Puzzle Box Horror’s Best Sci-Fi Horror Comics

Categories
Best Of Best of Comics Comics and Graphic Novels Featured Horror Books

Comic books in the science fiction and horror genres have long sat adjacent to one another, but occasionally they cross paths and the results are spectacularly frightening. The best sci-fi horror comics have stories full of suspense and heavy with dread, as well as artwork that shocks and unnerves. In fact, comics and graphic novels are a great medium for the horror genre. The narrative format often keeps the dialogue and description to a minimum, increasing the suspense and allowing the images to speak for themselves. And, likewise, the artwork expertly compliments the prose, whether it’s using muted shades and darkened corridors to augment the mood or vivid colors and heaps of blood to highlight the horror. The writers at Puzzle Box Horror are obsessed with comics, and we’re very excited to share some of the best sci-fi horror comics on the market!

The Best Sci-Fi Horror Comics

Plunge (2020)

Plunge sci-fi horror comic cover

First on our list of best sci-fi horror comics is Plunge. A drilling vessel, the Derleth, that disappeared forty years ago in the Arctic Circle suddenly begins sending out distress signals from the Bering Strait. Wanting to investigate further, an oil company hires a salvage team and a marine biologist to go explore the ghost ship. Their mission is to recover the bodies and find out exactly what happened to the ship. The expedition quickly goes awry when they discover the crew isn’t exactly dead, though they aren’t exactly alive either. This six-issue miniseries is gory, surreal, and a wonderful homage to eighties horror.

Plunge (Image Comics) is written by Joe Hill with art by Stuart Immonen.

Come Into Me (2019)

Come into me horror comic cover

The story opens on a failed demonstration of InBeing, the process by which ropy entrails connect two different people by ports in the back of their heads and allows their minds to form a “synaptic connection”. Sebastian, the creator and scientist behind the technology, is quickly running out of money and desperate to find an investor. Enter Becky, a mysterious and seemingly desperate young lady who convinces Sebastian to bond their minds with InBeing, using his body as host. It’s strange for Becky, seeing the world through someone else’s body and forming a telepathic-like connection with another. If only she had been upfront with Sebastian about her past. As their minds are conjoined and their memories/experiences blend together, the host realizes he failed to anticipate just exactly what could go wrong…and that, like in our online lives, shared data is open to manipulation and exploitation.

Come Into Me (Black Mask Comics) is written by Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler, illustrated by Piotr Kowalski, and colored by Niko Guardia.

Destroyer (2018)

Destroyer horror comic cover

Though lighter on the horror than the other entries in this list, Destroyer is still an intriguing take on the creature at the center of Mary Shelley’s classic sci-fi story Frankenstein. In this story the monster has survived into present day America, but he has lost his emotional side and empathic nature. Instead he has become the Destroyer, bent on wiping mankind from the face of the earth. In his quest for vengeance he ends up partnering with Dr. Baker, the last descendent of the Frankenstein family who has recently lost her son at the hands of the police. Also caught up in all of this are two scientists, Byron and Percy, who find themselves desperately trying to protect humanity. It’s a story that is raw, powerful, and not afraid to shine a light on heavy socio-political topics. Sometimes the line between thriller and horror is slim but this one still made our list of best sci-fi horror comics as it fits the bill.

Destroyer (Boom Studios) is written by Victor Lavalle and illustrated by Dietrich Smith, with colors by Joana Lafuente and letters by Jim Campbell.

Nameless (2016)

Nameless horror comic cover

A group of billionaires have hired occult hustler “Nameless” in a desperate bid to save the planet. An enormous asteroid they’re calling Xibalba is hurtling on a direct course for earth, bearing a strange symbol on its side and a vengeful extra-dimensional god in its core. While trying to stop the death rock, Nameless and his team accidentally set loose the wrathful being and things go from bad to inconceivably worse. That’s the brief synopsis, but this six-part miniseries deals with so much more. Secret experiments, the downfall of civilization, lost planets, epic cosmic wars, a doomsday asteroid, and soul-destroying truths are all par for the course here. This sci-fi horror comic also has a strong cosmic horror vein running through it, featuring terrifying Lovecraftian beings and an overwhelming atmosphere of dread. What could be better in sci-fi horror than a touch of existential dread?

