Best Horror-Related Marvel Universe Comics, Ranked

As a child of the ’70s, I can vividly remember the thrill that these horror comics brought to us kids who were more drawn to the macabre than superheroes. The Tomb of Dracula series was a constant pulpy good time for its seventy-issue run, and Ghost Rider was easily the greatest horror series Marvel ever produced.

Contrary to DC Comics, Marvel’s foray into horror characters within their universe has been more sporadic, with periods of prominence in the ’70s and ’90s interspersed by occasional brief appearances. However, these horror characters have graced some truly entertaining comics throughout Marvel’s history. Here are ten series, each set within the Marvel 616 Universe, that most effectively feature horror-themed characters.

10. Nightstalkers (1992-1994)

by Steven Grant and Ron Garney

During the early ’90s, the popularity of horror movies was at its height and Goth culture was gaining traction. Noticing this trend, Marvel had put their ’70s horror characters on hold for nearly a decade. However, in 1990, they decided to revive Ghost Rider first. This move proved successful, leading them to bring back most of their other supernatural heroes that were initially introduced in the ’70s. These characters underwent some fashionable ’90s makeovers, as part of a series of comics called “Midnight Sons”. Titles like Morbius and Darkhold were included in this initial line of Midnight Sons comics.

Among the most entertaining parts of this project was the series titled “Nightstalkers“. In this installment, Blade joined forces with fellow vampire hunters from the previous “Tomb of Dracula” series such as Frank Drake and Hannibal King. Notably, these characters were seen sporting a significant number of leather jackets in this edition. The primary writer for this series was Steven Grant, with illustrations by Ron Garney. At the time, Grant’s art style mirrored the ’90s “extreme” aesthetic reminiscent of the Image Comics founders. Spanning just two years, this series is very much a product of its era. However, if you can get into the right mindset, it makes for an enjoyable read. The core concept of “Nightstalkers” served as the foundation for the less-than-stellar third film “Blade Trinity“. So, try not to let that influence your enjoyment of this series.

9. Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sin (1992-1994)

by Chris Cooper and Richard Case

Nowadays, the ancient malevolent book called the Darkhold has gained widespread recognition, primarily due to the shows WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness. However, it was first introduced in comic books. The title even graced the pages of the Midnight Sons series, specifically “Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins”. This brief series aired from 1992-1994 and was penned by Chris Cooper, with illustrations by Richard Case, who is also known for his work on Doom Patrol. In this series, the lost pages of the Darkhold, authored by the Elder God Chthon, began mysteriously appearing worldwide. A team of scholars, referred to as the Darkhold Redeemers, embarked on a global quest to retrieve these dangerous pages.

1) In this unique horror series from Marvel, the head of the Redeemers is Dr. Victoria Montesi, a relative of the inventors of the Montesi Formula that once annihilated all vampires. An archaeologist named Louise Hastings and Interpol agent Sam Buchanan later team up with her in search of the lost pages of this formula, as its dark power could potentially fall into the wrong hands. Despite only running for 16 issues, it stands out among Marvel’s horror titles due to its distinctiveness. Given its significance within the MCU, now seems like an opportune moment for a collected edition.

8. Legion of Monsters (2011)

by Dennis Hopeless and Juan Doe

Much like how Marvel united their top superheroes to create The Avengers, they assembled a group of their iconic monster characters in 1976. This group was known as The Legion of Monsters and included Morbius, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, with Ghost Rider leading the pack due to his popularity. They appeared together only once in an issue of Marvel Spotlight, then went their separate ways. It appears that at the time, Marvel didn’t fully recognize the potential of this idea.

30 years from now, Marvel reassembled the Legion of Monsters for a thrilling mini-series in 2011. Elsa Bloodstone, a monster hunter, gathered the original Legion members, excluding Ghost Rider, and incorporated other long-lost Marvel creatures into the team. The Living Mummy, Frankenstein, the Zombie, and even FrankenCastle, the deceased version of the Punisher, were part of this crew. The storytelling by Dennis Hopeless is entertaining and outrageous, while Juan Doe’s art has a delightfully cartoony touch. After enjoying this hilarious escapade, you’ll be left craving more. Marvel, we’re still anticipating the arrival of Legion of Monsters Vol. 2!

