# Whither horror comics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682 "2005-02-12T01:13:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/1 "2005-02-12T01:13:04Z")
When I was growing up in the seventies, I liked to buy the DC horror comics _House of Mystery_ and _House of Secrets_ and the like, which were anthology books, with no recurring characters. Is anything similar still published today? I saw nothing like them on the comics rack recently. I know horror anything was big from the fifties through the seventies. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/2 "2005-02-12T01:29:32Z")
There’s plenty of horror; it’s just not often in anthology form. But comics like Hellblazer or Preacher go much farther than any horror comic of the 50s. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/3 "2005-02-12T01:36:24Z")
[You might like this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1885418027/qid=1108172824/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-7859616-3292646?v=glance&s=books) Not a series, but a collection of graphic horror from several different writers and artists, and a great value. A few years ago Cemetery Dance put out three issues of Grave Tales, which was kinda fun. I don’t know if they plan to do more. I wasn’t blown away by the art or the stories. Another good one is Red Range by Joe Lansdale. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/4 "2005-02-12T01:48:02Z")
Crossgen had a series called Route666 that I liked. It wasn’t anthology, though. Recently a book called Western Tales of Terror was released. I believe a second volume has either been released or will be soon. It might be tricky to track down. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/5 "2005-02-12T01:58:17Z")
You do know that Cain (House of Mystery) and Abel (House of Secrets), as well as the Witches from The Witching Hour, were semi-regular characters in Gaiman’s **Sandman** , all of which is available in TPB collections. Not that it helps you find an anthology-type series, but it is way cool to see the old hosts doing what they do best. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/6 "2005-02-12T02:21:44Z")
Konami put out a few comics based on the game _Silent Hill_. I just read the first issue of _Silent Hill: Dying Inside_ and it was really good. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/7 "2005-02-12T04:54:50Z")
Thanks, **AuntiePam**. That anthology looks interesting. **DrFidelius** : Hmm! I did not know what Cain and Abel and the witches were up to. I’ve never read _Sandman_. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/8 "2005-02-12T08:06:46Z")
Read **Sandman**. When it was first starting it was part of DC’s nascent mature-readers horror line which eventually morphed into Vertigo. At those early stages Sandman was a horror book, although it got much more versatile after the first half-dozen issues or so. (But #6, “24 Hours,” is still the scariest comic I’ve ever read.) Anyway, besides starting as a horror comic, Sandman rocks on toast generally. Plus, it will prepare you to read the **Lucifer** spin-off, which if you’ve peeked in the weekly comics thread today you’ll know I love with the heat of a thousand suns. (It ain’t horror either, but it’s sublime.) These days Steve Niles is generating a lot of buzz for his horror work published through IDW, especially **30 Days of Night**. I’ve not read it yet, but it’s widely lauded. Not an anthology though. Beyond that, to paraphrase Mr. Robinson from The Graduate, I’ve got one word for you son. _Reprints_. The EC horror comics of the '50s. which started the whole shebang, are reprinted in a variety of formats, include a gorgeous deluxe b&w hardback treatment and my favorite, a set of “annuals” reprinting ~5 issues of the original horror series. Most shops don’t stock these as a matter of course, but they’re all available through Diamond (although a few of the volumes are OOP). Marvel’s Essentials program is now starting to get into the Bronze Age, when the company was big into horror. (Although again, these were continuing series, not anthologies.) There’s a four-vol. set of **The Essential Tomb of Dracula** available (maybe v.4 isn’t out yet, but soon) reprinting the whole series as well as additional material from the Marvel b&w magazine-format titles of the period. There’s also an **Essential Monster of Frankenstein** which is a done-in-one collection of that Bronze-Age series. Can Ess. Werewolf By Night and Ess. Ghost Rider be far behind? (Well, sure, but with a GR movie next year I think that one at least is a safe bet.) So far DC hasn’t issued reprint collections of its horror books. Not really surprising; they’ve got so much material available from 1935 onward that they could do a billion reprint projects a year and there’d still be DC fans whose favorite strips don’t make it. (I’m waiting for that elusive Detective Chimp Archive!) (Not really.) For myself, I dig that EC stuff (although I’m more into Kurtzman’s War/Anti-War line than the horror, it’s all worth looking at). –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/9 "2005-02-12T11:07:28Z")
Theres also **Spookhouse** by Scott Hampton, published by IDW, which is a collection of scary tales, in both traditional comic form and illustrated text. I recommend it, its gravy. [linky dink rink](http://shop.store.yahoo.com/shocklines/spbyschabpag.html) Theres a book 2 according to IDW’s website too. I must investigate… ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/10 "2005-02-12T11:48:28Z")
Not much with non-recurring characters, but The Goon is a good horror themed comic, as is The Nail and anything by Steve Niles I believe 30 Days Of Night will soon be a movie. Cool idea- dozens of vampires invade an arctic town where the sun isn’t coming up for a month! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/11 "2005-02-12T14:27:19Z")
