Pick up a Graphic Novel for Halloween

I am relatively new to the world of Horror, but love how much there is to discover in the genres I know less about. Thank you to the customers who help educate me, and help create an out of control TBR. I'll start with what I know best! Goosebumps!

I will never forget the joy I found reading Goosebumps. I still get chills thinking about moments from the abandoned theme park at One Day at Horrorland, or that cover with the green monster hand reaching around the basement door from Stay Out of the Basement. Anyway, if you're looking for a Goosebumps fix, there are some graphic novel adaptations that will delight and terrify either the inner child or maybe a child in your life who also wants some spooky season reading. 

For other terrifying graphic novels for kids, they all seem to be reading Five Nights at Freddy's. I get chills from some of the soft toys but the kids braver than me are loving the graphic novels based on a survival horror video game franchise about a security guard working at a family pizza restaurant filled with glitchy animatronic animal robots. Sounds like nightmare fuel! 

I loved the Stranger Things TV show with it's eerie horror and lovable cast of characters, and there's some wonderful graphic novel adaptations that I would recommend if you're already a fan or have older kids who love the 80s vibes, like Stranger Things: Science Camp which is good for younger readers, and Stranger Things: The Voyage which is ideal for older fans, following a story arc about the demogorgan and a rather stressful boat trip across the ocean.

If you're a horror reader already but are looking for somewhere to start with a manga or graphic novel, my go to recommendation would be Junji Ito. A Japanese horror manga artist, he is reknowned for his unforgettable combination of spiraling scary stories and terrifyingly graphic illustrations. If you're a fan of the work of Guillermo del Toro and the combination of a dark aesthetic and imagery combined with psychological dread and monsters, then Junji Ito will hit those same notes. 

Examples of Junji Ito's wonderfully disturbing artwork

Uzumaki is Ito's flagship work, and for a lot of fans one of his best representations of what makes his manga so iconic. Set in an eerie town where something is going terrifyingly wrong as people are being haunted by a spiral, a sinister curse that is causing a whirlpool of terror and madness. It's a captivating example of how the storytelling is enhanced by the art, providing a horror experience that couldn't be done any other way.

If cosmic horror is more your style, pick up Remina. It's a shorter story than the 3 volume Uzumaki, but still allows his talent to shine with a chilling tale about a planet that is hurtling towards Earth causing fear and chaos, and a fight for survival. It's more existential in its terror, but what could be more horrifying that facing our extinction.

Personally, I love a classic at Halloween and Junji Ito's take on Mary Shelley's classic, Frankenstein, is well worth a read. His eerie art adds a new layer to the iconic gothic horror, plus there's additional short stories that are connected to the masterpiece to enjoy as well.

If you're already part of the cult of Ito, make sure to read Uncanny: The Origins of Fear, where he allows us behind the curtain of his creation of these unique worlds and stories. His fascination with fear and terror are explored in behind the scene stories and insider anecdotes that are perfect for learning more about his approach and influences.

Twisted Visions is another must-buy for an Ito fan, a visual showcase of his terrifying visions and hauntingly intricate artwork.

I'm a big fan of cozy, spooky vibes rather than downright terrifying vibes. I am more than a little obsessed with Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen, about the tiny anthropomorphic garlic named, well, Garlic. One day her life on a vege patch is interrupted by stories of a vampire living nearby. It's charming and adorably illustrated and would be the cutest addition to spooky season.

Creepy Cat by Cotton Valent is another adorable option for spooky season. Starting as a gothic inspired, Wednesday Addams style web comic, this beautifully drawn story is about the artistic recluse, Flora, who moves into a mysterious mansion that is home to an otherworldly cat creature. It's a gorgeous and whimsically spooky addition to this time of year, and I highly recommend checking out Volume 1!

Lastly, if you're feeling like a cute but creepy, queer romance for spooky season, Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young is the graphic novel for you. It's creepy but also heartwarming, exploring themes of mental health and healing through the story of a young teen who disappears from his small-town, and the paranormal journey that his loved ones go on to get him back. 

Creepy Cat is gloriously whimsical, slice of life, spooky house vibes and I love it.

My chance to recommend a few last extras for you to leave you with chills! Let Me in Your Window by Adam Ellis creeps me out every time I see it on the shelf. It's technically a sequel but you can jump right into this terrifying collection of haunted house stories that feel a bit like sitting around a campfire getting more and more uncomfortable with the encroaching darkness that surrounds you.   

The strange, campfire, ghost story vibe continues with MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious - a beautifully illustrated collection of nine stories based on true events. People who are fans of the McBallen Youtube channel and podcast will already know this is worth picking up, but even if, like me, you have never heard of McBallen - one glance through the enthralling pages of this book will have you spooked. 

Wait Till Helen Comes is another ghost story inspired graphic novel about a newly blended family and a rural house with a past. It's an adaptation of what started as a middle-grade novel by Mary Downing Hahn, but the addition of the illustrations make it even better. This is another good option for younger horror fans, that will bring the ghost story vibes for the whole whānau.