For a long time, people thought of comic books as fodder for children, and during the age of the Comics Code Authority (starting in 1954), this wasn’t far from the truth. The CCA was a censorship group that limited the content in comics, hoping to keep their young readers from developing degenerate behavior. However, as the CCA became more and more defunct, and publishers began releasing series outside of its approval, the industry grew up, resulting in several more mature series that made comics more mainstream. Writers continue to push these boundaries with dark and gritty stories, resulting in some truly messed-up stories.
The Boys
- Release Date
- July 26, 2019
- Seasons
- 4
- Studio
- Amazon Studios
One of the most famous boundary-shattering series is The Boys, written by Garth Ennis. The series is a dark comedy superhero satire, meant to deconstruct superhero tropes, and Ennis took a number of chances with its bloody, highly explicit story. However, while the most famous, The Boys is far from the only extremely messed-up series in existence, and the following 20 are some of the best. Reader discretion is advised, though. The majority of these series aren’t for the faint of heart, given the gallons of red ink used in their printing, but for those able to stomach the grit and gore, they are also some of the most interesting series in the medium.
20 Brat Pack (1990)
On the surface, Brat Pack from writer/artist Rick Veitch seems pretty tame. Four newly appointed superheroes must face the challenges of becoming sidekicks to the world’s premier hero team. However, it is far darker than you could ever imagine. After the four sidekicks of the superhero team Black October are murdered in a bombing, the heroes are forced to recruit new sidekicks to appease their corporate sponsors. Cody, the new Chippy working under Midnight Mink, learns that being a sidekick is far from easy, as he suffers extensive mental and physical abuse by his mentor in order to prepare him to face Dr. Blasphemy.
Brat Pack Takes a Brutal Look at Superhero Sidekicks
Brat Pack is considered one of the most poignant deconstructions of the superhero genre, and it is one that is wholly unique in its perspective of sidekicks. Few stories truly explore the lives of the young heroes sent into these life-or-death battles with villains, and the series goes to some truly horrific places. Black October’s attempts to condition their young wards are torturous, and the underlying conspiracies show superheroes in the worst possible light. This is a series that clearly acted as a major inspiration for The Boys, and while it isn’t necessarily the goriest story on this list, it is definitely one of the darkest.
19 Preacher (1995)
In the realm of subversive comics, Garth Ennis is one of the most prolific names, and outside of The Boys, Preacher is one of his most famous series. Jesse Custer, a small-town Texas preacher, is possessed by a mysterious half-angel, half-demon entity known as Genesis. Genesis gives Custer “the Word of God,” forcing anyone who hears his commands to comply.
He also discovers that God has abandoned Heaven due to Genesis’ birth, and to restore order in the world, Jesse must team with his ex, Tulip O’Hare, and an alcoholic Irish vampire named Cassidy to find God, contending with an immortal cowboy and a Nazi conspiracy along the way.
Preacher is One of Vertigo’s Most Harrowing Classics
Preacher has a little bit of something for everyone. Brutal deaths? Extreme body horror? Disturbingly explicit sexual material? These are just some of the many wonders (horrors) waiting for you in the pages of Preacher. With that said, this series is beloved for a reason. It’s a fascinating breakdown of religious iconography and religious organizations, a commonality in Ennis’ work, and the world-building of this dark, Biblically inspired landscape is top-notch. This series can be hard to get through at times, especially given the often intense violence and graphic imagery, but for readers looking for the best in modern horror, Preacher is a must-read.
18 Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013)
Injustice: Gods Among Us is a superhero fighting game made by Netherrealm Studios, creators of Mortal Kombat, and its immense popularity among the fan base inspired the publication of a comic book prequel. Starting five years prior to the events of the game, the series is set in a universe where the Joker broke Superman. Forced to kill his wife and unborn child, Superman gets his revenge by killing the Joker. Realizing that the heroes have never done enough, Superman builds the One Earth Regime and takes control of the world, forcing Batman and several others to head underground to resist his new totalitarian military state.
