continued from previous page
The Vain. By Eliot Rahal (writer), Emily
Pearson (artist), Fred C. Stresing (colorist), and Crank! (letterer). Oni
Press, 2020-2021.
Subgenres: crime horror, vampires
Issues published: #1-#5, collected
in one volume (2021)
In 1941, a Chicago blood bank is robbed by a gang known as
the Blood Bandits. FBI Agent Felix Franklin, investigating similar robberies,
is certain that as WWII looms, the blood shortage is a direct attack that will
result in weakening the United States. The Vain, a group of vampires
responsible for the crimes, have been successful at outwitting the authorities.
However, through the decades, surveillance and security measures steadily
improve to the point where stealing blood is nearly impossible. The smallest
mistake would mean their downfall. Agent Franklin has never given up on this
case, and time is seemingly on his side.
Vampire: The Masquerade: The
Complete Series
 |
Vampire: The Masquerade, the Complete Series trade paperback
cover. Vault Comics, 2024. |
.
By Tim Seeley (writer), Tini Howard (writer), Blake Howard (writer), Jim
Zub (writer), Nathan Gooden (artist), Devmalya Pramanik (artist), Stephen
Molnar (artist), Corin Howell (artist), Julius Ohta (artist), Addison
Duke (they/them, colorist), and AndWorld Design (letterer). Vault Comics, 2024.
Subgenres: crime horror, political horror, shapeshifters, vampires
Issues
published: Vampire the Masquerade: The Complete Series (2024) collects
#1-#10 of Vampire: The Masquerade: Winter’s Teeth, #1-#3 of the Werewolf
crossover World of Darkness: Crimson Thaw, and roleplaying game
supplemental pages
Cecily Bain is an enforcer serving the Twin Cities' vampire
faction known as the Camarilla. When she takes Alejandra, a mysterious newly
turned vampire, into her care, she may have inadvertently put herself and her
community in danger. Alejandra may not be trusted. While Cecily is attempting
to solve her own problems, Colleen Pendergrass, who was forcefully embraced by
her spouse, is searching for answers to a murder.
The Vampire Slayer. By Sarah Gailey (writer),
Carlos Olivares (artist), Michael Shelfer (artist), Sonia Liao (artist),
Claudia Balboni (artist), Hannah Templar (artist), Kath Lobo (artist),
Roberta Ingranata (artist), Puste (artist), Valentina Pinto (colorist),
Riccardo Giardina (color assistant), Lea Caballero (inker), and Ed Dukeshire
(letterer). BOOM! Studios, 2022-2023.
Subgenres:
monsters, occult horror, supernatural horror, vampires, witches
Issues
published: #1-#16; Volume 1 (2023) collects #1-#4; Volume 2
(2023) collects #5-#8; Volume 3 (2023) collects #9-#12; Volume 4
(2023) collects #13-#16
Powerful
witch Willow and librarian Giles think they are doing the best thing for Buffy
when a spell goes wrong. Instead of helping Buffy deal with her trauma, the
spell strips the Slayer of her role and transfers it to Willow instead.
However, just because the Slayer’s identity has changed hands does not mean
that Willow is ready to take on her new responsibilities. Buffy, feeling a loss
of purpose, falls into depression and frustration. Unbeknownst to everyone,
another new Slayer has been activated.
 |
Vampirella: Hollywood Horror trade paperback cover. Dynamite, 2016. |
Vampirella: Hollywood Horror. By Kate Leth (they/them, writer),
Eman Casallos (artist), Valentina Pinto (colorist), Erica Schultz (letterer),
Joseph Rybandt (executive editor), and Rachel Pinnelas (associate
editor). Dynamite Entertainment, 2016.
Subgenres:
monsters, occult horror, shapeshifters, vampires, witches
Issues
published: #1-#5, collected in one volume (2016)
After
a video of Vampirella killing a monster goes viral on YouTube, the fanboys
immediately fall in love with her, and the media obviously notices. As a result
of her newfound fame, Vampirella becomes a horror host, which garners the
attention of a powerful sorceress, Slade, who is in control of Hollywood’s
horror movie industry. With her werewolf boyfriend Tristan, faithful butler
Coleridge, and demon-blooded agent Juliette, Vampirella fights to free
Hollywood and the monsters from Slade’s terrible grasp.
