With the Summer heat rolling in, the horror is only getting hotter in our June horror comics round up. There are a lot of great comics coming this month, perfect for a loungey afternoon beach read. Or maybe a secluded tent is more your style. If that's the case, just make sure there's no Bigfoot looking to snag some of these issues. I don't want that on my conscience. More importantly, June is PRIDE month! Queer horror comics are constantly popping up, which makes me so happy. Seeing yourself in a genre like horror can be oddly comforting. So be sure to check out the LGBTQIA+ stories I am tossing out here!
Without further ado, let's take a look at the horror comics that are coming this month along with newly announced titles! Look for these at your local comic book shop, and if you need help finding your local shop, be sure to use the Comic Shop Locator.
What to look out for: Let Me Out - October 2023
Let Me Out is a queer horror debut from Emmet Nahil and George Williams coming this October from Oni Press. The comic is a tribute to queer cinema and vintage revenge-exploitation films. The story is set in my home state of New Jersey during the summer of 1979, where the early onset of "Satanic Panic" has the state in its grasp. The local police falsely accuse a group of queer and trans misfits of the murder.
"Let Me Out turns classic horror tropes on their head, while showcasing how marginalized people are sacrificed on the altars of power," says writer Emmett Nahil, a narrative designer and game developer making his graphic novel debut. Make sure this one is on your radar for October.
What's New This Month?
The Sickness #1 - June 14
Publisher: Uncivilized Books
Writer: Lonnie Nadler
Artist: Jenna Cha
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Variant Cover: Trevor Henderson
The most successful horror that scares me, personally, is that which preys on my anxiety. The Sickness thrives in the dark recesses of your mind from the moment you open the first page to months after you read it. The first page captures the anxiety of taking a long look at yourself and the world around you. The story deals with two characters separated by a decade of time and an illness that causes hallucinations, mood swings, and much more sinister feelings. Jenna Cha's black-and-white art drives the anxiety, the shading and tones of the characters and horror scenes make it a horror comic you won't forget anytime soon.
The Oddly Pedestrian Life Of Christopher Chaos - June 28
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: James Tynion IV
Writer: Tate Brombal
Artist: Isaac Goodhart
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos is an LGBTQ+ horror coming-of-age story that features the lead struggling to figure out who and what he is. This team is a powerhouse of creative talent. Originally published in pieces through the Tiny Onion substack, the team has now made it a full ongoing comic at Dark Horse. It's already sold out and hasn't even hit shelves yet, so there are a lot of people excited enough to get it to a second printing. The first issue is a perfect setup for a horror comic that struggles with the loneliness of feeling like an outsider. The story features werewolves, high school drama, and some of the best art out there. I have always said Isaac Goodhart draws the best hair in comics, and Christopher's coif is a testament to that statement.
Past Tense - In comic shops now + Bookstores June 20
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Jason McNamara
Artist: Alberto Massaggia
Colorist: Paul Little
Letterer: Jason McNamara
Technology is ripe for the horror comic harvest and seems to be a big topic for recent titles. Past Tense takes a very different approach with a neo-noir future where camera drones are sent into the past so people can pay to watch past events play out in real time. There is something horrifying in that concept alone, it feels like an invasion of privacy on a whole new level. But what if there was a serial killer who was never caught for his crimes that now wants to live out his glory days through the service? Even worse… What if all the customers want to as well? It's a horrifically unique spin on time travel.
What's Ongoing?
June 7
I Hate This Place #9 - Image
Lamentation #2 - Oni Press
June 14th
The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country - The Glass House #3 - DC Comics
Dead by Daylight #1 (Delayed) - Titan Books
The Nasty #3 - Vault Comics
Haunt You To The End #1 - Top Cow
Banshees #3 - Scout Comics
June 21
The Bone Orchard Mythos: Tenement #1 - Image Comics
Maniac of New York: Don't Call it a Comeback #3 - Aftershock Comics
All Eight Eyes #3 - Dark Horse Comics
Monomyth #2 - Mad Cave Comics
June 28
W0rldtr33 #3 - Image Comics
Blue Book #5 - Dark Horse Comics
Nightfall Double Feature #4 (Finale) - Vault Comics
Exorcists Never Die #3 - Mad Cave Studios
Animals #1 - Invader Comics
