The best supernatural and occult comics are, at the top,Hellboy,Hellblazer(John Constantine),The SandmanetSwamp Thingby 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, Factsverified. Each entry refers to a site file when it exists.
Tier S: masters of the occult
Hellboyby Mike Mignola is the benchmark for occult fantasy.Hellblazerfollows 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) andThe Books of Magicby Gaiman explore the occult from all its angles.
Tier B: fantastic noir
Spawn,B.P.R.D.,The Sixth Gun(occult western) andHarrow County(rural fantasy) dive into the supernatural with force.
Tier C: the modern occult
Fatal(Lovecraftian thriller),Baltimore,ZatannaetWychescomplete the selection.
Tier D: the curiosities
Dr. Occult(one of the very first DC characters, 1935),The DreamingetColderclose this tier list: more confidential but real occult stories.
To remember
- Hellboy and Hellblazerare the two references of the modern occult.
- The Vertigo labelproduced some of the greatest esoteric stories.
- The occult meets horrorbut is distinguished by its mythology and magic.
- Each entry refers to a site file when it exists.
Frequently asked questions
Hellboyby Mike Mignola andHellblazer(Constantine) are the references of the genre, alongside theSwamp Thingby Alan Moore.
Horror seeks fear; the occult features magic, demons and esotericism, often with its own mythology. The two intersect, like in Hellboy.
ByHellboy(fantastic accessible) or theSwamp Thingby Alan Moore. Both exist in bound collections.
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