The Best DC Comics Horror Collections To Read This October

BOO! Looking for some books to get your heart racing and your pulse pounding? Bulk up your spooky season reading pile with a breakdown of some of the best and scariest DC Comics horror titles to pick up this October. But BEWARE … some of the collections below are certain to cause a fright!

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DC vs. Vampires

A bloody battle awaits all those who crack open the coffin … er, we mean the spine, of DC vs. Vampires. This limited series pits the Justice League against an undead threat more powerful than they ever planned for. And what’s worse, these vampires can turn those closest to our heroes into the undead, making DC vs. Vampires not just an action comic but a heart-wrenching story of death, betrayal, and survival.

Is DC vs. Vampires mostly action? Of course! After all, the Elseworlds book is done in the style of DCeased and chronicles an entire war. The page-turning quality only adds to the tension, however, as your eyes try to linger on the splashy spreads but your brain hungers for the next twist. Sink your teeth into the original run before the upcoming sequel, DC vs. Vampires: World War V, releases.

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The Sandman: Nightmare Country

Of course, the original run of The Sandman will always have its place in DC horror history. But most recently, the bone-chilling Sandman Universe story, Nightmare Country, takes the cake for spookiest Sandman title. It’s centered around The Corinthian, who is perhaps one of the scariest DC heroes to date. He has mouths for eyes and his entire function is to be a nightmare. Although this is the new and improved Corinthian (slightly charming and sans serial killer tendencies), the creepiness remains.

In Nightmare Country, The Corinthian must hunt other monsters and nightmares not of his lord Dream’s making. It’s part mystery, part Americana road trip, and all horror. The gorgeous yet terrifying art will remain with you like flies on sticky paper. Come for the characters and stay for the gore, plus the sinister unraveling of a brilliantly complex plot.

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Knight Terrors

Who doesn’t love a little existential crisis mixed with horror and haunts? If you want lots of fright mixed in with great introspection from and about your DC faves, look no further than Knight Terrors. While it focuses on Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, you can also expect to see a few of the best bad guys in there as well.

Knight Terrors tosses its protagonists headfirst into a twisted “Nightmare Realm” courtesy of villains Doctor Destiny and Insomnia. It’s a bit like a purgatory built from each hero’s own mind. They must confront their darkest secrets and phobias all while fighting powerful villains intent on destroying the Justice League. No pressure, right?

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Are You Afraid of Darkseid?

Are You Afraid of Darkseid? is our tamest reading recommendation. It’s told within the framing device of scary stories in the dark — and around a campfire nonetheless. Each anthology chapter is teen and kid-friendly because the chapters are dictated by the Teen Titans on Halloween. Some are a little silly, but they’re still scary. Spine-tingling-ly so.

This comic is great for reading while munching on your trick-or-treat candy. So bundle up under the covers, grab a flashlight for ambiance, and dive in on this nostalgic throwback to the Nickelodeon classic, Are You Afraid of the Dark?

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Hellblazer

John Constantine is always dealing with Hell, demons, and damnation. That’s obviously right in the horror wheelhouse. Thus, our beloved antihero has the longest running horror comic in DC publishing history. Hellblazer is an epic tale of one man’s seedy, shady dealings in magic, mischief, and mayhem. Plus, there’s plenty of heartbreak and monsters along the way — you know, classic horror stuff.

Mate, if you haven’t read any Hellblazer … you should really get on that. You can start from the first issue or jump into Constantine’s modern books. Wherever you begin, you’ll fall in love with John’s rakish personality and heart of gold, all hidden under a tan trench coat and enough cigarette smoke to obscure LED headlights.

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What are your favorite scary DC Comics titles? Share your reading recommendations at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network, and 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!