Nameless (Image Comics) is written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Chris Burnham.

The Disciples (2016)

The Disciples horror comic cover

This sci-fi horror comic is Set in a bleak dystopian future where the solar system has been colonized by the rich upper class, The Disciples is about a girl who has gone missing and the bounty hunters who have been hired to find her. These hunters follow the trail to Jupiter’s largest moon Ganymede, where they discover a group of cultists who have awakened a horrifying force. Turns out the girl is the daughter of a Senator who has joined the cult, and things are about to get a whole lot worse for these well-intentioned investigators. Taunt and terrifying, the comic is reminiscent of the video game Dead Space but with more extraterrestrial ghosts. 

The Disciples (Black Mask Studios) is written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Chris Mitten, with colors by Jay Fotos and letters by Thomas Mauer.

Spread (2015)

Spread horror comic cover

In this post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror comic, a strange viral infection called “the Spread” has devastated the land and devoured its inhabitants. While most of the world lies in ruin, there are pockets of humanity struggling to survive in quarantine zones. In one of these zones a man named No happens upon a baby named Hope who can undo the virus with a touch of her hand. Insane creature designs and an interesting cast of characters help flesh out this dark and suspenseful tale of survival. The unholy baby of The Thing and Mad Max bathed in buckets of blood, Spread is full of extreme gore, tentacles, and body horror fun.

Spread (Image Comics) is written by Justin Jordan with art by Kyle Strahm.

Caliban (2015)

Caliban horror comic cover

In the future hyperspace travel has been invented, allowing humans to explore the furthest reaches of outer space. For all their searching no signs of life have been uncovered, but they have begun to harvest all the valuable resources the universe has to offer. At first it’s just a regular mission out in deep space for the crew of the mining ship Caliban. Everything is going according to plan, until they happen upon a strange alien ship. It would appear the unusual vessel was waiting for them, and what was once a routine trip quickly turns to nightmare. A vicious, hulking something is stalking the corridors, separating the crew and taking them one by one. It’s a tense and chilling thriller reminiscent of Alien, full of shocking moments and terrific artwork.

Caliban (Avatar Press) is written by Garth Ennis with art by Facundo Percio.

The Wake (2014)

The Wake horror comic cover

The Department of Homeland Security has identified an unnerving new threat, and so they reach out to Lee Archer, a marine biologist, for help. Though she initially declines, the government overrides her decision and sends her deep beneath the sea in the Arctic Circle. There’s an underwater oil rig in that part of the ocean where a group of scientists have made an unbelievable discovery. Part multi-generational thriller and part creature feature, The Wake is a ten-issue miniseries that manages to combine tense horror, beautifully bold artwork, and scientific questions on life and the human condition.

The Wake (DC Comics) is written by Scott Snyder with art by Sean Murphy.

Revival (2012)

Revival aci-fi horror comic cover

The dead have come back to life in rural Wisconsin. In the particular town where our story is set, the CDC has quarantined the area and sent in experts to help out. Revival, labeled as “farm noir,” is interesting because of its unique take on the genre. Yes, it’s a zombie tale full of scares, violence, religious zealots, and government busybodies. But a lot of the series also focuses on a brutal murder and the detective who is trying to solve the crime. Officer Dana Cypress has her hands full dealing with the media, the government, and a full-scale zombie invasion while also investigating a case where anyone, dead or alive, could be a suspect.

Revival is a staff favorite for best sci fi horror comics.

Revival (Image Comics) is written by Tim Seeley, illustrated by Mike Norton, and colored by Mark Englert.

blank

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






Puzzle Box Presents Scary Urban Legend Video Series

Categories
Featured Haunted Places

Prepare to embark on a spine-tingling journey into the unknown as we unveil the darkest mysteries lurking within the shadows of urban legends. Today, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our scary Urban Legends short documentaries an electrifying video series that delves deep into the terrifying and enigmatic stories that have haunted our imaginations for generations.

