Oh boy - I’m excited for this video, because - as the vast majority of you may know, the
genre of horror doesn’t exclusively begin and end on the silver screen - but is an all
encompassing creature that spreads its eldritch tendrils to many different forms - literature,
animation, campfire tales, high brow art - and of course, graphic fiction.
Since the early days of Geekdom, horror has wrapped itself up in the archetypal comic
book - and since then, we’ve been inspired by some of the most finely crafted - and horrifying
- horror series.
So, in that case - I guess we better take a look.
Hello horror fans - and once again, welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube - Top
5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Horror Comic Book Series.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from 2001’s From Hell - starring Johnny
Depp, and although his faux-Cockney accent was pretty close to abysmal - it was still
an equally impressive interpretation of one of the greatest horror graphic novels of all
time.
Which, may - or may not be on this list.
I guess you better stick around to find out, right?
Now, there are many, many worthy contenders for this list - but to begin with, we’ll
denote some of the most essential horror comic books for you to add to your collection, and
who knows - then we’ll do a Part 2.
Yeah, we probably will.
Don’t worry.
Kicking off at Number 5 - Hellblazer
We can’t speak horror comic books without referencing one of its most captivating, and
badass characters - the con man slash demonic mage - John Constantine.
In actual fact though, before his own series, Constantine peeked his head through the panels
of the legendary horror comic, Swamp Thing - which may or may not be on this list, first
appearing in the June 1985 issue of The Saga of Swamp Thing.
Listen guys, you’ve all got pretty awesome horror taste, and I’m fairly certain that
for those of you that haven’t yet read Hellblazer - you’ll gobble it up like a bloated, demonic
Hellhound at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
And if that simile went over your head - in other words, you’ll really, really enjoy
it.
Hellblazer is equal parts occult detective noir, gritty fantasy - pure horror - and in
several instances, incredibly hilarious deadpan humour.
Also, its name is attached to some of the most legendary writers in horror history.
Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Peter Milligan - the fantastic Garth Ennis - and that’s only
to name a few.
Originally published by DC Comics, but later picked up by Vertigo for its most captivating
fifteen year run - Hellblazer and John Constantine will literally take you to hell and back - and
also, literally gives Satan himself the middle finger.
If that’s not reason enough to enjoy Hellblazer - then I’m not sure what is.
Swinging in at Number 4 - Hellboy
I mean - John Constantine aside - there isn’t really a more iconic horror-demon leading
man than Big Red Himself - Hellboy - and also, as a side note, Ron Perlman is the only cinematic
Hellboy ever - although, I think we should all give David Harbour a fair chance - because
that guy is dope.
Created by the legendary Mike Mignola - Hellboy is perhaps one of the most notoriously awesome
horror creations in fiction, and much like Hellblazer - carved a path through alternative
storytelling, by literally littering the way with more Evil Nazi Occultists, Eleventh Hour
Rituals and Murderous Clockwork Killers than you can shake a pitchfork at.
You know what was so awesome about Hellboy, though?
He’s the literal definition of an anti-hero.
He’s the Son of The Demonic Duke Azzael - but despite that, he’s also the personification
of being a damn good dude.
Also, his real name is Anung Un Rama - which means - and upon his brow is set a crown of
flame.
How cool is that?
The Hellboy series ran from 1993 all the way up to 2016 - in one of the most captivatingly
original displays of Lovecraftian horror, badass one liners - and tear jerking moments
of family and brotherhood.
Also, a shout out to my editor Dylan who gave me a copy of Seed of Destruction for Christmas.
Cheers buddy!
Next up at Number 3 - Sandman
Alright - you might be thinking, come on Jack - Sandman isn’t really scary - and while
in some ways I’d tend to agree, the matter of fact is that Sandman is one of the most
uniquely original horror titles in graphic literature.
And more than anything, I appreciate originality.
Also, Neil Gaiman.
Come on.
Time and time again, Sandman continues to be a genre in and of itself, blending fantasy,
magical realism and psychological horror into a neat, terrifying and cerebral package.
The Sandman series, against published by Vertigo via DC Comics - focuses on the main character
of Dream, also known as Morpheus - and many other mythological names.