Vampironica. By Greg Smallwood (writer,
artist), Meg Smallwood (writer), Greg Scott (artist), Matt Herms
(colorist), and Jack Morelli (letterer). Archie Comics, 2018-2019.
Subgenres: teen horror, vampires
Issues published: #1-#4, collected
in one volume (2019)
When popular high school cheerleader Veronica is bitten by a
vampire, she must decide between her bloodlust or preserving the lives of those
she loves in Riverdale.
Vampironica: New Blood. By Frank Tieri (writer), Michael
Moreci (writer), Audrey Mok (artist), Joe Eisma (artist), Matt Herms
(colorist), Lee Loughridge (colorist), and Jack Morelli (letterer). Archie
Comics, 2020.
Subgenres: teen horror, vampires
Issues
published: #1-#4, collected in one volume (2020)
After the crossover event Jughead: The Hunger vs.
Vampironica, Veronica searches for answers to her current existence. She
uncovers more about her family history and the vampire who started it all.
Vault. By James Ninness (writer), Andres
Esparza (artist), Sergio Martinez (colorist), Janice Chiang (letterer),
and Sandy King (editor). Storm King Comics, 2018.
Subgenres:
aliens, body horror, eco horror, science fiction horror
Issues
published: #1-#3, collected in one volume (2018)
Vault
is the first series in John
Carpenter's Tales of Science Fiction imprint. The crew of the Gaia are on their
way to the moon, but they stop to investigate the wreckage of a large space
vessel. As they pick their way through the vast craft, it becomes clear they
are facing technology far advanced than what should be possible, as well as the
bodies of the previous crew and a peculiar fungus.
Vortex. By Mike Sizemore (writer), David
Kennedy (artist), Pete Kennedy (colorist), Janice Chiang (letterer), and
Sandy King (editor). Storm King Comics, 2021.
Subgenres:
body horror, medical horror, monsters, political horror, science fiction
horror, tech horror
Issues
published: #1-#8, collected in one volume (2021)
Vortex
is the second series in John
Carpenter's Tales of Science Fiction imprint. A rescue team is sent from Space
Station Benson in the Veil Nebula to an asteroid where a deep space mining
expedition is assigned. The last communication from the crew was a distress
call, after which transmission ceases, and nobody knows why. With Jake Dixon, a
man whose past calls into question his reliability, the rescue team discovers
what the crew has unearthed, and that it has the potential to destroy humanity.
Amidst the investigation, another mystery is unfolding at the space station.
Vortex 2.0. By Mike Sizemore (writer), David
Kennedy (artist), Pete Kennedy (colorist), Janice Chiang (letterer), and
Sandy King (editor). Storm King Comics, 2021.
Subgenres:
body horror, medical horror, monsters, political horror, science fiction
horror, tech horror
Issues
published: #1-#8, collected in one volume (2021)
Vortex
2.0 is the seventh series in John
Carpenter's Tales of Science Fiction imprint. Over twenty years have passed
since the Benson Disaster, when the space station lost nearly its entire crew.
Now the survivors come together to venture further out in space to the Cat's
Paw Nebula to help the Barringer Habitat crew confront a familiar enemy.
 |
West of Sundown Volume 1: Out Beyond the Dust n’ Dark trade paperback cover. Vault Comics, 2023. |
West of
Sundown. By Tim
Seeley (writer), Aaron Campbell (writer), Jim Terry (artist), Triona Farrell
(colorist), Marissa Louise (colorist), and Crank! (letterer). Vault
Comics, 2022-2023.
Subgenres: monsters, small-town horror, vampires
Issues
published: Volume 1: Out Beyond the Dust n’ Dark (2023) collects #1-#5; Volume
2: Youthful Blasphemy (2023) collects #6-#10
Vampire Constance Der Abend returns to her place of origin,
New Mexico, to reclaim her ancestral soil that is essential for her survival.
