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Top Ten is back again loyal readers. Didn’t really think we’d abandon the old girl did you? No matter, she’s back with the Top Ten Horror Comics! That’s right kids, it’s October and we thought we’d give you guys a little head start on your buying guides of the macabre and grotesque.
Ok, this list is going to be made up of graphic novels and trades only. So if it isn’t offered in that format, tough cookies. Oh, and by no means is this list comprehensive so don’t get upset because
10. Hellboy Vol. 1 TPB: Seed of Destruction
Author: Mike Mignola
Artist: Mike Mignola
For those only familiar with Hellboy through the less than stellar movie then be prepared to be shocked when you read and see Mike Mignola’s masterpiece. Mignola has a very distinct, minimalist style of art that is very atmospheric and moody. He also pays attention to detail—if Hellboy is in a Romanian cemetery then the tombstones will reflect that. Hellboy is full of the world’s folklore, legends, and the occult. The monsters in here range from Lovecraftian squid creatures to more traditional vampires and lichs.
9. Swamp Thing Vol. 1 TPB: Saga of the Swamp Thing
Author: Alan Moore
Artist: Steve Bissette
Considered the best Swamp Thing run ever, Alan Moore completely retooled the character and his origin. He became an elemental for all the vegetation on the planet. His human identity was nothing more than a freak accident that left the elemental with the memories and personality of a man. The main character is himself the monster of the tale and often fought men but occasionally had to tangle with other creatures as well.
8. The Nocturnals Vol. 1 TPB: The Black Planet
Author: Dan Brereton
Artist: Dan Brereton
The Nocturnals is a mix between a superhero group and a horror comic. This group of outcasts, freaks and an alien are out to save the Earth from invaders and evil monsters. This is another series that features an artist/writer combo with Dan Brereton’s art that is all painted. His work is beautiful to say the least and really pops on the page.
7. Sight Unseen GN
Author: Robert Tinnell
Artist: Bo Hampton
This is our first graphic novel of the list and it is fairly new, but I thought it was definitely original and good enough to make this varied list. It is about a blind scientist who develops a pair of special goggles meant to allow him to see again. What it does instead is tap into the spirit world, allowing him to see ghosts. A timely death (for the plot) occurs and our blind scientist is off to investigate the mystery. I must add that this is also the first of two books that are only available in hardcover.
6. Pelicula GN
Author: Richard Sala
Artist: Richard Sala
This is a unique piece that definitely isn’t going to be ‘scary’ so much as ‘creepy scary.’ Its art looks like old-school woodcut prints and the whole thing has a very silent movie vibe going on. The main character is a young lady who encounters all sorts of macabre clichés and the graphic novel as a whole tends to have its tongue firmly in its cheek.
5. Dead End GN
Author: Thomas Ott
Artist: Thomas Ott
This is the other graphic novel that is only available in hardcover, as it is fairly hard to get in the states. It is written and drawn by a Swiss, and boy, are those Swiss crazy (in a good way). Dead End is an anthology of short stories that tend to all have their main characters meet their end at the end of the story. It is twisted, scary, and dark as hell. A truly horror comic if ever there was one. Last note: there are no words.
4. 30 Days of Night GN
Author: Steve Niles
Artist: Ben Templesmith
30 Days of Night is probably one of the best known horror comics on this list, maybe aside from Hellboy or From Hell which had movies, but that might be changed soon enough as a movie is supposedly in the pipeline. The whole story is a vampire tale but
3. EC Archives: Tales From the Crypt Vol. 1 TPB
Author: Various
Artist: Various
This is really the only nostalgia piece on here but it is good one. This is it folks, the comic that started it all—there wouldn’t have been a TV show without this comic. And like the show, the comic is full of various tales with tons of topics and all manner of macabre. A must buy for any true horror fan.
2. From Hell GN
Author: Alan Moore
Artist: Eddie Campbell
Alan Moore did her research on this one folks. People who don’t know jack crap about it try and say that this is just another Jack the Ripper tale among the many that came before it. This is the Jack the Ripper tale. This graphic novel is far better than the movie could ever be, the case with any Alan Moore comic unfortunately. Don’t knock it till you try it people, this is a blood soaked Victorian tale of mystery and suspense full of history and hearsay.
1. The Walking Dead TPB Vol. 1
Author: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Tony Moore
I said this was a buyer’s guide, so don’t think I’m trying to say The Walking Dead is the best horror comic ever or anything. It certainly deserves to be in the top ten as the best zombie comic though. No, it is number one because if you buy anything, this needs to be it. This is the comic that got the zombie comic craze going, but maybe that’s a knock against it (just kidding). What makes this comic different is that it is a character driven drama rather than a pure hack-n-bite zombie apocalypse story. That part of it all is just a vehicle to explore the human condition. Jump on the bandwagon folks, its popular for a reason!
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