatural tale set in a future where the entire world has been plunged into perpetual darkness. And in the dark, just beyond the reach of the flickering electric lights, monsters lie in wait, ready to destroy what little is left of humanity.
Snyder has been renowned for his horror writing on such iconic DC books as Batman: Endgame and Dark Nights: Metal while Daniel’s art evokes the desperate determination of his characters. This is a deeply personal project for both creators and it shows.
5 I Breathed A Body Is Macabre Body Horror That Vivisects Social Media And Silicon Valley
A recent trend in the horror gerre has been a combination of twisted body horror with the bodiless incorporeality of digital technology. Few comics handle this quite as well as Zac Thompson and Andy MacDonald’s I Breathed a Body.
This comic vivisects influencer culture and the marketing campaigns of Silicon Valley, exposing the guts of social media’s sausage-making process, as well as the literal guts of body transformations every bit as grotesque and metaphorically rich as the climax of Akira.
4 The Dreaming: Waking Hours Continues The Sandman's Story With New Characters And Themes
Part of The Sandman Universe, The Dreaming: Waking Hours is a modern fantasy series by G. Willow Wilson and with art by M. K. Perker, Javier Rodriguez, and Nick Robles. Fans of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman will love this book, which not only continues the narrative of the original series but also updates the themes for a new generation of readers.
The story brings back some classic Sandman characters while introducing a new cast, including an anxiety-riddled nightmare, a passive-aggressive angel, and a witch who livestreams spells to empower the proletariat. What makes Waking Hours unique is its ability to explore the dark gothic elements of the original Sandman while finding the hope, humanity, and joy within them.
3 The Autumnal Is A Suburban Gothic About A Mother Trying To Start A New Life With Her Daughter
Daniel Kraus and Chris Shehan’s The Autumnal is a slow-burning suburban gothic about a mother and daughter trying to make a new life for themselves and leave their past behind. When Kat Somerville learns her mother has passed away, she boards a bus with her daughter Sybil, moving into her mother’s old house.
The town they move to is a tight-knit community built amid the forest. The townsfolk are less than welcoming to city-dwellers, but it soon becomes clear that they are hiding secrets and that something in the woods is preying on children. The true horrors are hidden amid the deep roots of the forest, and soon, doom descends on Kat and Sybil like leaves falling from the trees.
2 Stray Dogs Is The A Heartfelt (& Heartbreaking) Mystery Starring Dogs
There is no comic on the market quite like Stray Dogs. Before it was released, Brian Michael Bendis plugged the book by saying it was the sort of book he never knew he needed until he read it, describing it as "The Secret Life of Pets meets Seven." This is an apt description, but it only touches on the surface of this amazing and original tale.
Stray Dogs is written by Tony Fleecs and drawn by Trish Forstner, both of whom give it an almost Disney-like warmth in some moments, followed by an intense foreboding sense of dread. This is the sort of comic every dog lover should read.
1 Monstress Is A Dark Fantasy Masterpiece That Blends Lovecraftian Horror With East Asian Folklore
Those who have been following Monstress will know it is one of the most innovative and emotionally compelling comics currently being produced. Written by Marjorie Liu and drawn by Sana Takeda, this book is set in a world of matriarchal feudal kingdoms inspired by East Asian folklore as much as the cosmic horror of H. P. Lovecraft.
There is a prolonged conflict between the animal-like humanoid Arcanics and a group of murderous sorceresses called Cumaea. The protagonist, Maika Halfwolf, is an Arcanic with a mystical connection to a powerful monstrous entity, as well as personal ties to people on both sides. Monstress has won four Hugo Awards, five Eisner Awards, two British Fantasy Awards, and the 2018 Harvey Award for Book of the Year.