With constant companion Dooley O'Shaughnessy, she settles in Sangre De Mor,
where they find other monsters have formed a community. As Constance and Dooley
become more familiar with their new way of life, they prepare for other
creatures to arrive. However, not all of the newcomers are there for altruistic
reasons.
Winnebago Graveyard. By Alison Sampson (writer),
Steve Niles (writer), Stéphane Paitreau (artist, colorist), Eiko Takayama
(artist, colorist), Paulina Ganucheau (artist), Jen Bartel
(artist), Mingjue Helen Chen (artist), Emi Lenox (artist), Irene
Strychalski (artist), Annie Wu (artist), Sarah Horrocks (essayist),
Casey Gilly (essayist), Claire Napier (essayist), Amma Tambour
(essayist), and Aditya Bidikar (letterer). Image Comics, 2017.
Subgenres: body horror, occult horror
Issues
published: #1-#4, collected in one volume (2017)
While embarking on a family
vacation, stepfather
Dan is having difficulty connecting with his stepson, Bobby, which causes
tension with the boy's mother, Christie. To break the tension, Dan suggests
they visit the carnival nearby. When they become stranded in the small town,
with mysterious cultists hunting them, they will need to work together to
survive the night.
Witchblade. By Caitlin Kittredge
(writer), Roberta Ingranata (artist), Bryan Valenza (colorist), Troy
Peteri (letterer), and Eric Stephenson (editor). Image Comics, 2018-2020.
Subgenres: crime horror, dark fantasy, demons, domestic horror,
hauntings, occult horror, supernatural horror
Issues
published: #1-#18; Volume 1 (2018) collects #1-#6; Volume 2
(2019) collects #7-#12; Volume 3 (2020) collects #13-#18
New York City journalist Alex Underwood is shot and left for
dead but wakes up bloody in her apartment. It is here she discovers an ancient
artifact, the Witchblade, merged with her. She also discovers there are
supernatural forces that see her as a target now that she can be a powerful
force against them.
 |
W0RLDTR33 Volume 1: Terminal trade paperback cover. Image Comics, 2023. |
W0RLDTR33. By James Tynion IV (writer),
Fernando Blanco (artist), Jordie Bellaire (colorist), Aditya Bidikar
(letterer), and Steve Fox (editor). Image Comics, 2023-.
Subgenres: tech horror, serial killers
Issues
published: #1-ongoing; Volume 1: Terminal (2023) collects #1-#5; Volume
2: Network (2024) collects #6-#11
Gabriel
and his friends explore a new layer of the internet in 1999. Calling this
sublayer the Undernet, they recorded data about it via the W0RLDTR33 site.
Tracing the data forces them to accept that this layer has negative effects on
users, with side effects like headaches and hallucinations. Thinking that this
may be dangerous, the group builds a firewall around the sublayer, thinking it
is fully sequestered and locked down. Two decades later, it is free. Teenagers
are committing murders and acts of violence after downloading a program from
the internet. Worse, a serial killer codenamed PH34R, who has intimate
knowledge of the Undernet, proves to be a difficult target.
Anthologies and Collections Created or Curated by Women
 |
Archie Horror Presents: Chilling Adventures: The
Anthology Collection cover. Archie Comics, 2023. |
Archie Horror Presents: Chilling Adventures:
The Anthology Collection. Jamie
L. Rotante (editor). Archie Comics, 2023.
Subgenres: demons, monsters. occult horror,
witches
This anthology collects seven comics from the
Archie Horror line, including 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. Women
creators include Amy Chu (writer), Eva Cabrera (artist), Magdalene
Visaggio (writer), Joanne Starer (writer), Corin Howell
(artist), Casey Gilly (writer), and Liana Kangas (artist).
 |
Fantastic Frights: A Beginner’s Guide to Scary
Stories cover. Cloudscape Comics Society, 2022. |
Fantastic Frights: A Beginner's Guide to Scary Stories. By Evan Waterman (editor)
and Hannah Myers (editor). Cloudscape Comics Society, 2022.