Premiere video from the scary urban legends series from Sept 20th, 2024

In our series of spooky and unsettling urban legends viewers will be transported to the eerie heart of the scariest urban legends, where myths come to life and nightmares are born. Each episode of this gripping series will unravel the sinister tales of cursed objects, vengeful spirits, hauntings, and unsolved mysteries that have sent shivers down the spines of countless individuals. With a blend of expert research, bone-chilling reenactments, and discovered material with those who have encountered these legends firsthand, we promises an immersive experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Get ready to question reality and discover the truth behind the stories that have haunted our collective consciousness for years.

The first video “The Cropsey Maniac Urban Legend” premiered on youtube Sept 20th. Don’t miss your chance to join us on this hair-raising adventure into the world of urban legends. Brace yourself for the unexpected, and prepare to have your darkest fears brought to life as we uncover the chilling mysteries that have captivated and terrified us for generations.

You can follow our channel to get updates on the upcoming and new videos as they come out each month. Coming in October we have The Ghost Ship Jenny and The Beast of Bladenboro. Get ready to dive into the history of these legends and the different theories of what is happening in these dark corners of our world.

blank

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






Puzzle Box Top Ten Classic Horror Movie Kills

Categories
Featured Scary Movies and Series

What’s your favorite part of seeing a horror movie? If you’re anything like me – and if you are, I’m truly sorry – then the only possible answer is “the kills.” Stabbings, drownings, decapitations, slashings… whatever form they take, kills are often the most memorable part of a horror movie. In this list, I will document ten of the most iconic and influential kills in the history of horror. Let’s get started. (Spoilers ahead!) 

10. Night of the Living Dead — Mommy Dea(d)est. 

Zombie child from Night of the Living Dead 1968

George Romero’s 1968 masterpiece is one of the most influential horror movies ever made. Borrowing from both Caribbean folklore and the works of Richard Matheson, Night of the Living Dead single-handedly invented the zombie movie as we know it. Its black and white photography and over-the-top acting may betray its 60s origins, but the brutality and nihilism of the film have not aged a day. 

Although its sequels would up the gore factor, neither of them contain a kill as effective as the one at the climax of Night. In the most blood-curdling scene of the movie, a zombified girl mercilessly hacks her mother to death with a trowel 

before chowing down on her corpse. The sound mixing and editing in this scene elevate it into a nightmarish fever dream. Most chilling of all, though, is the scene’s symbolic significance. In a world in which sweet young girls kill and eat their own mothers, truly nothing is sacred. 

9. Scream — What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie? 

First kill from Scream Horror Movie

By the mid-90s, horror had become exhausted. A deluge of unimaginative slashers and never ending sequels had turned the genre into a punchline. Wes Craven’s Scream couldn’t have come at a better time. Hilariously skewering slasher tropes, Scream also stands alone as one of the best horror movies of the decade. 

And what is a great slasher without a great first kill? Scream’s is certainly one for the books, taking the controversial choice to kill star Drew Barrymore before the opening credits even roll. The scene is a masterclass in tension and terror. What begins as a playful phone conversation about scary movies escalates into the quiz show from hell, culminating in a chase that introduces the now-iconic Ghostface. When the victim’s parents discover her mutilated corpse, guts hanging out, you know you’re in for a grisly ride. 

8. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Hammer Time. 

Leather face attacking a victim with a hammer

Tobe Hooper scares me. Yes, I know we’re supposed to separate the artist from the art. But anyone who could make a movie as grimy, disturbing, and punishing as loosely based on a true story The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has to have a few screws loose, right? Sadly, Mr. Hooper passed away in 2017. The uncompromising horror of Texas Chainsaw, however, will live forever. 

Ironically, the most iconic kill in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre doesn’t involve a chainsaw at all. Instead, Leatherface dispatches his first victim with a short, sharp blow with a hammer. The sound design and editing of the scene are brilliant for their simplicity – it is easy to forget that no real gore is shown. But it is the nonchalance of the action that really raises the terror factor; you get the impression that Leatherface does this sort of thing every day, seeing human beings as nothing more than a potential next meal. 