Injustice Gives Readers a Fresh Perspective of the DC Universe
For those seeking a different kind of superhero story, Injustice is right for you. It is one of the most epic explorations of the DC universe in a long time, detailing some of the biggest superpowered clashes, but in between the intense battles, there is an incredibly well-told story with some true thrills. Superman’s Regime taking on the Green Lantern Corps single-handedly is a personal favorite, but there are so many incredible events that play out. Every aspect of the DC Universe is affected by Superman’s fall from grace, from the supernatural to the depths of space, and this darker perspective on these beloved characters is very welcome.
17 Kick-Ass (2008)
Comic book writer Mark Millar has made his name with his grim perspective on superheroism. Kick-Ass is one of his many creator-owned titles and one of his most famous. Dave Lizewski is a comic book nerd who has always wanted to be a superhero. Donning a wetsuit, Dave is nearly killed attempting to stop muggers, but after extensive physical therapy, he returns to the streets and gains a reputation as a local superhero. However, Kick-Ass doesn’t know there are other costumed vigilantes protecting the streets, and their primary target, a mobster by the name of John Genovese, doesn’t appreciate the sudden appearance of a new threat to his business.
Kick-Ass Shows the Bloody Reality of Fighting Crime in the Real World
While Kick-Ass is technically a superhero story, its focus on the more grounded realities of fighting crime in the real world (at least at first) helps set it apart from other tales in the genre. It does take several steps into the outlandish and ridiculous as the series progresses, especially when the focus shifts to Hit Girl in later series, but this series is meant to show readers what fighting crime in the real world would look like.
In this case, it means getting stabbed and beaten to a bloody pulp. It’s a bloody, action-packed satire, and it is one of the series that helped put Mark Millar on the map as one of the best writers of superhero subversion in the medium.
16 Joker (2008)
Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo first worked together to explore Superman’s greatest villain in Luthor: The Man of Steel, but it is their chilling follow-up, Joker, that earns a place on this list. The Joker is freed from Arkham Asylum, but in the time since his incarceration, much of his territory has been split between other villains. In order to get it all back, Joker sets off on a path of revenge, tracking down everyone that has marred his horrifying reputation. However, Harvey Dent refuses to give up what he has earned, inciting a turf war that has the potential to burn Gotham to the ground.
Arkham Asylum’s Vilest Criminal Steals the Spotlight in Joker
Outside of being one of the most beautifully (and often, most disturbingly) illustrated works in comics, Joker is a horrifically stunning portrayal of the Joker’s psychosis. We get to see the character from an outside perspective, and this foundation provides an incredible exploration of what makes this monster tick. It is unsettling from the very first moment, and it only gets more depraved as the story continues. Seriously, the Joker skins a man on stage. However, this is so much more than a collection of cheap shocks. This is one of the best Joker-centric stories, and though dark, it is necessary for any readers looking to delve deeper into Arkham.
15 Johnny the Homicidal Maniac (1995)
Written and drawn by Invader Zim creator Jhonen Vasquez, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac is a bizarre, wacky, and often bloody romp through the mind of a maniac. Very little is known about Johnny C. All readers can reliably say is that he is willing to kill anyone who irritates him. Believing that the wall of his home will spawn a horrifying monster, Johnny drains the blood of his victims and uses it as paint to keep the monster locked away. Through a series of brief vignettes, readers witness Johnny’s ridiculous and over-the-top killing spree first-hand, with Johnny’s adventures even taking him to the depths of Hell for a meeting with Señor Diablo.
Johnny the Homicidal Maniac Will Have You Laughing to Hell and Back
Johnny the Homicidal Maniac is one of the weirdest and most off-putting series on this list. For those who grew up with Invader Zim, seeing that same art style used in such a dark title is surreal, to say the least. With that said, this series is an incredibly grim but fun read. There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about the title outside its dark subject matter.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t reflective of Vasquez’s incredibly intelligent writing, but the series rarely feels like more than subversion for the sake of subversion. Nevertheless, this is a bizarrely hilarious read, and once you read it, you will know exactly why it has developed a cult following.
