A newly compiled selection of queer Halloween comics aims to guide readers through this growing literary landscape, thoughtfully arranged on a spectrum from whimsical adventures to deep, atmospheric horror. This curation highlights works that balance seasonal chills with complex queer storytelling, featuring contributions from notable creators and recommendations from seasoned critics.
The inspiration for this curated exploration stems from recent releases like Hollow, written by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, and Berenice Nelle. Offering a fresh, contemporary take on Washington Irving’s classic "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," the comic follows a teenager named Izzy who relocates to the titular town and discovers that its hyper-fixation on local folklore is entirely justified. Guided by a talking jack-o’-lantern, Izzy and her friend and crush, Vicky Van Tassel, race to investigate the town’s supernatural secrets and protect those in danger. Co-created by Shannon Watters, known for the hit series Lumberjanes, Hollow provides a quintessential Halloween romp.
For readers seeking a lighter, more comedic tone, That Full Moon Feeling by Ashley Robin Franklin delivers a short and sweet queer romantic comedy. Spanning three magical yet slightly chaotic dates, the narrative explores the budding relationship between a witch and a werewolf as they navigate the modern hurdles of online dating, monsters, and vulnerable emotional expression. According to critics, this heartwarming graphic novel serves as a joyful and lighthearted pick-me-up for readers looking to ease into the seasonal spirit.
Another prominent entry in the lighter supernatural category is The Ojja-Wojja, created by Magdalene Visaggio and Jenn St-Onge. The story centers on an autistic teenager with a fascination for aliens and her trans best friend, who has recently begun exploring witchcraft. Together, the pair investigates a local legend, accidentally unleashing unforeseen terrors upon their small community. The graphic novel has garnered praise for its genuine depiction of youth friendship and its clever climax.
Blending paranormal mythology with coming-of-age themes, Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens follows a young protagonist who discovers that her mother is a werewolf—and that she has inherited the same supernatural abilities. Embracing her new identity, Artie finds a sense of belonging within a hidden community of werewolves and develops a crush on a fellow teen werewolf named Maya. However, the discovery that competing paranormal forces inhabit the local forest quickly complicates her newfound community.
Historical settings also provide fertile ground for spooky narratives, as seen in Brooms by Jasmine Walls, illustrated by Teo DuVall. Set in 1930s Mississippi, the graphic novel presents a world where magic is real but heavily restricted by discriminatory laws that forbid certain individuals from participating in broom racing. The narrative follows Billie Mae and her friends as they operate an underground racing team, risking everything to compete in illegal races and dreaming of a safer future. Combining historical context with vibrant world-building and a diverse cast of queer characters, the book has been celebrated as a standout graphic novel.
As the thematic tone shifts toward darker and more satirical horror, Sarah Gailey, Pius Bak, and Roman Titov’s Eat the Rich offers an over-the-top, gruesome narrative infused with anti-capitalism. The plot follows Joey as she meets her wealthy boyfriend’s elite family for the first time, only to uncover their deeply disturbing and unconventional hobbies. Alongside the blood and satire, standout supporting characters like Petal—the family nanny who proudly wears a "Loud and Queer" t-shirt—ground the story’s fierce attitude.
Satire and psychological unease intersect in Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky, a dystopian graphic novel following a transfeminine protagonist named Sammie. Invited to a bachelor party for an old friend at El Campo, a hyper-capitalist, floating island resort where guests can hunt their own clones for leisure, Sammie becomes the sole observer of a sinister cult slowly converting the other party members. While navigating constant microaggressions and misgendering from her companions, Sammie relies on her wife and queer friends for support, standing as a defiant figure against a backdrop of toxic masculinity and corporate decay.
Psychological depth and haunting imagery drive A Guest in the House by E.M. Carroll, which utilizes vibrant, technicolor dream sequences to tell the unsettling story of a woman haunted by the ghost of her husband’s first wife. The spectral predecessor delivers a chilling accusation: that her death was murder at the hands of the man they both loved. Threaded with themes of compulsory heteronormativity and anchored by an ambiguous, controversial ending, the graphic novel leaves a lasting impression that encourages immediate re-readings.
Historical trauma and supernatural dread collide in Let Me Out by Emmett Nahil and George Williams. Set in 1970s New Jersey, the story follows Mitchell, a transgender teenager whose already difficult life is upended when the Satanic Panic sweeps through his town, fueled by an unhinged preacher, a complicit sheriff, and government officials concealing dark secrets. Mitchell and his friends find themselves targeted by bigots searching for a scapegoat, all while a malevolent supernatural force hunts them down in the shadows.
Closing out the spectrum of darker atmospheric horror is The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado, DaNi, and Tamra Bonvillain. The narrative opens with two queer teenagers, El and Vee, waking up inside a movie theater with no memory of the preceding hours. While Vee prefers to ignore the missing time, El is driven to uncover the truth behind the unsettling phenomena plaguing their small town of Shudder-To-Think, where flayed bodies, mutated deer, a girl who is a living sinkhole, and an ageless town witch intertwine in a complex web of horror.
With options spanning cozy supernatural comedy to politically charged dystopian satire and visceral psychological dread, these queer graphic novels offer diverse avenues for readers looking to celebrate the Halloween season through sequential art.
