The best supernatural and occult comics: the tier list — article illustration

The best supernatural and occult comics are, at the top,Hellboy , Hellblazer (John Constantine), The Sandman and Swamp Thing by Alan Moore. This tier list ranks stories of esotericism, demons and black magic according to their quality and atmosphere. Facts (authors, publishers, dates) verified, no invented ratings; each entry refers to a record when it exists.

The occult is fertile ground for comics: demonic pacts, forbidden magic, ancient entities. This tier list brings together the series that best delve into the supernatural – atmosphere, personal mythology, fear. Criterion: the success of the esoteric story.

Editorial Ranks, Facts verified. Each entry refers to a site file when it exists.

Tier list — supernatural & occult
A
Locke & KeyHill & Rodriguez, 2008 Ghost RiderMarvel, 1972 Doctor StrangeMarvel, 1963 The Books of MagicGaiman, 1990
B
SpawnMcFarlane, 1992 B.P.R.D.Mignola & al., 2003 The Sixth GunBunn & Hurtt, 2010 Harrow CountyBunn & Crook, 2015
C
FatalBrubaker & Phillips, 2012 BaltimoreMignola & Golden, 2007 ZatannaDC, 1964 WychesSnyder & Jock, 2014
D
Dr. OccultD.C., 1935 The DreamingVertigo, 1996 Nightmare Blog / ColderTobin & Ferreyra, 2012

Tier S: masters of the occult

Hellboyby Mike Mignola is the benchmark for occult fantasy.Hellblazer follows John Constantine, the medium's most cynical trickster-magician.The Sandmanmixes all the mythologies, and theSwamp Thingby Alan Moore reinvented ecological and mystical horror.

Tier A: the great esoteric stories

Locke & Key(a terrifying family magic),Ghost Rider(the demonic pact),Doctor Strange(the Sorcerer Supreme) and The Books of Magic by Gaiman explore the occult from all its angles.

Tier B: fantastic noir

Spawn,B.P.R.D. , The Sixth Gun (occult western) and Harrow County(rural fantasy) dive into the supernatural with force.

Tier C: the modern occult

Fatal (Lovecraftian thriller), Baltimore,Zatannaet Wyches complete the selection.

Tier D: the curiosities

Dr. Occult(one of the very first DC characters, 1935),The Dreaming and Colder close this tier list: more confidential but real occult stories.

To remember

Frequently asked questions

Hellboy by Mike Mignola and Hellblazer(Constantine) are the references of the genre, alongside the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore.

Horror seeks fear; the occult features magic, demons and esotericism, often with its own mythology. The two intersect, like in Hellboy.

By Hellboy(fantastic accessible) or the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore. Both exist in bound collections.

Do you own a sought-after Hellboy: Seed of Destruction or Swamp Thing?Estimate its value for freewith our tool based on real eBay sales.