14 Batman the Killing Joke (1988)
In 1988, Watchmen creator Alan Moore teamed with artist Brian Bolland to bring readers Batman: The Killing Joke, one of the darkest Joker stories of all time. The story is split between two different time periods. In the past, viewers get to witness the origins of the Joker, a failed stand-up comedian who moonlights as a criminal to support his pregnant wife until a run-in with Batman transforms him into a monstrous maniac. In the present, Joker has escaped from Arkham, capturing Commissioner Jim Gordon in an attempt to prove to Batman how “one bad day” can irrevocably change a person’s path in life.
The Killing Joke is One of the Darkest Batman Stories
A list like this isn’t complete without at least one entry featuring Alan Moore. The writer has written some of the most pressing and darkest pieces of comic book literature, often tearing apart superheroism, but he is also known for some truly bizarre stories. The Killing Joke is a biting combination of the two. While there are plenty of dark moments, it is Joker’s crippling (and potential sexual assault) of Barbara Gordon and Jim Gordon’s subsequent torture that cements the comic here. It is such a hard scene to read through, but while problematic in light of controversies, it doesn’t change the dark impact this story had on the comics industry.
13 Sin City (1991)
Initially releasing in the Dark Horse Presents series before receiving its own serial, Frank Miller’s Sin City has become a classic of the neo-noir genre since its debut in 1991. The series is a scattered collection of stories set in the fictional American city of Basin City, nicknamed Sin City for the vast criminal underworld that operates within. The series follows three different main protagonists through several short “yarns” or arcs: Marv, a hulking brute seeking revenge; Dwight, a private investigator with connections to the prostitute-run Old Town; and John Hartigan, a detective hunting the man that wrongfully put him away in prison for eight years.
Sin City is a Neo-Noir Grunge Fest
Really, any of Frank Miller’s independent work (and some of his licensed work, as well) could have made this list. 300, Ronin, All-Star Batman & Robin, and The Dark Knight Returns all feature Miller’s personal brand of dark, gritty storytelling, and they all have some heavily messed-up sequences. Sin City makes this list for the pure depravity on display.
This is a daring perspective on the criminal underbelly of a city, and if not for the black-and-white art, these pages would be drenched in red. This series brings the noir crime genre back to life for the modern day, building its grungy atmosphere with a massive body count and plenty of twisted criminality.
12 Crossed (2008)
Originally written by Garth Ennis in 2008, Crossed has seen a number of terrifying spin-offs and sequels, with new creative teams dipping their hands into the darkest part of their imaginations to tell this twisted tale. A mysterious pandemic has swept across the world. Its victims don’t die or get sick, though. They turn into raving lunatics, acting on their darkest carnal desires to murder, sexual assault, and cannibalize their fellow humans. The uninfected struggle to survive from these maniacs, dubbed the Crossed for the strange cross-shaped rash that forms on their faces, and the series chronicles their adventures across this post-apocalyptic hellscape.
Reader Discretion Advised: Crossed is Only For the Most Mature Readers
Unsurprisingly, Garth Ennis makes another appearance on this list, and it isn’t the last. Given that Crossed is entirely based around the absolute worst and most sadistic acts of which humanity is capable, it makes complete sense why it makes this list. Many of these series never reach the lows seen in Ennis’ grotesque post-apocalypse, and the atrocities depicted are truly horrendous.
If you want to talk depraved, look no further than this mature “zombie” story. For its sheer shock factor and its harsh storytelling, Crossed has developed an incredible cult following, but it makes sense why this series has never seen more mainstream attention.
11 Hellraiser (1989)
Kirsty Cotton and Pinhead make their return in Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, a direct sequel to the seminal 1989 horror film. Kirsty has become a Harrower, collecting other survivors of the Cenobites and LeMarchand’s Boxes to stop their senseless slaughter. However, Pinhead isn’t going down without a fight, and his plans are already underway. With Leviathan at his back, Pinhead calls on the aid of several newly introduced Cenobites, creatures of terrifying power that will put Kirsty’s Harrowers to the test as Pinhead draws her ever closer to her horrific destiny. Can these survivors truly hope to conquer the full force of Hell’s wrath?
