Comic book collectors are always on the lookout for “key” issues or first appearances of their favorite characters. Many of our favorite horror characters and franchises have made their way into comics.
First appearances can be debatable, such as whether it’s a cameo or a full appearance. Or which was published first? You, as the collector, can decide.
Herbert West Injects Himself into Comics
Re-Animator #1
Written by Steven Philip Jones
Art by Christopher Jones
Published by Adventure Comics, October 1991
Re-Animator was a 3-issue miniseries that adapted Stuart Gordon’s original film. It has had multiple other comic series, including crossovers with Army of Darkness and Vampirella.
Spiders Flow From the Pages of Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia #1
Written by William Rotsler, Don Jakoby, Al Williams, & Wesley Strick
Art by Dan Spiegle
Published by Walt Disney Productions, September 1990
Arachnophobia #1 was adapted from the 1990 horror-comedy film. Like the movie, it features a species of South American killer spider that travels to the United States inside a coffin. The spiders begin breeding and killing in a small town.
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Sil Invades Your Comic Collection in Species
Species #1
Written by Dennis Feldman
Art by Jon Foster and Brian Kane
Published by Dark Horse Comics, June 1995
She was created by the U.S. government to facilitate extraterrestrial communications. A hybrid of human and alien DNA, she was meant to be a living link bridging two worlds across the cosmos. But she’s something far different, something the government scientists could have never predicted. And she is looking to communicate, but you don’t want to be on the receiving end.
Species was a 4-issue miniseries that adapted the 1995 sci-fi horror film.
Rawhead Rex Terrorizes the Page
Rawhead Rex #1
Written by Steve Niles
Art by Les Edwards and Hector Gomez
Published by Eclipse Comics, January 1994
Rawhead Rex #1 adapts Clive Barker’s short story from his Books of Blood series. The story was later adapted into a 1986 film directed by George Pavlou and written by Clive Barker. The graphic novel also includes an adaptation of Barker’s short story Twilight at the Towers.
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The Origin of Jigsaw
Saw: Rebirth #1
Written by Kris Oprisko
Art by Renato Guedes
Published by IDW Comics, October 2005
Saw: Rebirth #1 is set in the Saw universe and was released in anticipation of the 2005 sequel, Saw 2. The comic goes back in time to explore the events that led to the transformation of mild-mannered John into the monstrous Jigsaw.
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