It tip toes its way across such a broad-church that it’s oftentimes so easy to get lost
in its narrative - and I mean that in a good way, blending eternal concepts of religion,
mythology and folklore through a stream of terrifying consciousness.
When the series first began in 1989 - Neil Gaiman was just another British upstart trying
to make his way in fiction - but when it ended in 1996 - everyone just kind of held up their
hands in awe, and said - okay, alright - who the hell is this dude?
Listen, Sandman isn’t exactly full-frontal horror - but when it pulls the scares - it
pulls them like no other.
Coming in at Number 2 - Swamp Thing
We can’t really make a horror comic book list without putting Swamp Thing on it - there
are laws to these things, you know - and I don’t want to break them.
With the more modern incarnation of old Swampy - who is all round, probably the most decent
dude in comic book history - it may be easy to forget that the origins of Swamp Thing
literally formed the basis for contemporary horror.
And we have one man to thank for that - the legendary Englishman, and perhaps the greatest
graphic novel writer in history, Alan Moore.
Before that though, Swamp Thing already had incredible horror pedigree with it’s creators
Len Wein, and Bernie Wrightson - who creeped onto the canvas in a horrifying display of
creature-feature body horror, sticking on the fringes of comic book fandom while developing
a hardy cult following.
The thing is though, when Alan Moore took control of our boy Swampy back in the 80s,
vegetable matter was never the same again - and horror fiction was battered by some
of the most horrific scenes ever inked.
With each page, Alan Moore took us deeper and deeper into the horrors of the swamp - in
grotesque displays of death and resurrection - and the fierce, eternal struggle of creation.
He gave us The Parliament of Trees and the Green, the Floronic Man - and of course, John
Constantine himself, all the while penning some of the greatest literary horror moments
of the 20th century.
And finally - at our Number 1 spot - Tales From The Crypt
There is perhaps, one literary graphic showstopper that modern horror owes all of its creation
to - even TV shows the likes of The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror - even True Detective - wouldn’t
be the fictional works that they are without the horror granddaddy of them all.
Tales From The Crypt.
Although there are several precursors, one comic book series ruled the roost of horror,
way back when in the first half of the 1950s.
EC Comics - the otherwise unknown publishers of The Vault of Horror, The Haunt of Fear
- and of course, Tales From The Crypt - the bi-monthly, anthology series that delivered
some of the most excruciatingly horrifying tales of all time.
Although their reign was short, running only between 1950 and 1954, before - you know - the
censorship board had a thing or two to say about the nature of their content - the Crypt-Keeper,
alongside the Vault Keeper and the Old Witch - swiftly became some of the most iconic figures
in horror history.
Horror hosts the world over wouldn’t be the horror hosts that they are without these
mysterious, terrifying - hooded figures first carving their way through modern entertainment
and popular culture.
Tales From The Crypt had one intention - and it delivered that in pits and spades.
Scare the living daylight out of us.
And it did.
Well - there we have it horror fans, our list for the Top 5 Scariest Horror Comic Book Series
- what about you, what would make your list?
Why don’t you let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below, as well
as any particular horror based questions that you’re itching to ask.
Unfortunately, that’s all we’ve got time for in today’s video - but before we depart,
let’s take a look at some of your more creative comments from over the past few days.
First up - David Dishington says -- Hey Jack, do you play tabletop roleplaying games like
Call of Cthulhu?
-- and hey David, great question pal.
I’ve tried to play Call of Cthulhu on a few occasions, but usually it’s whilst enjoying
a few particularly ethanol laced beverages - and it’s never really gotten off the ground.
I do however play D&D 5th Edition at any chance I can get, and I play a Dwarf Bard named Grum
the Guzzler.
Next up - Phantom Hawk says -- Jack the LAD love your vids, can I possibly get a shout
out so I can rub it in my brothers face.
-- Whats up Phantom Hawk, cheers buddy - much appreciated - and I’m always one to support
a friendly brotherly rivalry - so yeah, there’s your freebie.
Well - there we have it folks - that’s all we’ve got time for today - cheers for sticking
around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button - as well as
that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.