7. Son of Satan (1974-1975)

by Steve Gerber, Gary Friedrich, Sal Buscema, Jim Mooney

By the early 1970s, Marvel Comics had characters like Dracula, a werewolf, and even Frankenstein’s monster starring in their own series. So, it was only natural that they introduced a character as iconic as the Devil himself. However, Damion Hellstrom isn’t actually Beelzebub, but rather his offspring, often referred to as “Satan Jr.” It might be hard to believe now, given our current societal sensitivities, but Marvel did publish a series titled “Son of Satan” in the 1970s. This comic was sold at newsstands and surprisingly, there were few protests from parents. This is a series that could only have been published before the era of widespread “Satanic Panic” in America.

In 1973, Damion Hellstrom made his debut in the first issue of Ghost Rider, later securing a leading role in Marvel Spotlight under the title Son of Satan. Contrary to his demonic lineage, Damion was a protagonist, an expert in the occult who combated evil using his own supernatural powers. He was often depicted without a shirt, revealing his muscular physique adorned with a large pentagram. (Indeed, he exuded an alluring air of wickedness!) Essentially, Damion was the Antichrist, but he detested his father and championed the innocent. The majority of these tales were penned by Steve Gerber, known for Man-Thing, with artwork by veterans like Sal Buscema. They possessed a lively, unconventional flair. A 90’s rendition called Hellstorm emerged, emulating the trench coat style and atmosphere of DC’s Hellblazer. However, we prefer the bare-chested, cape-wearing Antichrist over that version.

6. Morbius, the Living Vampire (1973-1975)

by Steve Gerber, Doug Moench, Bill Mantlo, P. Craig Russell, Frank Robbins, Gil Kane

In 1971, the Comics Code Authority eased up on restrictions regarding horror characters in popular comics, leading Marvel Comics to introduce a new vampire character named Michael Morbius. This character appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #101 and was a scientist who, while trying to find a cure for his rare disease, ended up transforming into a living vampire instead. Although his origin story is science fiction-based, his overall atmosphere was horror-themed. Morbius initially appeared in the black and white magazine Vampire Tales, but his primary series was Adventures into Fear, where he was the main focus for eleven issues.

From issues 20-31, spanning 1974-1975, the protagonist engaged in numerous battles against various monsters and demons, all while grappling with his inner bloodlust. He’d rescue someone from a beast only to advise them to flee for their safety. The majority of this series was penned by Steve Gerber and Doug Moench, with artwork by several artists. However, the standout feature of this series were the covers by Gil Kane, which made the heroic vampire appear genuinely terrifying. Morbius reappeared in his own series in 1992, where he was portrayed as more appealing in his human form (during the Anne Rice era), but we preferred the original version, where he was simply an unattractive character in both forms.

5. Vampire Tales (1973-1975)

by Various Artists

Between 1973-1975, Marvel released numerous black-and-white magazines aimed at adult collectors, predominantly centered around horror narratives. Some of these publications included “Dracula Lives!”, “Tales of the Zombie”, and “Monsters Unleashed”, but what stood out was “Vampire Tales”. This series featured Dracula in his own titles, allowing it to explore other Marvel vampires, primarily Morbius, Blade, and Lilith, Daughter of Dracula. The monochrome artwork, by artists such as John Buscema and others, was captivatingly beautiful.

They could all be a little more grown up, sexy, and bloody than their regular comic book-sized counterparts. Every cover was a painted work of art, worthy of framing. The first issue was an adaptation of The Vampyre by Dr. John Polidori, the first vampire story in the English language, which ultimately led to Dracula, and that set the tone for this series. These stories have been collected before, but they are long out of print. But if you can track them down, they are worth a read.

4. Werewolf by Night (1972-1977)

by Paul Jenkins, Doug Moench, Gerry Conway, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Don Perline, Mike Ploog, and Leonardo Manco

Among Marvel’s characters inspired by traditional monsters, only a handful achieved the same level of success as the enigmatic Werewolf by Night. The series, which spanned 43 issues from 1972 to 1977, didn’t revolutionize werewolf narratives, but it certainly gave them an intriguing spin. Unlike typical werewolf tales where transformation is triggered by random attacks, the central character’s lycanthropy in this series was linked to a family curse. The cursed protagonist, Jack Russell, embarks on a global journey in search of a remedy for his affliction, encountering one supernatural foe after another along the way.