Subgenres: body horror, cosmic horror, eco
horror, hauntings, monsters, science fiction horror, shapeshifters, teen
horror, vampires
This anthology includes 14 horror stories
that range from cozy horror to more extreme while remaining an all-ages
collection. Women creators include Amy Chase (writer), Haley Boros
(artist), Katie Hicks (artist), Desirae Salmark (artist), Kelly
Chen (writer, artist), Kathleen Gros (writer, artist), Reetta
Linjama (artist), Mary Verhoeven (artist), Olga Wieszczyk
(writer, artist), Eden Cooke (artist), Schnumn (writer, artist), Hannah
Myers (artist), Laurel Dundee (artist), and Jade McGilvray
(artist).
 |
In the Dark: A Horror Anthology cover.
IDW Publishing, 2014. |
In the Dark: A Horror Anthology. By Rachel Deering (editor,
writer, letterer). IDW Publishing, 2014.
Subgenres: body horror, cosmic horror, crime
horror, domestic horror, hauntings, medical horror, monsters
In the Dark: A Horror Anthology collects
24 horror comics. Women creators include Tamra Bonvillian (colorist), Kelly
Fitzpatrick (colorist), Christine Larsen (artist, colorist), Alison
Sampson (artist), Marguerite Bennett (writer), and Valeria
D’Orazio (writer).
John Carpenter’s Tales for
a HalloweeNight.
By Sandy King (editor). Storm King Comics, 2016-ongoing.
Subgenres: aliens, body horror, cannibalism,
cosmic horror, crime horror, dark fantasy, demons, domestic horror, eco horror,
folk horror, hauntings, monsters, occult horror, science fiction horror, serial
killers, shapeshifters, tech horror, vampires, witches
This anthology series features standalone
horror stories curated by John Carpenter and Sandy King, both of whom
contribute a story to each volume. The tradition of a horror host is preserved
in these pages as the tales are presented by such figures as the cemetery
Groundscreeper and the shapeshifter Baphomet. Women and non-binary creators are
listed for each published volume below.
 |
|
John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight Volume 4 cover.
Storm King Comics, 2018.
|
Volume 1 (2015): Sandy King (writer),
Mariana Sanzone (colorist), and Janice Chiang (letterer)
Volume 2 (2016): Deirdre Brooks (writer),
Renae De Liz (writer), Amanda Deibert (writer), Cat Staggs (artist),
Sandy King (writer), and Janice Chiang (letterer)
Volume 3 (2017): Louise Simonson
(writer), Amanda Deibert (writer), Cat Staggs (artist), Sandy
King (writer), Jan Duursema (artist), and Janice Chiang (letterer)
Volume 4 (2018): Elena Carrillo (writer),
Cat Staggs (artist), Megan Hutchison (artist), Amanda Deibert (writer),
Renae De Liz (writer), Sandy King (writer), and Janice Chiang (letterer)
Volume 5 (2019): Elena Carrillo (writer),
Amanda Deibert (writer), Cat Staggs (artist), Chandra Free (artist),
Sian Mandrake (they/them), Sara Richard, Sandy King (writer), and
Janice Chiang (letterer)
Volume 6 (2020): Sara Richard,
Jennie Wood, Renae De Liz, Elena Carrillo, Amanda
Deibert (writer), Sara Richard, Simone Guglielmini, Cat
Staggs (artist), Sandy King (letterer), and Janice Chiang (letterer)
 |
John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight Volume 7 cover. Storm King Comics, 2021. |
Volume 7 (2021): Elena Carrillo (writer),
Sian Mandrake (they/them, colorist), Amanda Deibert (writer), Cat
Staggs (artist), Jan Duursema, Sandy King (writer), and Janice
Chiang (letterer)
Volume 8 (2022): Elena Carillo (writer),
Sian Mandrake (they/them), Cat Staggs (artist), Michelle Madsen (colorist),
Sara Richard (writer, artist), Amanda Deibert (writer), Jennie
Wood (writer), Heather Vaughan (artist), Sandy King (writer),
and Janice Chiang (letterer)
Volume 9 (2023): Elena Carrillo (writer),
Sian Mandrake (they/them), Amanda Deibert (writer), Cat Staggs (artist),
Jennie Wood (writer), Sandy King (writer), and Janice Chiang (letterer)
Volume 10 (2024): Elena Carrillo (writer),
Sian Mandrake (they/them), Amanda Deibert (writer), Cat Staggs (artist),
Jennie Wood (writer), Sandy King (writer), and Janice Chiang (letterer)
The Skin You’re In: A Collection of Horror
Comics
 |
|
The Skin You’re In: A Collection of Horror Comics cover. Silver Sprocket,
2024.
|
. By Ashley Robin Franklin.
