10 Essential Archie Horror Comics for Halloween Reading

While Riverdale, the Town with Pep, has long been synonymous with a wholesome, retro sort of storytelling, modern Archie Comics have taken some bold steps to evolve the timeless teens. Just look at iconic crossovers like Archie vs. Punisher or Archie vs. Predator! Even the television realm has been on the rise, from the humble sitcom days of Sabrina the Teenage Witch to the twisted Chilling Adventures of Sabrina — right down to the unstoppable cultural juggernaut of weirdness that was the recently departed Riverdale.

Longtime readers and newly minted fans can find plenty of the classic comics to enjoy in regular digests, but these days, Archie Comics is all-in on their horror line. What started with a bold departure from the norms with Afterlife with Archie has morphed into a series of grotesque, entertaining, occasionally campy, and always creepy series putting our favorite Riverdale residents in plenty of hair-raising scenarios. We’re talking zombie apocalypses, summer camp slashers, competitions to become the Antichrist, and more.

If you’re looking to take the leap into the darker side of Riverdale, here are 10 essential Archie Horror comics you need to read.

---

Afterlife with Archie

Script: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Art: Francesco Francavilla, Letters: Jack Morelli

The book that started a horror revolution — and a zombie apocalypse. Afterlife with Archie is perhaps the first title that comes to anyone’s mind when they think of Archie Horror, and for good reason. It’s truly dark and will make your stomach drop as you watch these beloved characters turn into mindless monsters bent on devouring their friends. After Jughead’s beloved pooch Hot Dog is hit by a car, Sabrina Spellman intervenes against the advisement of her witchy aunts — but they soon learn sometimes things are better left dead. A now-zombified Hot Dog bites his master, and Jughead’s legendary hunger becomes the source of disaster at Riverdale High’s Halloween dance.

Francesco Francavilla provides his own colors, heightening the bold backdrops and vibrant contrasts with his dark, stylish artwork. The book’s script is by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who became the showrunner for the live-action Riverdale series that recently concluded on the CW. Ten issues of Afterlife have been published so far, but these zombies have been eerily quiet since 2016. It’s well worth a read while we all wait and hope this series comes back from the dead before too long…

---

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Script: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Art: Robert Hack, Letters: Jack Morelli

Along with Afterlife, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is one of the tentpole Archie Horror titles. It even got its own Netflix adaptation, though the live-action show took liberties because the comic series hasn’t been concluded either. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa returns on scripts, this time accompanied by Robert Hack as they delve into a darker side of the teenage witch’s life. As her 16th birthday approaches, Sabrina has to make a choice to live life as a mortal or embrace her witching heritage — a choice made harder when Madam Satan arrives to try to get revenge on the Spellmans.

In stark contrast to the cheery and mischievous girl she’s been in past interpretations, this Sabrina is steeped in the occult. Necromancy is just one of many normalcies of this world, and aunts Hilda and Zelda are part of the Church of Night, a supernatural coven in service of Satan. Demons of folklore are also frequent features in the series, as well as occasional crossovers with Riverdale’s inhabitants (monstrous or otherwise). Only 9 issues of the series have been published so far, but fans are hoping we don’t have to form a summoning circle to get more soon.

---

Vampironica

Script: Frank Tieri, Greg and Meg Smallwood, Michael Moreci, Art: Greg Smallwood, Audrey Mok, Colors: Matt Herms, Letters: Jack Morelli

We previously covered Vampironica in our list of 8 Vampire Comics and Graphic Novels with Bite. It’s an essential read for fans of Riverdale’s resident rich girl. After being forcefully turned into a vampire by another bloodsucker, Veronica Lodge discovers she’s part of a deep lineage of creatures of the night. Classmate Dilton Doiley helps her try to control her new impulses, but the town is starting to look like an open buffet with each passing night…

It’s worth noting that the comics are very specifically in a different continuity than other Archie Horror titles, a fact that comes into play during the Jughead vs Vampironica crossover. In this world, vampires drove out all the werewolves when Veronica’s ancestors first came to the new world. Thankfully, this Riverdale seems to be nowhere near Sunnydale, CA — but Veronica has to take matters into her own hands when vampire infestations threaten her city, led by none other than a reimagined Fangs Fogarty. Readers can sink their own fangs into three different collections of Vampironica books to slake their thirst.