Of all the Warren titles, VAMPIRELLA still exists. So does FAMOUS MONSTERS but that wasn’t a comic & the present owner was\*\* accused\*\* by Uncle Forry of swindling him, so I don’t patronize it. I gave up on EERIE & CREEPY in the late-70s, when they got less Gothic/Classic Horror & more Psychedelic Surreal Horror (if I wanted HEAVY METAL, I’d buy HEAVY METAL!!!) ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/12 "2005-02-12T15:32:18Z")
**Walloon** , there are quite a few horror comics being published, but you have to search a little to find them. Check out DC’s [Vertigo](http://www.dccomics.com/vertigo/) imprint, and publishers [Dark Horse Comics](http://www.darkhorse.com), and [Oni Press](http://www.onipress.com). _Dark Horse_ offers a large [range of horror titles](http://www.darkhorse.com/zones/horror/search.php), from the well-known **Hellboy** to some lesser known gems like **Fort**. If it’s an anthology you’re looking for, check out **The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings**. which contains a variety of horror tales from some top creative teams, that range in tone from pure horror to semi-comic horror. Well worth a read. _Oni Press_, although a small publisher, brings with it gems like **The Marquis** (artwork to die for!), **The Coffin** , **Courtney Crumrin** , **Only the End of the World Again** and **Skinwalker** , among many others. A complete list of their trade paperbacks can be found [here](http://www.onipress.com/graphicnovels/) There’s such a glut of horror titles over at _Vertigo_ it’s hard to know where to start, but here’s the [poorly arranged list from the official web site](http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?cat=VERTIGO). (many, many more are available as uncollected back issues) Alan Moore’s run on **Swamp Thing** , which is collected in five trade paperbacks, is one of the benchmarks of horror in comics. Vertigo’s longest continously running title **Hellblazer** contains many gems, although these often require a little more searching thanks to a bizarre TPB program. I’d also recommend their take one the classic **The House on the Borderland**. The **Sandman** universe, with spinoffs for everyone from **Lucifer** to **Deather** , contains many horror tales. Vertigo used to print a horror anthology called **Flinch** , but it’s been relegated to the back issue bins for quite a long time, and horror fans generally don’t have nice things to say about it. There’s been a lot of praise for the zombie tale, [**The Walking Dead**](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582403589/qid=1108222949/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-1749562-6660710), from Image Comics. I thought it was a very good effort in the genre, but suffered by being read after seeing 28 Days Later. I know the comic came first, but that doesn’t help a reader who is struck by the strong similarities between the two. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/13 "2005-02-12T15:50:00Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Read **Sandman**.Marvel’s Essentials program is now starting to get into the Bronze Age, when the company was big into horror. (Although again, these were continuing series, not anthologies.) There’s a four-vol. set of **The Essential Tomb of Dracula** available (maybe v.4 isn’t out yet, but soon) reprinting the whole series as well as additional material from the Marvel b&w magazine-format titles of the period. Note that Tomb of Dracula is pretty bad until somewhere between issue 20 and 30 when it transforms into something wonderful, and from 50-cancellation (roughly issue 75) it became one of the best books ever. And the black-n-white format is far better for Gene Colan’s artwork than the original color. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/14 "2005-02-12T19:26:34Z")
Wow, thanks for all the tips. Now if I can only get my local Barnes & Noble to stock any of these! **FriarTed** , I was also a regular reader of _Creepy_ and _Eerie_ until about 1980. And I absoutely loved _Famous Monsters_ — at one time I even owned a copy of the first issue. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/15 "2005-02-12T21:18:25Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > These days Steve Niles is generating a lot of buzz for his horror work published through IDW, especially **30 Days of Night**. I’ve not read it yet, but it’s widely lauded. Not an anthology though. > > Beyond that, to paraphrase Mr. Robinson from The Graduate, I’ve got one word for you son. _Reprints_. The EC horror comics of the '50s. which started the whole shebang, are reprinted in a variety of formats, include a gorgeous deluxe b&w hardback treatment and my favorite, a set of “annuals” reprinting ~5 issues of the original horror series. Most shops don’t stock these as a matter of course, but they’re all available through Diamond (although a few of the volumes are OOP). > > For myself, I dig that EC stuff (although I’m more into Kurtzman’s War/Anti-War line than the horror, it’s all worth looking at). > > –Cliffy The only volume of the EC annuals that is OOP is _Tales from the Crypt_ #1. The annuals are indeed wonderful. They’re actually rebound copies of the reprints from the early 90’s, in remastered full color, complete with full color front and back covers for each of the five issues bound together. Each issue is a full 32 pages, four 7-8 page stories, and one or two text stories, for a total of 16-20 tightly plotted stories per annual. Really well done. Cliffy’s also right about the War Comics. _Two Fisted Tales_ and _Frontline Combat_ are the best war comics ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-horror-comics/289682/16 "2005-02-12T21:29:15Z")
I just wanted to say that as a young kid in the 70’s, those horror comics sometimes scared the pure living FUCK out of me. There was one with a “true” story about a woman who would frequently be attacked by some invisible thing that bit her. Lost quite a bit of sleep over that one.