Marvel promises to usher in a new era of dark, terrifying, and unpredictable comics with their Midnight Universe. The new universe is a seems like a response to DC’s Absolute Universe, and you bet Marvel’s is trying to go guns blazing from the start, picking some of their best writers for the launch, such as Jonathan Hickman, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, and Benjamin Percy. Whether it’ll be a huge success or not, we’ll have to wait and see. But it sure serves to remind us of something: the House of Ideas has always been terrifying and inventive.
Marvel has delved into horror territory a few times, creating many iconic characters and stories. This type of comic hearkens back to their beginnings, with Journey Into Mystery. The company slowly gave way to more traditional superhero stories, but horror elements still inspire its pages to this day, creating unique and creative stories. Here, we’ll list 11 other times Marvel went full-on horror that you should check out!
1. Journey Into Mystery
Writer: Carl Wessler, Gene Colan, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber (and many others)
Artist: Dick Ayers, Cal Massey, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Vic Carrabotta, Joe Kubert (and many others)
Before telling the tales of the mighty Thor, Journey Into Mystery started as a horror and sci-fi anthology series. Several writers and artists contributed to it, creating tons of fun, unsettling short stories. The title also has the first appearance of Xemnu, one of the antagonists in Immortal Hulk (see below).
2. The Tomb of Dracula
Writer: Gerry Conway, Archie Goodwin, Gardner Fox, Marv Wolfman
Artist: Gene Colan, Tom Palmer
Fabulously atmospheric and shockingly fun, this comic effectively brings the lord of vampires to Marvel. It honors the character’s story and legacy while giving him a fresh few. It’s seen as one of the best comics of its time, so it’s also a must-read if you like the classics.
3. The New Mutants: The Demon Bear Saga
Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz, Sal Buscema, Bob McLeod
Artwork is very important in creating the right atmosphere, and Sienkiewicz’s style is so abstract and insane that you’ll feel it in your bones. Like with the characters, The Demon Bear Saga throws you into Dani Moonstar’s trauma, forcing you to experience her nightmares. It’s the best type of psychological horror, discussing real-life, sensitive problems, and developing the already great cast.
4. Werewolf by Night (1972)
Writer: Gerry Conway, Doug Moench, Len Wein
Artist: Mike Ploog, Don Perlin
Jack Russell, AKA Werewolf by Night, receives his first solo series. And despite the inconsistent quality, it’s a fun book. The best part is Ploog’s incredible art, which just gets better. The comic also includes highlights such as a Spider-Man team-up and Moon Knight’s first appearance.
5. Hellstorm: Son of Satan
Writer: Alex Irvine
Artist: Russell BraunKlaus Janson
The first MAX book on the list. Hellstorm is set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which attracts uncountable demons to Earth. It’s darker and deals with more violent imagery than some of the previous stories, also being a good ask for fans of religious horror.
6. Marvel Zombies
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Sean Phillips
Marvel Zombies is probably one of Marvel’s most popular comics in the genre. It turns all our favorite heroes into not-so-mindless brain-eating monsters, allowing them to have a bit of judgement. It’s a fun collection of nonsensical, fun, macabre humour.
7. Haunt of Horror (MAX)
Writer: Richard Corben
Artist: Richard Corben
Haunt of Horror picks two of literature’s finest writers, Edgar Allan Poe and Lovecraft, and gives them a new spin. Corben translates their works into a new medium, but he also owns them. So, even if you know the originals, you’ve never seen that version of them.
8. Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Clayton Crain
Trail of Tears gives us a different kind of Ghost Rider story. Rather than following the titular character, we mostly focus on Travis Parham’s perspective, as he sets out on a quest for revenge after finally carving a new life for himself. However, he soon learns that a mysterious figure, and the scariest interpretation of Ghost Rider, has the same objective.
9. Sub-Mariner: The Depths
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Esad Ribić
In a clear inspiration of Moby-Dick, the story follows a skeptical scientist searching for Atlantis. It’s a comic that faithfully depicts the horrors of the ocean, with the claustrophobia and the paranoia it can cause. But the most dreadful part of it is Namor, who appears like a mythical, Lovecraftian creature. Even when he doesn’t appear, his presence seems to lurk and haunt us.
10. Immortal Hulk
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Joe Bennett, Ruy José
Definitely one of the best Hulk runs ever, Ewing turns the Jade Giant into an unkillable monster, but he’s not the only one. We learn to fear him, but also fear for him. And to those with weak stomachs, you should be scared too, because this comic doesn’t back down on the gore.
11. Absolute Carnage
Writer: Donny Cates, Clay McLeod Chapman
Artist: J. P. Mayer, Ryan Stegman
This is the ultimate Carnage experience if we’re talking about horror. Taking inspiration from slasher and cosmic horror stories, Cates and Chapman craft an incredibly compelling and creepy comic from start to finish. Cletus Kassady feels like a menace by simply appearing on a page, but the art makes every action of his feel even bloodier, gorier, and viler.
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