---

Jughead the Hunger

Script: Frank Tieri, Art: Michael Walsh, Pat and Tim Kennedy, Joe Eisma, Colors: Matt Herms, Letters: Jack Morelli

After debuting a “pilot” oneshot issue by Frank Tieri and Michael Walsh, Jughead: The Hunger was picked up for an ongoing series with Archie Horror. Set outside of main continuity, the book begins with Jughead Jones discovering his ravenous hunger stems from the curse of lycanthropy — he’s a werewolf. And Betty Cooper just happens to hail from a family of werewolf hunters. After learning he’s the source of serial killings in Riverdale, the hunt is on as others succumb to their bites and join the pack.

This successful miniseries ran for three volumes, including a crossover with the universe of Vampironica, set in an alternate Riverdale timeline. Jughead struggles to get his werewolf nature under control, creating a dramatic and monstrous tear through Riverdale that’s a must for Jughead fans.

---

Blossoms 666

Script: Cullen Bunn, Art: Laura Braga, Colors: Matt Herms, Letters: Jack Morelli

What if Cruel Intentions was, well, even more cruel? It might look a little something like Blossoms 666. Written by fan-favorite horror scribe Cullen Bunn with art by Laura Braga, this 5-issue miniseries shows affluent twins Cheryl and Jason Blossom competing to become the Antichrist.

To do so, they’ll have to prove their powers of corruption by influencing the well-meaning teens of Riverdale like Dilton Doiley, Ethel Muggs, and even Betty Cooper into fulfilling their family’s cult rituals. A secret from their past surfaces and threatens to throw everything they’ve worked for into chaos — making this a devious romp from start to finish!

---

Archie Horror Presents: Chilling Adventures

Script/Art: Various

This massive collection is the first trade paperback collection of the many Archie Horror oneshots produced over the last few years. It features the talents of no fewer than 40 writers and artists (too many to name here), and collects the Madam Satan, Chilling Adventures in Sorcery, Jinx: Grim Fairy Tales, Weirder Mysteries, Chilling Adventures of Salem, The Return of Chilling Adventures in Sorcery, and Happy Horror Days oneshots, as well as bonus material showing off the many variant covers for the original comics.

The Madam Satan tales tell the story of Iola, Queen of Hell, as she escapes from the underworld in pursuit of something better and bigger. Anthology stories are interspersed throughout, featuring the ever-expanding cast of Riverdale characters, from Veronica and Jughead to Toni Topaz and Shrill Prisston. Then, Jinx: Grim Fairy Tales introduces a new horror heroine, Jinx Holliday, with a few twists on traditional stories.

Weirder Mysteries revisits Archie’s sci-fi past with shapeshifting aliens and a futuristic Riverdale filled with flying cars and aging rockstars. We’ll cover Chilling Adventures of Salem in our next entry, but fans can enjoy that standalone story of Sabrina’s faithful familiar as well. Finally, Happy Horror Days tackles Christmas traditions, Krampus, and other strangely festive figures of European folklore for some very merry, very scary storytelling.

As opposed to the collected editions of longer stories, these self-contained issues make a perfect sample plate of how varied the Archie Horror stories can be.

---

Chilling Adventures of Salem

Script: Cullen Bunn, Art: Dan Schoening, Colors: Matt Herms, Letters: Jack Morelli

While the witch is away, the cat will play! In this oneshot story, Salem Saberhagen gets his time in the spotlight away from Sabrina. When the creatures of Greendale begin to go mysteriously missing, Salem ends up entangled in a yarn of demonic sacrifice and ambitious warlock-ing that reminds him of when he was a human!

Written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Dan Schoening (both of whom team up again for The Cult of That Wilkin Boy), this sinister setup blends the best of Pet Sematary and Hereditary. Plus, the story is self-contained, and doesn’t necessarily need fans to know everything about the Chilling Adventures series, making it a quick pick-up for curious readers.

