Rachel is a writer from Arkansas, most at home surrounded by forests and animals much like a Disney Princess. She spends most of her time writing stories and playing around in imaginary worlds. You can follow her writing at rachelbrittain.com. Socials: @rachelsbrittain
VAULT COMICS – publisher of the best science fiction, fantasy, and horror graphic novels!
James Crowley met his mortal end in a hail of gunfire. Now, he finds himself in purgatory, not quite undead, though not alive either, serving the White Throne to avoid falling to hell. His not-so-sacred duty as a Hand of God – a Black Badge? Use his new abilities to hunt down demonic beings that have infiltrated the mortal realm. Adapted from the eBook and audiobook smash hit series from Aethon!
"A gorgeously illustrated midnight ride through the Weird West - Red Dead Redemption by way of Supernatural, with an extra shot of High Plains Drifter." —Travis Baldree, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Legends & Lattes.
When I think “demon hunters” my mind usually goes straight to the classics, and I don’t mean books (though there are plenty of those, too.) I’m talking Buffy and Supernatural, or, more recently, the iconic K-Pop Demon Hunters, a classic in the making. Demon hunting has been a popular subject on both the big and little screen for decades, and no surprise since early adaptations of Dracula (Nosferatu, anyone?) and The Phantom of the Opera went over so well. Humans love horror, what can you do?
But demon hunters aren’t just relegated to the screen. Oh no, they’ve made a mark for themselves in the pages of comic books and graphic novels, as well. It’s the perfect medium to depict the often grisly, sometimes silly, always action-packed life of demon hunters. These graphic novels about demon hunters span that spectrum perfectly, from lighthearted demon hunting camp to straight-up nightmare fuel. These demons (and demon hunters) are yours to choose.
Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera, Miquel Muerto, and AndWorld Design
Something is lurking in the woods and killing the children of Archer’s Peak. Most of the children who go missing never return, but the ones who do tell of terrible monsters and creatures that are the stuff of nightmares. The children and parents of Archer’s Peak might be afraid, but it’s the monsters’ turn for fear when Erica Slaughter comes to town. She’s a monster hunter, a demon slayer, and she’s here to do what must be done.
Youth Group by Jordan Morris and Bowen McCurdy
Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets church camp in this fun YA graphic novel about a reluctant church-going teen who discovers her upbeat youth group leaders are part of a secret demon-slaying organization. Bad enough to know demons are real and people like Meg and Cortland are the ones fighting them, but it turns out Kay is going to have to help fight them, too. She’s unpossessable, a “blight,” which makes her a prime demon target.
Sword of the Demon Hunter by Motoo Nakanishi and Yū Satomi
In Edo period Japan, a warrior named Jinta knows his life’s purpose without question. He has dedicated his life to protecting a priestess and her shrine in a remote village. When dark forces threaten the shrine, Jinta must venture out beyond the village and into the forest to hunt them down. But what he discovers isn’t a simple answer about the nature of the demons. Instead, he’s sent on a journey, hurtling through time, with only one question on his mind: why is he the one to wield this sword?
Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer by David Crownson, Sherrondan J. Brown, Courtland Ellis, Joey Vazquez, and Sylvain Repos
Hell-bent (literally) on stopping Harriet Tubman, slave owners enlist the help of vampires, demons, witches, and all manner of supernatural horrors to stop the indomitable conductor of the Underground Railroad. Now, in order to lead people to freedom, Tubman will have to battle not only human evil, but the forces of darkness as well.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge
When his family is attacked by demons in Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado and his little sister Nezuko are the only survivors. But his sister didn’t make it out of the attack unscathed. She’s been turned into a demon herself. In order to save his sister from this ungodly fate, Tanjiro will have to set out to destroy the demon who turned her and ruined his life. But Tanjiro is no demon hunter. A mysterious new boy named Giyu might be able to help him learn, but only if Tanjiro can convince him not to slay his sister first.
The Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Faith Schaffer
Tatsuo Nakano is an idol, at least to 16-year-old Chihiro who wants to follow in her footsteps by becoming a legendary samurai. So when an opportunity arises for Chihiro to prove herself to the Kesi Academy, she jumps on the chance to enlist Tatsuo’s help. Only Tatsuo isn’t exactly the stoic samurai she expected. Actually, she’s kind of drunk…and mean. She’s also given up on samurai life to live as a solitary ronin instead. But Chihiro isn’t about to give up on her dreams just because her hero is a bit of a let down or because the demons they need to take down prove far more dangerous than she ever could’ve imagined. No, she’s determined to slay some demons and prove herself, even if she has to drag her mentor into battle kicking and screaming.
Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young
How do you hunt demons when the demons are inside of you? Told out of order and from multiple points of view, Keezy Young’s Hello Sunshine explores what it means to face your demons–both literal and metaphorical–alongside the ones you love. After a very public breakdown, Alex disappeared, leaving behind his twin brother, a secret boyfriend, an extremely loyal dog, and his neighborhood best friends. But is this group of ragtag teens really up to determining which demons can be exorcised and which ones are just part of their friend on their own?
I love how beautifully, respectfully, and horrifyingly this graphic novel deals with mental illness and its (often problematic) crossover with horror. Keezy Young really slayed some publishing demons with this one.
Even more paranormal and horror comics to sustain you through fall:
English (US) · 