It must be the season of the witch because the Dark Horse team is back again with their spooky staff picks! We’ve gathered some of their favorite titles from this year, some already out and some coming soon, to give you some reading inspiration for the spooky season. They aren’t afraid of no ghosts, so get ready for some creeptastically good reading!
Looking to spook-ify your space while you read? Check out our Spotify for playlists like Dark Horse Spooky Synth Horror or Dark Horse Halloween Haunts to create the perfect Halloween reading atmosphere!
Hans Vogel is Dead Volume 1 by Sierra Barnes
“The real-life horrors of fascism and bigotry get a fictitious twist in Sierra Barnes’ “Hans Vogel is Dead.” This graphic novel is part WWII historical fiction, part Germanic folklore, and ALL terrifying thrill ride as we follow the recently deceased Hans Vogel, (former) Nazi ace fighter pilot, through the weird and unearthly realm of the Erlking. Haunted by his complicity in the horrors inflicted by the Third Reich and desperate to find absolution, Hans might have the chance to do things differently in this strange world populated by dark fairytale characters who are facing their own war. But if that’s going to be even remotely possible, Hans has to acknowledge his past sins first. Incredibly creative, exhaustively researched, and unapologetically antifascist, “Hans Vogel is Dead” by Sierra Barnes is a fabulous way to pass a stormy autumn evening.” -Jenny Bingham-Blenk, Editor
Night of the Ghoul by Scott Synder and Francesco Francavilla
“I have been a fan of Scott Snyder for a long time and have always enjoyed his horror stories. Scott Snyder and Francesco Francavilla are the perfect duo to give you the spooks this October.” – Randy Lahrman, featuring Brock Lee Obama
The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos by James Tynion IV, Tate Brombal, Isaac Goodhart, Miquel Muerto, and Aditya Bidikar
“Chaos runs amuck in this thrilling horror fantasy adventure by Tiny Onion Studios! As both a lover of YA and all things supernatural, the Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos was a book that had me hooked! Horrifying monsters aside, Christopher’s coming of age journey as an out-casted LGBTQ+ youth was one I could deeply relate to, even right down to the first name! But it was the gripping horror’s and monsters that Christopher faces that had me on the edge of my seat! So if you’re a fan of classic monster movies or supernatural shows, this is definitely a book you won’t want to miss!” —Chris Beltran, PR Coordinator
Where Monsters Lie by Kyle Starks, Piotr Kowalski, Brad Simpson, and Joshua Reed
“Kyle Starks is the master of taking classic horror tropes and making them new again and Where Monsters Lie is no different. It’s a fresh take on slashers that doesn’t take itself too seriously in the best way possible. If you call yourself a horror fan and haven’t read this one yet, then I suggest you fix that.”–Kaitlyn, Publicity and Social Media Coordinator
For kids and young adults:
The Unlikely Story of Felix and Macabber by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and Juni Ba
- Monsters on a quest for redemption and growth in a world run by fear.
Under Kingdom by Christof Bogacs and Marie Enger
- An epic adventure that follows Shay as he’s thrust into a secret world full of monsters that live under his West Virginian town.
Dead Mall by Adam Cesare, David Stoll, and Justin Birch
- Cosmic horror in an empty mall.
And for adults:
All Eight Eyes by Steve Foxe, Piotr Kowalski, Brad Simpson, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Vin Spencer joins the fights against giant spiders that are taking over NYC.
Shook! A Black Horror Anthology by Bradley Golden, Marcus Roberts, John Jennings, David Walker, Rodney Barnes, Robert Castro, Alessio Nocerino, and more
- Features 12 tales stemming from a love of southern gothic horror by award winning or nominated writers.
Light Carries On by Ray Nadine
- A human teams up with a ghost to find out how he died.
Source: Dark Horse