---

Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe of Horrors

Script: Amy Chase, Ryan Cady, Jordan Morris, Art: Federico Sabbatini, Chris Panda, Liana Kangas, Colors: Ellie Wright, Letters: Jack Morelli

We hope you’ve brought your appetite for horror! This anthology of three stories turns Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe on its head, no longer a wholesome haven for hamburgers. Here, Riverdale’s on the menu — and forgetting to tip your servers can have deadly consequences.

Amy Chase and Federico Sabbatini teamed up for the frame story “Die-and-Dash,” showing a date night gone sour. As two teens are forced to clean dishes for the food they stole, they discover the aftermath of “The Night Shift” by Ryan Cady and Chris Panda, as well as the recognizable leftovers from “Soylent Teen” by Jordan Morris and Liana Kangas. If you can stomach the scares inside, Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe of Horrors will have you asking for seconds.

---

Camp Pickens

Script: Jordan Morris, Blake Howard, Tim Seeley, Art: Diana Camero, Carola Borelli, Mike Norton, Colors: Matt Herms, Letters: Jack Morelli

Archie Comics may be synonymous with summer camp for many, in the same way that summer camp and slashers go hand in hand. Extending the horror season into the warmer months, Camp Pickens takes our beloved students and gives them a summer they’ll never forget — assuming they survive the experience!

Jordan Morris and Diana Camero tell the tale of “Bug Juice,” which shows counselor Jughead’s search for the eponymous insects that make the signature camp concoction. Intermingled, we get campfire tales and cursed happenings as Betty Cooper faces down “The Curse of Camp Pickens” by Blake Howard and Carola Borelli, and Veronica Lodge deals with “Down and Out and Death Cursed” by the Revival reunion of Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. This anthology entertains as much as it terrifies, leaving readers itching for more (but that might be the mosquitos).

---

Archie Horror’s Month of Mayhem 2023

The scares just can’t be stopped! 2023 marks the second annual Month of Mayhem for Archie Horror, celebrating a slew of new releases. In addition to the previously mentioned Chilling Adventures Presents anthology, September saw the release of the Madam Satan: Hell on Earth oneshot (by Eliot Rahal, Vincenzo Federici, Ellie Wright, and Jack Morelli) as the latest in the villainess’ adventures.

Moving into October, two weeks of Archie Horror releases await eager readers. On October 11, fans can take a trip to the picture-perfect Town with Pep in the psychological thriller Welcome to Riverdale by Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe of Horrors alums Amy Chase, Liana Kangas, Ellie Wright, and Jack Morelli. Welcome to Riverdale marks the first Archie Horror appearance of deep cut character Ginger Snapp, as she’s invited into a town full of smiling faces hiding dark secrets (think The Stepford Wives meets Pleasantville).

Then, on October 18, clear the cobwebs off your childhood memories and dive into Fear the Funhouse: Toybox of Terror, an anthology aimed at younger audiences. Killer dolls are running loose in Riverdale, including Archie-style sendups of horror icons like Chucky and M3gan. Three stories are included in this oneshot, including “Love Evernever” by Timmy Heague and Ryan Caskey, “CH3RYL” by Danielle Page and Tango, and “The Gift that Keeps on Giving Killing” by Michael Northrop and Ryan Jampole.

As for what Archie Horror has in store for 2024 … we’ll just have to wait and see! Fans can discover more haunting happenings at the newly minted ArchieHorror.com.

---

Which Archie Horror title are you most excited to read first? Have you read any of the titles on this list already?

Join the conversation with other horror fans when you meet us over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup — don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!

Did you hear that? The wind whispers through the trees and there’s a shiver tingling your spine. Geeks, freaks, and shrieks abound during Sideshow’s Spooktacular 2023 — a celebration with ghastly giveaways, deathly deals, eerie exclusive perks, and more.

Join us from October 26 – October 31 by visiting side.show/spooktacular and don’t forget — sleep is for the weak!