7. Hereditary – Don’t Lose Your Head! 

decapitated head scene from the horror movie Heredity

The most recent entry on this list is also the one that quite possibly traumatized me the most. In the few short years since its release, Ari Aster’s Hereditary has earned a fearsome reputation for grueling and unflinching horror. Ask any horror fan what the scariest movie they’ve seen recently is, and there’s a good chance Hereditary will be the answer. 

Does it count as a kill if the “killer” is a telephone pole? No matter: the sudden and shocking decapitation of Charlie in Hereditary is the most harrowing death scene I have seen in years. The moment of death is effective enough, but it is the scenes that come after which really push the horror to unflinching extremes. The image of Peter lying awake all night, after he knows what he has done… the parents’ screams in the morning… the slam cut to the severed head covered in ants… I’m shivering just writing about it now. 

6. Nightmare on Elm Street – Depp Red

bloody scene from nightmare on elm street

Halloween and Friday the 13th may have laid the foundation for the slasher subgenre, but Nightmare on Elm Street is arguably more iconic than both franchises. This is due, of course, to the incomparable Freddie Kreuger, the most charismatic and creative figure in the whole slasher villain pantheon. 

This kill from the first Nightmare is a classic example of Freddie’s style: gory, over-the-top, and darkly hilarious. As our heroine Nancy hopelessly attempts to warn him, Glen (Johnny Depp!) is dragged into his mattress and transformed into a literal blood tornado. It’s one of the most memorable moments from the original film, and serves as a perfect calling card for the one and only Freddie Kreuger. 

5. Alien – Getting Something Off My Chest. 

Alien bursting from a mans chest in the horror classic"alien"

Is Ridley Scott’s Alien a horror movie, or just science fiction? Who cares? It remains one of the scariest and influential movies of the 1980s, regardless of the genre labels you throw on it. But even if it contained nothing more exciting than the kill I’ve highlighted here, it would be an unforgettable film. 

Obviously I’m talking about the chestburster scene, one of the most gruesome kills ever put on film. As the crew of the starship Nostromo is enjoying a meal following a close encounter with some overly affectionate aliens, John Hurt doubles over and clutches his chest in pain. The next few moments are a blur of blood and guts that should be enough to put anyone off their meal. Some of the film’s following scenes may be more claustrophobic and violent, but none are as viscerally horrifying. 

4. The Omen – Look At Me, Damien! 

Hanging scene from Omen horror movie

The Omen was sort of the Hereditary of its day: a classy film, featuring respectable actors and directors, that nevertheless plumbed the depths of modern American horror. Dealing with blasphemy, bestiality, and infanticide (among other nasty topics,) it is honestly a little shocking that The Omen was so popular with contemporary audiences. 

It was hard to pick just one kill from this movie, as there are several memorable ones. Honorable mention is reserved for the encounter between photographer Keith and a pane of glass, but the real prize goes to the sucide of five-year-old Antichrist Damien’s nanny. Announcing in a ghoulishly cheerful voice that she

is doing it “all for you!,” the nanny hangs herself from a high window in front of a crowd of children. Forget the end times – the therapy bills for those kids will be the real horror story. 

3. Halloween – Sibling Rivalry. 

Michael Meyers as a child with a knife and a clown costume

When John Carpenter was tasked with making a film about some babysitters getting murdered, there was no way he could have known what he was starting. Cut to just a few years later, and the slasher would become the defining subgenre of horror, earning equal parts applause and criticism. It’s hard to believe it all started with a movie as simple – and as well executed – as John Carpenter’s Halloween

The slasher is one of the most formulaic of horror subgenres, and nearly all of them start with a flashback to the killer’s childhood. In this case, the audience peers through the eyes of young Michael Myersas he murders his sister with a 

butcher knife. Although not as bloody as later slashers would become, the use of POV, the sound design, and the iconic score make this kill effective to this day. Michael Myers would go on to slaughter dozens of teens, but his first kill will always remain the most memorable. 