Silver Sprocket, 2024.
Subgenres: body horror, eco horror
This volume collects eight of Ashley Robin
Franklin's horror comics, including previously published and new
stories, featuring themes of body horror, plant-based creatures, and queer
identity.
 |
Sleep of Reason cover. Iron Circus Comics, 2014. |
Sleep of Reason. Edited by C. Spike
Trotman. Iron Circus Comics, 2014.
Subgenres: body horror, cosmic horror,
domestic horror, eco horror, medical horror, monsters, science fiction horror
This anthology collects 26 original horror
stories with an overarching focus on existential dread and original monsters.
Women creators include Meg Gandy, Carla Speed McNeil, britt c. h., Lin
Visel, Der-shing Helmer, Hillary Blair, Kristin Cheney, Lety R-Z, Kit Goode,
Liz Edwards, Lee Blauersouth, Blue Delliquanti, Melanie
Gillman, C. Spike Trotman, Savannah Horrocks, Ainsley Seago, Sophie Goldstein,
and Britt Sabo.
 |
A Soul Divided / Caged in Flesh cover. Red Stylo Media, 2018. |
A
Soul Divided/Caged in Flesh. By Enrica Jang (editor), Mark
Mullaney (editor), and Genevieve Trainor (editor). Red Stylo Media,
2018.
Subgenres: dark fantasy, gothic horror,
medical horror, monsters, science fiction horror
This anthology is a double-sided collection
of comics inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's novella The Strange Case of
Dr. Jekyll and Mt. Hyde. Women and non-binary creators include Heather
Kenealy (writer), Lindsay Smith (writer), Stephanie Tunnell (artist),
Alouisse Ver (they/them, artist), Wendy Muldon (artist), Lea J. Zimmt
(writer), Jessica Trevino (artist), Shen Travis (artist),
and Sunny Go (they/them).
 |
| Sugar and Other Stories cover.
Silver Sprocket, 2023. |
Sugar
and Other Stories. By Joy San. Silver Sprocket, 2023.
Subgenres: body horror, domestic horror,
horror comedy
Joy San presents seven short horror comics in
this anthology that include themes of isolation, existential dread, body
horror, and supernatural or very human monsters.
Conclusion and Next Steps
This bibliography documents the scale of
horror comics created by women creators between December 2023 and December
2024, highlighting both established and emerging talent in the horror genre.
This project blends discoverability with inclusivity, offering a practical
research tool while exhibiting women working in the horror genre. The
deliberate visual identification of women, by using bold text, and the
inclusion of non-binary contributors reflect ongoing efforts within the field
to more accurately represent who is shaping contemporary horror comics.
While not exhaustive, Part II provides a
record of the body of work by women in the horror comic medium, as well as a
foundation to be built upon, such as broadening the scope to include more dates and including zines, small presses, webcomics, and
international comics. The latter in particular is underrepresented in
bibliographic scholarship. While the tagging system has been revised from Part
I to include more subgenres, further refining and expanding to better account
for overlooked subgenres may be needed.
The titles listed here affirm that women
creators are not only participating in horror comics but are actively
redefining the genre's
boundaries, themes, and future.
This bibliography is offered as both a research tool and an invitation to continue documenting and amplifying
the work of creators whose contributions are essential to the present and
future of horror comics. Librarians and readers’ advisory professionals may also use this
bibliography as a foundation for collection development, programming, or reader
engagement initiatives that center women and gender-diverse creators.
References
Walker,
L. (2024). “Women Creating Monsters: A Bibliography of Comics and Graphic
Novels, Part I: Graphic Novels,
2014-2024.” International Journal of Comic Art, 26(2), 161-227.
