Marvel Universe
Marvel's Top 10 Scary Stories
Undead Avengers, Ultron, Absolute Carnage, and all of the Ghost Riders… See what macabre Marvel tales we’re reading right now!
HAUNTED HOUSE OF IDEAS
Journey Into Mystery
in Journey Into Mystery (1952) #1
A decade before Thor took over in issue #83, JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY played home to some of the weirdest and wildest stories published by Marvel forerunner Atlas Comics!
Classic Dracula
in Tomb of Dracula (1972) #1
MAN-THING (1974), WEREWOLF BY NIGHT (1972), and FRANKENSTEIN (1973) are all worth a look, but the real star of the ‘70s is TOMB OF DRACULA. With issue #7, creators Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan began spinning a gothic tapestry that is equal parts moody British horror and vampire drama.
“The Demon Bear” Saga
in New Mutants (1983) #18
Read through issue #20! X-Legends Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz teamed up on this three-issue arc that explored who, or what, was the psychic terror known as the Demon Bear. This storyline covered Dani Moonstar’s painful past and showed off the full range of her at-times horrific power. Experimental and thrilling.
The Brood in “Earthfall”
in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #232
Few Marvel alien races illicit as much fear and dread as the Brood. These bug-like creatures look like they skittered right out of a nightmare with their huge teeth and insectoid wings, but you really have to watch out for their tail spines which can inject eggs inside a person's body! In UNCANNY X-MEN #232-234, these horror shows crashed to Earth outside of Paris, leading to a nearly fatal encounter with the X-Men.
Ultron Unlimited
in Avengers (1998) #18
Over the years, Ultron has implemented a variety of dastardly plans against humanity, but in Kurt Busiek and George Perez's AVENGERS #18-22, the Avengers’ android abomination went from mechanical menace to murderous monster when he killed everyone in the country of Slorenia. And that was his opening move.
Marvel Zombies
in Marvel Zombies (2005) #1
For decades, being dubbed a “Marvel Zombie” was a badge of honor. That all changed in 2005 when Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips launched the five-issue MARVEL ZOMBIES, spinning out of ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR (2003). The series did not pull any punches, kicking things off with Magneto staring down nearly a dozen undead heroes wearing their classic costumes!
White Light, Black Heat
in Black Panther (2005) #12
During Reginald Hudlin's legendary run on BLACK PANTHER, the writer managed to hit a number of different genres ranging from sci-fi to romance. Here, Hudlin and artist Scot George Eaton drop T'Challa and Luke Cage into the horror pool. While in a historical quarter of New Orleans, a horde of vampires led by Beatrice and Victor Montague set up shop in dark alleys and underground waterways.
Jason Aaron’s Ghost Rider
in Ghost Rider (2006) #20
Back in 2008, writer Jason Aaron took over GHOST RIDER with an epic grindhouse tale of demons, angels, killer nurses, haunted highways, serial stalkers, supernatural Super Villains, nunchuck-wielding nuns, and the actual children of Satan. Among other wild threats.
Franken-Castle
in Punisher (2009) #11
With Rick Remender and Tony Moore's “Franken-Castle” arc, the Punisher blazed all-new trails by becoming a patchwork man who hung out with the Legion of Monsters below New York City! For the whole storyline, read PUNISHER (2009) #11-16 into FRANKENCASTLE (2010) #17-21.
Absolute Carnage
in Absolute Carnage (2019) #1
Imagine: the most maniacal and deadly villain in the Marvel Universe transformed into a planetary threat! ABSOLUTE CARNAGE revolved around the symbiote god Knull attempting to regain his strength. To do so, Knull facilitated the rebirth of Carnage, now on a mission to collect spinal codices from every. Single. Symbiote. Host. Ever.