2. Jaws – Don’t Get In The Water! 

Jaws opening scene with woman swimming

Jaws changed everything. Considered the first true blockbuster, this summer chiller by a little director named Steven Spielberg didn’t just make audiences scared to go into the water; it drew them to the theaters in droves, forever transforming the way Hollywood made and sold movies. 

When it comes to the kills in Jaws, nothing can beat the horror of the first five minutes, in which a tipsy, reckless co-ed decides to go out for a nighttime skinny dip. While such shenanigans are inadvisable in a horror movie setting, can you really blame young Chrissie for thinking the water was safe? As John Williams’ ominous score picks up in volume, the audience can only watch in terror as she is dragged to her watery fate. It’s not the bloodiest kill of 70s horror, but it may well be the most important in the long run. 

1. Psycho – Showertime.

shower scene from Psycho

While it did not exactly follow the formula that would be cemented by Halloween, Psycho remains the great-granddaddy of all slasher movies to come. Michael Myers, Ghostface, Leatherface, and more would never have slit a single throat if Norman Bates hadn’t first slipped into his mother’s dress and paid an unsuspecting visit to poor Marion Crane. 

Of course I’m talking about the shower scene. What list of horror movie kills would be complete without it? Whole books have been written on this iconic scene, and the ways that it uses editing, music, and performance to capture sheer horror. While it is hard for modern audiences to appreciate just how shocking this scene was, its importance cannot be understated. Every other kill on this list owes its existence to the shower scene – one could even argue that the entire genre of modern horror was born in these three minutes.

blank

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






Puzzle Box Winter Horror Guide

Categories
Best Horror Books Best Of Best of Movies Featured Horror Books Scary Movies and Series

Winter is a wonderful time with falling snow, crackling fireplaces, and precious family moments. However, like all beautiful things, this season also has a dark side – and Puzzle Box Horror is bringing you the ultimate guide to winter horror seasonal scares. From real-world terrors like almost dying from frostbite to holiday folklore creatures that pull you into the depths of Hell, here are the top winter horror stories you need this season.

Movies

30 Days of Night 

Released: 2007

30 days of night winter horror movie poster

Before there was Twilight, there was 30 Days of Night… a truly brilliant horror film that tells the story of bloodsuckers, captivity, and bone-chilling terror in Alaska. The town of Barrow is preparing for the annual “30 Days of Night,” a period during the winter when there is a polar night for an entire month. Or in simpler terms, 24-hour a day darkness. As the community is snowed in and confined to their homes, a band of bloodthirsty vampires arrives and begins to pick off the townspeople one-by-one. With monstrous killers on the loose, and no communication to the outside world, the main characters must find a way to stay alive and overcome the darkness. Both literally and figuratively. If you’re a real vampire enthusiast with a side of winter horror obsession, this is the perfect film for you! Stream on Amazon here.

Krampus 

Released: 2015

blank

Who doesn’t love a good holiday horror movie? Especially when it’s about a demonic creature from European folklore that guarantees you’ll sleep with one eye open on Christmas Eve. Krampus has everything you could typically expect from a Christmas film – a dysfunctional family, a blizzard snowing people in, a child doubting his holiday spirit – but instead of Santa, you have Krampus. This horned, demonic creature originates from German folklore, and descends each winter to punish those who have lost their Christmas spirit and drag them straight to Hell. Which seems a little harsh, if you ask us… but you’ll get a kick out of this winter comedy horror film that’s scarily good. Stream on Amazon here.

Frozen 

Released: 2010

blank

Sometimes your winter vacation can turn into a nightmare, and it definitely did for the three college students in Frozen. It’s a simple premise, but truly terrifying. One second, you’re in a chairlift getting ready to ski and snowboard at a high-end resort – and the next, you’re trapped in freezing cold temperatures 100 feet above the ground. When the three friends get stranded in the chairlift with no help in sight, they go to extreme measures to stay alive and avoid freezing to death. There’s no ghosts or demons, just three people fighting against nature to protect themselves from the woes of winter… and it’s incredibly frightening. Stream on Amazon here.