The “Werewolf by Night” series significantly marked its entry into the Marvel Universe by introducing Moon Knight as well. This might be its most enduring impact on the Marvel Universe. Notably, this series was primarily written by authors such as Doug Moench, Gerry Conway, and Marv Wolfman (who could resist a name like that?). The artwork in “Werewolf by Night” was exceptionally done by artists like Don Perin and Mike Ploog. Alongside “Tomb of Dracula”, this series stands out as the most pulpy and classic among regular Marvel horror comics, making it a delight to revisit due to its charm.

3. Marvel Zombies (2006)

by Robert Kirkman, Sean Phillips

During the 2000s, following movies like “Dawn of the Dead,” “Shaun of the Dead,” and “28 Days Later,” among others, zombies made a significant comeback. Given this resurgence, it’s not surprising that Marvel wanted to join the bandwagon of the brain-eating mayhem. In 2006, Marvel enlisted Robert Kirkman, the creator of “The Walking Dead,” and artist Sean Phillips to expand upon a concept initially conceived a few years prior in “Ultimate Fantastic Four.” In that series, they introduced an alternate Marvel universe where a virus had transformed the population into flesh-eating zombies.

In this unique turn of events, the protagonists maintain their abilities and intellect, but these traits are accompanied by an insatiable craving for human flesh. Among the few who escape zombification is Black Panther, who employs his scientific prowess to combat the horde. Additionally, Galactus is involved in this tale, making it utterly unbelievable. Marvel Studios animated this concept for an episode of What If…?, and a Disney+ spin-off is also on the horizon. The original series remains entertaining and surprisingly fast to read through. This comic series paved the way for DCeased at Marvel’s rival, DC Comics.

2. Tomb of Dracula (1972-1979)

by Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan

In the 1970s, the Comics Code relaxed its restrictions, enabling Marvel Comics to produce horror comics once more. Following a preliminary experiment with Morbius, they concluded it was appropriate to grant their iconic character, Dracula from Bram Stoker’s work, his own series. Known as “The Big Guy” in this context, Dracula became the focus of one of Marvel’s longest-running horror series, titled Tomb of Dracula, which ran between 1972 and 1979. The entire series was illustrated by renowned artist Gene Colan, who infused it with a feel reminiscent of Hammer Studios. However, Colan’s portrayal of Dracula was based on actor Jack Palance, not Christopher Lee. It’s worth noting that Palance later played Dracula in a television adaptation following the series’ debut. Marv Wolfman, who would later co-create the New Teen Titans, wrote most of this series.

In essence, despite Dracula being the title character, the true protagonists were actually the vampire hunters who pursued him. This band included Rachel Van Helsing and Quincy Harker, both descendants of Stoker’s characters, Hannibal King, a noble vampire, Frank Drake, Dracula’s human heir, and a character named Blade, whom you might recognize. The series also featured encounters between Dracula and Marvel superheroes such as the Silver Surfer, making it quite thrilling. Essentially, Tomb of Dracula offered a consistently exciting, pulpy reading experience over its seventy issues.

1. Ghost Rider (1973-1983)

by Gary Friedrich, Gerry Conway, Jim Shooter, Michael Fleischer, Roger Mckenzie, and Don Perlin

Among Marvel’s creations, Ghost Rider stands out as one of the most enduring horror series characters, often seen adorning hastily chosen biker tattoos today. Similar to characters like Luke Cage and Shang-Chi who capitalized on popular cultural trends, Ghost Rider also cashed in – this time on two: the ’70s fascination with daredevil motorcyclists such as Evel Knievel and the mystique of the occult. Johnny Blaze, a stunt rider, made a pact with the Devil (in reality, Mephisto) to save his father’s life, transforming into the Spirit of Vengeance when he needed to avenge the innocent. With a flaming skull for a head and a fiery motorcycle, he became an iconic figure roaring across America.

Introduced by writer Roy Thomas alongside artists Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog, the character of Ghost Rider first appeared in the comic anthology series Marvel Spotlight back in 1972. The series quickly became a commercial success, leading to a self-titled ongoing series the following year that lasted for ten years and 81 issues. Despite various changes in creative teams, Ghost Rider managed to endure, outlasting many other supernatural heroes’ popularity.

2024-10-08 01:33