Appendix A. Subgenre Tags and Definitions
|
Subgenre Tag
|
Definition
|
|
Aliens*
|
Extraterrestrial beings
|
|
Body horror
|
Includes graphic gore and ruin of bodies
|
|
Cannibalism*
|
Practice of humans consuming human flesh
|
|
Cosmic horror
|
Also called Lovecraftian horror; focus on the unknown,
cosmic beings, and questions of humanity's fate
|
|
Crime horror
|
Blends elements of crime or detective fiction with horror
|
|
Dark fantasy
|
Combines elements of fantasy with horror
|
|
Dark romance*
|
Combines elements of romance with horror
|
|
Demons
|
Evil supernatural entity that torments their victims
|
|
Domestic horror
|
Fear focuses on home and family
|
|
Dystopian horror*
|
Combines elements of societal control, dehumanization,
societal collapse, and oppression with horror
|
|
Eco horror
|
The environment and natural world enact vengeance after
human destruction or negligence affects negative change
|
|
Erotic horror
|
Combines elements of erotic fiction and horror
|
|
Final girls/Final boys*
|
Last survivor of a slasher
|
|
Folk horror
|
Set in isolated or rural areas; themes include isolation
and folklore
|
|
Gothic horror
|
Uses elements of gothic fiction to enact terror and fear
|
|
Hauntings
|
Includes haunted houses, objects, places, and ghosts
|
|
Historical horror
|
Blends real world historical events with horror
|
|
Horror comedy
|
Combines elements of humor with horror
|
|
Medical horror
|
Healthcare personnel performing inhumane experiments or
murder; rise of epidemics or viruses; can be set in healthcare facility
|
|
Monsters
|
Non-human unnatural creatures; visual representation of
the Other
|
|
Occult horror*
|
Examines supernatural concepts, metaphysics, and rituals
within world religion, such as paganism, demonology, magic, and psychic
phenomena; associated with demonology and witchcraft
|
|
Political horror*
|
Horror merges with governmental subjects and topics; may
involve governmental control, oppression, terrorism, extremism, and other
topics
|
|
Possession
|
Supernatural entity takes over the body and soul of the
chosen vessel
|
|
Psychic horror
|
Characters exhibiting psychic abilities or situations
involving such phenomena
|
|
Rape revenge*
|
Character takes revenge on the responsible parties for
rape
|
|
Religious horror*
|
Combines Judeo-Christian centric religions with horror
elements
|
|
Science fiction horror
|
Integrates science fiction elements, such as alien life,
technology or futuristic setting, with horror themes
|
|
Serial killers*
|
Human killers who stalk and kill
|
|
Shapeshifters*
|
Humans that can take on the forms of other creatures, such
as werebeasts and changelings
|
|
Slashers*
|
Killers who stalk and kill victims, often using excessive
violence and can exhibit supernatural abilities
|
|
Small-town horror*
|
Setting is a small or isolated town
|
|
Survival horror
|
Characters try to survive with limited resources in
life-threatening situations
|
|
Tech horror
|
Uses modern technology, such as social media, cell phones,
and computers, to terrorize characters
|
|
Teen horror
|
Stories both with teens as the audience and character ages
|
|
Vampires
|
Undead creatures that consume blood
|
|
Vigilantes
|
Characters who take justice into their own hands
|
|
Witches*
|
Practitioners of natural or supernatural magic
|
|
Zombies
|
Ambulatory corpses that feast on living flesh
|
*Indicates the tag has been added or
revised
Appendix B. List of Publishers
Appendix C. List of Crowdsourced and readers'
advisory resources
Lizzy
Walker is an Associate Professor and the Metadata & Digital Initiatives
Librarian at Wichita State University in Wichita, KS. She earned her Master of
Library Science from the University of North Texas in 2012. She has published
articles regarding how academic libraries and special collections resources use popular culture, specifically horror genre
materials created by women, to showcase unique collections. Her articles have
appeared in International Journal of Comic Art, Journal of
Librarianship and Scholarly Communications, Journal of Library
Administration, and Technical Services Quarterly.