The Thing

Released: 1982

blank

When a group of researchers in Antarctica encounter “The Thing,” it’s not just the bitter cold that they need to protect themselves from. This alien orgasm is a parasite that can imitate people to perfection, giving them all paranoia that they can’t trust each other. And to be honest, they probably can’t. Like many winter horror films, this is a story of survival amongst both evil forces and the steep snow… and it’s simply chilling to watch. After you’ve finished watching the 1982 version of The Thing, you can also watch the 2011 remake that many horror fans believe is as brilliant as the original! Purchase the DVD here.

The Invisible Man

Released: 1933

blank

If you’re in the mood for a black-and-white holiday movie that’s a bit less cheery than It’s A Wonderful Life, this eerie winter horror film will definitely do the trick. As the name suggests, it tells the story of a man who checks into a hotel on a snowy night with this face fully wrapped in bandages and topped off with goggles. After a series of events, it’s uncovered that this man has discovered the science of invisibility, and he’s even more dangerous than you think. An invisible man who can sneak up on his victims before their brutal murders, in the middle of the snowy winter? What could possibly go wrong? Stream on Amazon here.

Books

The Shining

Author: Steven King

Published: 1977

blank

The Shining isn’t just one of the best haunted books of all time, it’s also a winter horror masterpiece. While it’s the supernatural forces that cause Jack Torrance to lose himself and become a danger to himself and his family – it’s safe to say that any of us would go crazy after being trapped in a haunted hotel during a winter snowstorm. Jack begins working there as a caretaker as he recovers from alcoholism, and his inner demons combined with actual evil spirits begin to take over his body. As the snow falls around this Colorado hotel, he goes on a quest to kill his son Danny (who posseses psychic powers called “the shining”), wife Wendy, and anybody else who stands in his way. Even if you’ve seen the cult favorite 1980 film starring Jack Nicholson, this Steven King novel is a classic that you should definitely read from your creepy hotel room. Available on Amazon here.

The Winter People 

Author: Jennifer McMahon

Published: 2014

blank

Living “off the grid” in a Vermont farmhouse to survive the winter cold may seem like a dream at first. Netflix, blankets, and hot cocoa… oh my! But things take a turn when 19-year-old Ruthie moves into the home with her mother and sister, only for her mother to mysteriously vanish one day. Trapped in the middle of nowhere with no answers, she uncovers an old diary that pulls her into a town mystery that may or may not decide her mother’s fate. Along with provide answers for the other townspeople who have disappeared throughout the decades. Available on Amazon here.

Ghost Story

Author: Peter Straub

Published: 1971

blank

You know you’ve written a killer book when even Stephen King compliments it. The famed horror author has nothing but great things to say about Ghost Story, as does Puzzle Box Horror. It tells the tale of four old men who gather around one winter night to tell the many stories of their past. Some are simple, others are frightening, but there’s one that’s purely horrifying. A terrible mistake that shows that your past can always come back to haunt you, and no sin is truly forgiven. Available on Amazon here.

Snowblind

Author: Christopher Golden

Published: 2014

blank

The snow is the true villain in this novel by Christopher Golden, as the town of Coventry still struggles to recover from a devastating blizzard that happened over a decade ago. And it wasn’t just your typical natural disaster. Many people died, others mysteriously vanished, and strange things began to happen as icy figures danced in the snow and gazed inside children’s windows. With another blizzard set to hit the town, the people of Coventry must put away their painful memories and prepare to save themselves from the supernatural forces of the snow. Available on Amazon here.

Misery

Author: Stephen King

Published: 1987

blank

Snow and Stephan King novels are always a scarily good combination, and Misery is no exception. When acclaimed author Paul Sheldon gets caught in a snowstorm and crashes his car, he awakens to find that he has been captured by Annie Wilkes, a superfan of his work who will go to great lengths to get her definition of a happy ending. This includes holding him hostage, manipulating him by withholding food and painkillers, and even cutting off his foot. It becomes clear that Annie is unstable and Paul’s life is in danger, and he must escape her before his own life story comes to an end. This novel was also made into a highly successful movie starring James Caan and Kathy Bates! Available on Amazon here.

blank

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






Puzzle Box’s Best of Cosmic Horror Comics

Categories
Best Of Featured Horror Books

The Cosmic horror genre is dark and expansive, incorporating many genres and shading their darkest parts in a way that completely transforms the story. That transformation is typically as electrifying as it is effective. Do you enjoy existential dread, space and time being twisted, and exploring the darkest potential the universe has to offer? What started as classic Lovecraftian imagination has become a thriving genre across multiple formats. Here at Puzzle Box, we love all things horror, and as fall turns to winter, we’re looking to take a deep dive into all supernatural horror and it’s subgenres.