Hellraiser is the Perfect Continuation of Barker’s Beloved Film Series
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser has seen three separate comic book runs. The original, releasing in 1989, was released by Marvel’s Epic Comics adult imprint, while a 2017 anthology series was released by Seraphim Inc. However, this list focuses on the 2011 run, written by Clive Barker, largely because it is one of the darkest additions to the lore.
The Cenobites are explored in detail, allowing readers to see the torturous creation of a fascinating new demon, and it also puts a profound focus on Pinhead and his history. More importantly for this list, some of the horror sequences are brilliantly constructed, turning stomachs with all of their gory action.
10 Ultimatum (2009)
Superhero comics are no strangers to major crossover events shaking up the status quo, but few had the same shocking impact as Marvel’s Ultimatum. The series sees the world torn asunder by Magneto after the deaths of his children. Using his powers, the Master of Magnetism reversed the polarity of the Earth’s magnetic fields, causing devastating natural disasters to rock the cities of the world. The Ultimates, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and many others struggle to pick up the pieces as Magneto’s Brotherhood takes to the streets to sow some chaos. Heroes will die in the hunt for the supervillain, and the Ultimate Universe will never be the same.
Ultimatum Broke the Ultimate Universe, in More Ways Than One
Ultimatum was not Marvel’s brightest moment, receiving a near unanimous panning from critics for its forced brutality, lack of characterization, and over-sexualization of its characters. Due to this, it is a fascinating bit of Marvel history, particularly if you are interested in the controversy. This series sees SO many characters die brutal, senseless deaths.
Everyone has already seen Blob’s controversial cannibalization of Wasp, but there are so many deaths that are solely designed for shock value. This series was clearly designed as a hard reset of the Ultimate Universe, but it took the imprint a long time to recover from its catastrophic release.
9 Something is Killing the Children (2019)
Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV is based around one truth. Monsters are real. Born of our deepest fears, these creatures stalk humanity. The Order of St. George, an ancient organization who have waged a secret war with these “oscuratypes,” is the only group equipped to tackle this threat. Erica Slaughter is a member of the House of Slaughter, the Chicago branch of the Order, and her newest mission is to clear the town of Archer’s Peak of an oscuratype feeding on the town’s children. However, as the hunt devolves into chaos, Erica is forced to make some difficult decisions that will put her at odds with the House.
Something is Killing the Children is One of the Best Examples of Modern Horror
James Tynion IV has created a horror masterpiece with this independent comic. Something is Killing the Children and its spin-offs House of Slaughter and Book of Butcher have astounded audiences with their fast-paced, character-driven story. Something is Killing the Children is lighter fare compared to many of these entries.
It is a horror book with plenty of viscera and blood, alongside some chilling depictions of trauma, but it takes its story seriously. This isn’t an over-the-top gore fest like Crossed or side-splitting chaos like Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. This is horror with a metric ton of heart, and it clearly deserves the acclaim it has received.
8 Wolverine: Old Man Logan (2008)
Mark Millar brought his personal brand of twisted superhero storytelling to Marvel Comics in 2008’s Old Man Logan. Set in the future of an alternate universe, the series follows an aged Wolverine on a cross-country journey across a destroyed America. Years ago, the villains banded together, defeating the heroes and splitting the country amongst themselves. Unable to afford his rent in Hulkland, the home of an inbred and deranged clan of Hulks, Logan takes a job from a blind Clint Barton to deliver a package to the former capital. Along the way, the pair will encounter every horror of this wasteland, from venomized dinosaurs to the traumas of Logan’s past.
Old Man Logan Helped Define a New Generation of Adult Marvel Storytelling
Old Man Logan is one of the most celebrated superhero stories in recent memory, combining traditional superhero tropes with a brutalist post-apocalypse and plenty of references to Marvel’s past. This is a terrifically (and terrifyingly) constructed world, and Millar lets readers see every twisted corner of this wasteland.
Logan’s quest is filled with dangers at every turn, and some of the fights within are brilliantly gruesome. As in “Logan cutting his way out of Hulk’s stomach after being eaten” kind of gruesome. It’s a thrill-a-minute road trip that will excite readers from the very first pages, and it should be on every reader’s TBR.
