It came from the woods. Most strange things do.
Comic books are commonly associated with superheroes and their costumed adversaries, but the horror genre holds its own rich, often-controversial history within the industry. It was horror comics who were the most swiftly punished by hand-wringing industry guidelines implemented by the Comics Code Authority, who were facing immense media scrutiny thanks to accusations of promoting what was considered to be “immoral” behavior towards impressionable youths and fetishizing violence. Unable to have their product handled by wholesalers unless they were approved by the Comics Code Authority but forbidden by authority guidelines from using the words “horror” and “terror” in their titles, horror comics were left with no choice but to comply with the CCA or else be effectively denied access to a mainstream audience; this later led to the demise of a number of the legendary EC Comics brand’s classic titles like Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror.
The genre would experience great change in later years; underground comics by publishers like Kitchen Sink Press emerged in the seventies and gradually grew in popularity, even attracting considerable talent. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was formed to assist comic creators and the shops that sold their comics, and the 1982 revival of DC Comics’ Swamp Thing saw renewed interest and vigor in horror comics. The 1993 birth of the Vertigo brand led to the creation of horror comics marketed towards mature viewers, including Hellblazer and Sandman, as well as the anthology collection Flinch (more on that later). Eventually the Comics Code Authority’s literal seal of approval was quietly phased out in 2011.
This list discusses five horror comics from various eras in the industry, from the early-eighties genre revival to modern-day publishing.
Gallery of Capes 