Illustrated Nightmares: Horror Graphic Novels
Sometimes we need a little bit more out of horror books. What’s better than adding creepy art?! From ghosts and monsters to serial killers and slow descents into madness, this is a list of graphic novels that delve into the dark. Some are stand-alones and some are part of a series, I’ve only included the first of these to save my sanity (and space). Recommendations encouraged Please no Marvel or DC
created by jess_the_reader
last updated October, 2026
Comments
I just finished Hello Sunshine from the Queer Horror quest and think it would be perfect here! also Carmen Maria Machado's The Low, Low Woods
I came to recommend The Low Low Woods too but apparently it's technically DC. I don't recall it having a single superhero element? It's only DC in the sense that... that's the publisher... not in the sense that Superman shows up. And its excellent, and horror. Oh well.
(Hello Sunshine is so good 😭😭😭)
Damn thanks for catching that!
Thank you!! 🥰 I’ll check them out and add them!
I've been wanting to read some horror graphic novels!! Thank you for this!
You’re very welcome!!
OH I'LL BE BACK nonthreatening
with nonthreatening suggestions
actually they might be threatening, since they're horror...
😂 how about threatening suggestions in a non threatening manner? Or just suggestions that threaten
there we go! 🙂↕️ 🔪
I'm back, with a few suggestions, for the moment (some I've read, some I mean to):
28 Days of Night, Steve Niles Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft, Joe Hill Boys Weekend, Mattie Lubchansky Loving Ohio, Matthew Erman Blame! MASTER EDITION 1Tsutomu Nihei - (highly reccomend to anyone reading them to read as much as possible in one sitting, for the real effect, otherwise it can be confusing and largely atmospheric) aka the master editions. 🙂↕️ Devilman, Go Nagai Coffin Bound, Vol. 1, Dan Watters
PTSD Radio Masaaki Nakayama Hideout, Kakizaki Masasumi Insect Princess (/Mushihim) Masaya Hokazono & Yuu Satomi The Drifting Classroom, Kazuo Umezu Carmilla: The First Vampire, Chu God's Child (/Kami no Kodomo) Nishioka Kyoudai Homunculus, Hideo Yamamoto Fuan no Tane (/Seeds of Anxiety), Masaaki Nakayama i was a fashion school serial killer Doug Wagner I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits – Doug Wagner and Daniel Hillyard
Apparently Black Hole by Charles Burns is horror, which I did not realize.
There's also easily more Junji Ito, it looks like you've already got quite a few (Remina, No Longer Human, etc).
⚠️ I'd also like to point out, that if you are attempting to avoid Marvel & DC: The Low Low Woods & Basket Full of Heads (DC), on the list, are unfortunately DC.
...ahhhhahaha... , I have a final due tonight, so......I'll be back again later, haha
Ah damn. I didn’t realize about A Basket Full of Heads and it’s right there on the cover 🤦🏼♀️ the other was a recommendation. Thank you!
I read Black Hole and actually wasn’t a fan 😬 but I guess I can include it since it’s not really about me. And I did know there’s a ton of Junji Ito but I didn’t want to inundate with too many from the same author, but I’ll take another look and see which I like best.
I’ll check the others out for sure!! From the titles alone they look fantastic!
Thank you so much again!!! And good luck on your final!! 💪🏻💪🏻
Hey! You do you, you're list! Makes sense not to want to promote books you thought were terrible. &ofc ✨ I always say they're in the comments & that's already promotion, for those looking.
Maybe, but I also make these lists for everybody, you know? I’d obviously never put anything offensive in my lists but my taste isn’t the be all end all if that makes sense.
Ohhhh no, you're me 🫣 ✨ Yes I understand 🙂↕️
Also totally down to buddy read some of these sometime(?), I really need to get back to my GNs....
Sure! I’m slowly making my way through