7 Maus (1980)
Art Spiegelman built his hit biographical comic Maus around interviews he conducted with his father Vladek, a Jewish survivor of the Nazi Concentration Camps. The story takes place in two time periods. The first is 1978, wherein Art is attempting to get his father to open up about the atrocities he experienced and their impact on him.
The second is set during World War II, starting with Germany’s invasion of Poland and proceeding through Vladek’s release from Auschwitz. The story is told through cartoon visuals, with mice representing the Jews, cats the Nazis, and pigs the Polish, but don’t let them fool you: this is a horrifying glimpse of world history.
Maus Is One of the Most Important Works of Comic Book Literature
Maus may be “messed-up” in its depictions of the horrors of World War II and the Nazi Concentration Camos, but it is these portrayals that make it necessary. This is the Holocaust unfiltered, told first-hand through interviews with someone who suffered it. Maus is incredibly important for the way it details the hardest truths of the war. This was also the comic that helped bring the medium to mainstream attention, proving that the format could tell poignant, literary stories. This is one of the most powerful comics ever written, but be warned. It is far from an easy read, and you will be horrified by the atrocities of which humanity is capable.
6 Uber (2013)
We return to World War II in Kieron Gillen’s Uber, but this isn’t the war you learned about in school. In this alternate history, German scientists have succeeded in creating the perfect supersoldier. These Ubermenschen, shortened to Ubers, are their ace in the hole against the allied forces with their immense strength and durability, as well as the destructive Disruption Halos that they can produce. The series tracks the final two years of the prolonged war, starting in 1945, and details the continued war effort from both sides. It places special focus on Siegmund, Siegfried, and Sieglinde, the Nazis’ three nearly unstoppable battleship-class Ubers.
Uber Is a Multilayered Look at a Superpowered World War II
Kieron Gillen is known for his introspective character work and his extensive world-building, and both take centerstage in Uber. While it isn’t the most serious take on World War II, its exploration of German forces goes a long way toward humanizing these villains. It doesn’t right any of the wrongs they committed, but it does explore the reasons why.
However, this isn’t a list about in-depth characterization or philosophy. This is a list about blood, gore and brutality, and Uber has plenty of that. Seeing the Ubers tear across the battlefield is gloriously terrifying, and its wartime backdrop allows for some incredible moments of bloodshed.
5 From Hell (1989)
Who was Jack the Ripper? There have been numerous theories as to the serial killer’s true identity, but it is still unknown today who he truly was. Alan Moore’s second entry on this list, From Hell, sees the noted writer pointing the finger at Sir William Gull, royal physician to Queen Victoria. Sent to silence a group of women attempting to blackmail the prince with knowledge of his illegitimate child, Gull becomes more and more unhinged as the killings progress. Believing himself to be ushering in the next generation of male dominance in the world, Gull continues his murders, witnessing a series of intense “mystical” visions of the world that will come to be.
From Hell Takes a Stroll Through the Mind of a Killer
From Hell is Alan Moore, through and through. It is a dense, heady tome that explores theme and character in strange, roundabout ways. In the context of this list, though, anything that has to do with Jack the Ripper deserves a place here, and From Hell is one of the best graphic novels to focus on the subject. Each murder is shockingly brutal, turning the stomach thanks to Eddie Campbell’s stunning depictions of Gull’s ritualistic murders, and the glimpses into the mind of a psychopath, not unlike Moore’s explorations of the Joker’s a year earlier, transform this tome into one of the most visceral reading experiences in classic comics.
4 Judge Dredd/ 2000 A.D. (1977)
Initially debuting in the pages of the British science-fiction magazine 2000 A.D., Judge Dredd was created by writer Pat Mills and artist Carlos Ezquerra, and his brand of brutal justice quickly made him into a household name. The series is set in the dystopian future city of Mega-City One, where crime runs rampant through the streets. In order to stem the tide, the city has employed a number of Judges, lawkeepers who play judge, jury and executioner with the criminal underbelly. Literally bred (cloned) to be one of the city’s most feared Judges, Dredd rides into battle equipped with his Lawgiver pistol, doling out justice to all who deserve it.