Today’s list is a Best of Cosmic Horror comics and graphic novels. We’re looking at stories that exist between the extraterrestrial and the horrors of a silent void. Cosmic horror has worked in a lot of media, to the Dead Space games, the Alien movie franchise, and one incredibly twisted episode of Black Mirror. The comics below make interstellar travel sound like asking for trouble, and for good reason. 

Nameless by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham

Nameless horror comic cover

Nameless, an occult hustler, is hired by billionaire “futurists” to stop the end of the world. Nameless and his crew are sent to an asteroid hurtling towards Earth. What they find on the asteroid, Xibalba, is much more threatening to human life and is all that remains from a cosmic war involving a lost planet and interdimensional gods. It suffices to say, Nameless and his squad are out of their league. Available on Horror Hub here.

Southern Cross by Becky Cloonan and Andy Belager

Souther cross horror comic cover

Alex Braith, a petty thief, is tracing the steps of her sister who has gone missing on Jupiter’s moon, Titan. Her search takes her aboard the Southern Cross, where she finds more questions than answers. Mysterious things start to happen onboard, and Alex uncovers a link to the ship’s Gravity Drive. Unfortunately for her, that link isn’t very friendy. Available on Horror Hub here.

Sentient by Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Walta

Sentient horror comic cover

From the author of Gideon Falls comes a cosmic horror with a familiar but entrancing premise: all the adults are dead. After the U.S.S. Montgomery is attacked, all the adults onboard are killed. Only their children are alive after the attack, but they aren’t alone. The ship’s A.I., Valerie, is intact and she takes the children’s safety in her… “hands?” But as the ship enters the Black Zone, a space where Valerie  is unable to radio their old home or their new one, keeping this improvised family together proves to be a tall task. Available on Horror Hub here.

Void by Herik Hanna and Sean Phillips

Void horror comic cover

Sci-Fi can be used to highlight societal issues and injustices, and Void’s issue of choice is a parable for mass incarceration. Goliath 01, a prison ship stewarded by a mad warden, floats through space full of dead inmates and one solitary survivor. John, our lone protagonist, struggles to stay alive long enough to find an escape from this drifting death trap, but the shadow of warden Colonel Mercer threatens to send another inmate to their grave. Available on Horror Hub here.

Caliban by Garth Ennis and Facundo Percio

blank

Paranoia and claustrophobia combine in an unending feedback cycle on board the mining ship, Caliban. A crew expecting a run-of-the-mill mining mission is in for a rude awakening from the beings lurking in deep space. The crew is picked off slowly and suddenly, as the crew of the Caliban confronts an enemy they can hardly understand. Available on Horror Hub here.

Aliens by Dark Horse Comics

Aliens horror comic cover

The Aliens franchise isn’t limited to just movies. The comics have been published since 1988, and what began as stories that continued from the first two Aliens movies, has become a fully-fledged anthology of the Aliens universe, full of the dreaded Xenomorphs, with prequels and side stories as well. With several omnibuses full of work from a variety of authors and artists, the Aliens franchise has plenty of moods for all horror fans.

That’s a wrap on our Best of Cosmic Horror list. Isolation and dread are pretty common threads throughout these series, but interdimensional and extraterrestrial beings still represent. Did we miss any space monsters? Any wormholes or black holes to oblivion that need mentioning? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more Best Of’s from Puzzle Box!

What more cosmic horror? The best cosmic horror movies are here and we have also explored the best cosmic horror books as well. Want to dig in deeper well we have the history and original stories below.

blank

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






Join The Horror List