Horror comics by independent publishers are gaining popularity, as evidenced by their increased presence in the direct market. Hits like Image Comics‘ W0rldTr33 and BOOM! Studios‘ Something Is Killing the Children have helped facilitate the trend.

Skybound and Image Comics’ Universal Monsters miniseries and Oni Press’s new EC comics have also had an impact since entering the fray, with ICv2 reviewing trends in the single-issue horror comics market by comparing horror comics retailer sales using the ComicHub POS system. The search compared the May 1 – August 15 period in 2024 with the same period in 2023, concentrating on comics with substantial sales.

Within the sample, horror comics unit sales increased by 13% and dollar sales by 17%, performing even better than comics in general. The number of horror titles dropped during the same period and the top-selling comic of 2024 made less than its predecessor from the previous year. The horror genre had more evenly spread sales across several titles rather than a few best-sellers. The indie horror comics contrast how more mainstream franchises, such as Marvel’s Alien and Predator series, are performing.

The research also highlighted the staying power of James Tynion IV’s W0rldTr33 and BOOM!’s Something Is Killing the Children, with both comics performing impressively in 2023 and 2024. The top five titles last year’s summer were four issues of W0rldTr33 and one of SIKTC, while three issues of SIKTC were in the top five this summer. Oni Press’s new EC comics made the chart with the recently released EC Epitaphs from the Abyss #1 and EC Cruel Universe #1. DSTLRY, which began publishing in July 2023, also has two horror titles that made the cut, Blasfamous and White Boat.

Image Comics is currently topping the overall chart of publishers with the most sales, thanks to W0rldTr33, Universal Monsters, and The Walking Dead. BOOM! Studios rank second.

Skybound recently released a first look at Michael Walsh’s upcoming Universal Monsters: Frankenstein, withthe first issue due on August 24. Walsh, who will write and draw Frankenstein, discussed his approach to the series. “The story of Dr. Frankenstein and his poor, misunderstood monster is one of the most recognizable and influential horror tales ever told… It’s also one of my favorites.”

Walsh continued, “The original 1931 film from Universal Pictures is a continuing inspiration for my art and storytelling, so, as you can imagine, I was honored to be able to play in that sandbox. Trying to tell an original story while staying true to the canon of that film was an exciting yet daunting prospect.”

Source: ICv2