Judge Dredd Provided a Bloody Outlet for Readers
Here’s the thing. The Comics Code Authority was a purely American invention, meaning other countries didn’t have the same storytelling limitations as American writers. This is why so many British writers were enlisted when publishers were attempting to move toward more adult tales.
2000 A.D. is certainly a product of its time, and the hard-hitting, bloody action storytelling made for a thrilling change of pace for those American readers who got their hands on it. This is a comic that goes to the extremes in terms of its violence, cutting a bloody swath through the industry that has kept the character in pop culture into the modern day.
3 The Punisher Max (2004)
Frank Castle, a.k.a. the Punisher, is one of Marvel’s most popular and violent antiheroes, so when the company decided to release a line of mature storylines known as Max, it only appropriate that this character would take centerstage in The Punisher Max. Garth Ennis took the character on a dark killing spree, starting with his early days in the Vietnam War in the Born miniseries through to his days hunting the mob. Jason Aaron, known today for his seminal run on Thor, took the reins in 2009, sending Castle after the Marvel Universe’s biggest street-level bad guys in non-canon stories awash with criminal blood and gunpowder.
The Punisher Max is Only One of Marvel Max’s Incredibly Brutal Series
Frank Castle is a character that was designed with a list like this in mind. He is the epitome of brutal superheroics, doling out “justice” at the barrel of a gun. Max was already intended to be an adult imprint, but all of The Punisher series that were published under their umbrella wholly pushed the envelope and expectations of the time.
Of course, any Max series could be on this list, with Howard the Duck and Jessica Jones also earning a much-deserved shout-out, but The Punisher is the easy winner. It’s a straightforward, violent tale that shows the full lengths Frank Castle is willing to go, not caring about the pile of bodies he leaves in his wake.
2 The Goddamned (2017)
Jason Aaron makes another appearance on this list, penning the bloody, horrific Old Testament retelling The Goddamned. The story is set 1,655 years after the events of Eden. The immortal Cain still walks the Earth in punishment for his sins, forced to watch as his fellow humans devolve into monsters. Tribes of humans wander the wastelands, seeking blood and conquest, slaughtering all those who get in their way, and among the fiercest and deadliest of these warlords is the maniacal Noah. Seeking redemption for his crimes, Cain seeks Noah’s head, but with a Flood on the horizon, time is short.
The Goddamned Presents a Pre-Flood World Unlike Any We’ve Seen Before
Among these comics, The Goddamned is likely the most obscure. While Jason Aaron is one of the biggest names at Marvel Comics in the modern day, his independent work has sadly been overlooked by a number of readers. This is a wholly different type of Biblical retelling, painting familiar characters in bold, horrifying new light.
This is a world that has fallen, one set to be apocalyptically punished, and Aaron goes to great pains to detail the worst that this world has to offer. No one is innocent in this world, not even the children, making this reimagining one of the most striking of all time.
1 Katsuya Terada’s The Monkey King (1998)
The Journey to the West is one of the most celebrated novels of all time, depicting the adventures of Monkey King Sun Wukong and his band as they travel West to India in order to uncover the teachings of the Buddha. Katsuya Terada’s The Monkey King is a faithful retelling of the original tale, just with a heaping helping of Conan the Barbarian graphic sex and bloody violence to enliven the experience. After being trapped beneath a mountain, Sun Wukong is freed on the condition that he escort a holy nun to India to recover the Buddhist Sutras, protecting the woman alongside a humanoid pig and the decapitated head of a sand monk.
The Monkey King Presents a New Look at Chinese Mythology
The Monkey King was Katsuya Terada’s first graphic novel, and it is a fascinating reinterpretation of the classic tale. It is Journey to the West on steroids, featuring epic, bombastic action and some of the best art in the comic book medium. Terada is a master of character design, and his reimagining of the characters is legendary.
The series isn’t shy about oversexualizing characters, and some of the more gratuitous moments can be surprising for those first stepping into this world. However, for those looking for a graphic, bloody romp through East Asian mythology, then The Monkey King is the perfect way to experience it.
