With countless long-running comics often dominating conversations, some longtime fans may want a palate cleanser, while other newcomers may be looking for something more self-contained. Through single-volume comics, readers can enjoy a complete story without having to worry about what came before or what may come after. These comics often deliver unique art styles and storytelling techniques, leaving a strong impact that readers won’t soon forget.
While self-contained comics span a wide range of genres, I tend to find that some of the best examples of standalone comics come from the horror genre, where worlds can be both breathtakingly imaginative and unsettling all at once. These self-contained comics all have different elements of horror, with some more intense than others, but all of them deliver stories that comic fans would be remiss to skip over.
Wytches
Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Jock, both of whom are known for their work on DC’s Batman: The Black Mirror as well as other major titles, Wytches stands out as a dark, thrilling story that is collected into a single volume. The story was first released in October 2014 and ended in May 2015 with a planned second volume. However, it faced extensive delays, and more than 10 years later, there is no official announcement for when it may be released.
That said, the single-volume comic can easily be read as a self-contained standalone that deserves every bit of attention it gets. The story follows the Rooks family after they move to New Hampshire in hopes of finding a fresh start after a violent incident involving their daughter, Sailor, and a school bully. Instead, Sailor finds herself confronted by terrifying creatures hiding within the woods who try to devour her.
Unlike typical witches, Wytches presents its creatures as primitive and ancient beings that trade with humans, granting them their deepest desires in exchange for pledging someone. In the story, this pushes Sailor to confront her past while her father does everything in his power to help her. Even more than a decade later, the story still holds up as a powerful self-contained story with an open ending. While there’s potential for it to grow in the future, for now it remains a must-read comic limited to a single volume.
Through the Woods
Emily Carroll’s Through the Woods is a collection of five short, gothic horror stories, each with eye-catching art, contrasting color schemes, and twists that keep readers coming back for more. Each story is very different from the others, sharing new characters, premises, settings, and eerie atmospheres that create a strong sense of unease. Paired with its prologue and epilogue, it’s clear that Carroll’s intent was to explore how danger could be waiting around any corner, even in places you might feel the safest.
Carroll’s work is immensely atmospheric and delivers unforgettable stories that gradually become more intense with every page.
That sense of unease becomes one of the comic’s greatest strengths beyond the stark colors and dramatic layouts of each page. Through the Woods may be a horror comic, but it’s suitable for ages 12 and up, making it accessible to a broad range of readers. The comic, released in 2014, went on to earn Carroll major recognition through an Eisner Award, an Ignatz Award, and a British Fantasy Award, further proving that her work is both visually and narratively stunning from start to finish.
Whether a longtime comics fan or just starting to look into graphic novels, Through the Woods remains a must-read for how effectively each of its stories creates unease without overusing tropes or leaning too heavily into shock value. Carroll’s work is immensely atmospheric and delivers unforgettable stories that gradually become more intense with every page.
The Low, Low Woods
The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado and Dani follows El and Vee, two teenage girls who live in Shudder-To-Think, Pennsylvania, a fictional mining town that is plagued by underground fires and unexplained memory loss. When the two awaken in a movie theater with no recollection of how they got there, they try to piece together the past several hours, which leads them to uncover the town’s disturbing secrets.
While El becomes more driven to uncover the truth behind their memory loss, Vee wants to forget it ever happened and suppress the truth of what happened in order to continue living her normal everyday life. When their investigations reveal that their memory loss is far from an isolated incident, they turn to the supernatural forces of the woods to consume those who are guilty and reclaim what was taken from them.
With a strong visual style and characters who have distinctive identities, the story delivers a thrilling supernatural mystery that carries an equally powerful emotional core and resolution. The way The Low, Low Woods handles its mature themes through symbolism and metaphors allows the story to explore the effects of psychological trauma and systemic oppression in ways that are meaningful and not exploitative, making the standalone comic one that can’t be missed.
Monsters
Barry Windsor-Smith’s Monsters is an acclaimed comic that spans from 1944 to 1996, starting off with a deeply troubled family in postwar Ohio before expanding into a secret military experiment with horrific consequences. The story centers around Bobby Bailey, a young man who carries heavy burdens and enlists in the U.S. Army before being transferred over to Project Prometheus. Little does he know that the project is an illegal continuation of Nazi experiments, and he was handed over to become their guinea pig.
Published in 2021, the black-and-white comic book reportedly took 35 years to complete and was initially made to be an Incredible Hulk origin story. Since then, it has grown into a 368-page masterpiece that earned recognition through three Eisner Awards in 2022, including Best Graphic Novel, Best Writer/Artist, and Best Letterer. His storytelling and hyper-detailed artwork make his success every bit deserved and an absolute must-read for all comics fans.
The story has evolved far from its initial origin and has grown into an ambitious, stunning work of art packed with intense, moving themes that deal with generational trauma and guilt. Paired with its examination of who and what real monsters look like, the comic is heartbreaking, personal, intense, and ultimately unforgettable.
The Me You Love in the Dark
The Me You Love in the Dark by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona centers around Rowena “Ro” Meadows, a successful painter who moves into an isolated Victorian home after struggling with her newest work. Ro moves in hoping to find inspiration and ends up finding it where she least expects it when a mysterious entity living inside manifests before her. However, rather than being terrified, Ro communicates with it openly and forms a unique bond.
While her relationship with the entity begins with infatuation and helps her find bursts of inspiration, it gradually shifts into a severely toxic dynamic that hides years of manipulation and abuse. The story uses imagery to convey Ro’s initial attraction and dependency with the entity as she receives affection and support, but as the story unfolds, the presence that used to come across as beneficial and understanding sours into something that becomes increasingly threatening.
The comic explores a realistic portrayal of abusive relationships and its gothic atmosphere sets a strong overarching tone that enhances the experience. From start to finish, the story stands out for its art style, storytelling approach, careful handling of heavy themes, and ultimately delivers a satisfying conclusion that readers won’t soon forget. As a standalone horror story, The Me You Love in the Dark is a masterpiece that knows how to balance the supernatural with real-world horrors.
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