Summary
Detective Comics, more popularly known as DC, isn’t necessarily known for its dark fantasy comic runs. That being said, while DC wasn’t behind legendary comic works of dark fantasy like Boom Studio’sBRZRKRor Dark Horse’sBloodborne, the publisher has made more than a few ventures into the genre, creating iconic characters like Swamp Thing and John Constantine, Hellblazer in the process.
Dark fantasy is a literary genre that combines fantastical themes and creatureswith elements of horror. Where a unicorn might be described as a fantasy creature, a vampire would more appropriately be described as ‘dark fantasy’, given the creatures' notorious blood-thirst. Some quintessential examples of dark fantasy exist in Anne Rice’sInterview With the Vampiresaga and Stephen King’sDark Towerseries. Despite not specializing in dark fantasy comics, DC has produced a number of successful comic runs that fall into the genre category, a few of which have even become some of the publisher’s best-selling series.
10Sword Of Sorcery (2012)
Average Critic Ranking: 7.5
Originally published by DC in 1973,Sword of Sorcerybegan as a medieval fantasy anthology featuring protagonists like Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, two sword-and-sorcery heroes who were written as foils to characters like Conan the Barbarian and Tarzan. Unfortunately, the original run only celebrated five issues before it was canceled due to low sales.
The title was revived, however, in 2012 with the release ofSword of Sorcery Vol. 2.The follow-up run launched as part of DC’s ‘The New 52’ and heavily featured Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, alongside classic dark fantasy characters like Beowulf, the sword-wielding hero of Anglo-Saxon legend.Sword of Sorcery Vol. 2was where the title truly shined, earning anaverage critic rankingof 7.5 from ComicBookRoundup.com.
9Demon Knights (2011)
Average Critic Ranking: 7.8
Set in an alternate DC universe,Demon Knightsfollows heroes like Jason Blood and Madame Xanadu through the Dark Ages. Together, the two heroes are tasked with saving civilization from an incoming barbarian horde commanded by the demon Etrigan. Through their journey, Blood and Xanadu encounter warriors to join their fight, including heroes like Shining Knight.
The three-volume, 24-issue series boasts an impressiveaverage critic rankingof 7.8, thoughDemon Knights Vol. 2, ranks the best, with a rating of 8.2 out of 10.
8The Witching Hour (2013)
Average Critic Ranking: 8.0
Despite originally releasing in 1969,The Witching Hourcelebrated a nearly ten-year run before it was eventually canceled in 1978. Thankfully for fans of all things creepy, the series was eventually resurrected by DC in 2013 under their Vertigo imprint, which was established in 1993 to publish more adult content including sex, drugs, and graphic violence.
The one-shot horror anthology, simply titledThe Witching Hour, brought together nine tales of supernatural horror and featured fan-favorite characters such as the Dead Boy Detectives. Despite being a once-off, the comic was well-received, earning an 8.0average critic ratingfrom ComicBookRoundup.com.
7The Sandman (1988)
Given the popularity of its author, Neil Gaiman, it’s no surprise thatThe Sandmanis one of DC Comics' top earners, especially among its scarce dark fantasy runs. The series originated in 1989 and was published consistently until it was transferred to DC’s Vertigo imprint in 1993. The original series continued until 1996, though sequel series likeThe Sandman: Dream HuntersandThe Sandman: Overturefollowed in 1998 and 2013, respectively.
The series follows Dream, also known as Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, as he lives, works, and fights with the other Endless entities; Destinty, Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, and Destruction. A perfect blend of fantasy, mythology, and horror, it’s no wonder that the series was one of the first graphic novels to be featured on theNew York Times Best Sellerslist.The Sandmanwas similarlyadapted for televisionby Netflix in 2022. The series' popularity is similarly backed up by anaverage critic rankingof 8.0, though readers ranked the series even higher, at 8.5.
6DC Vs. Vampires (2021)
Average Critic Ranking: 8.1
DC vs. Vampireswas originally introduced in 2021 as part of DC’s new Elseworlds Imprint, dedicated to publishing stories that exist in alternative realities to those portrayed in mainline DC runs, with none of their events being considered canon to the DC Universe. On Earth 63, society has been besieged by a vampire invasion and must turn to its heroes, the likes of Batman, Green Arrow, Batgirl, and Supergirl, to save them from the villainous Nightwing and his horde of vampire lackeys roamingthe streets of Gotham. As bloody as it is ridiculous,DC vs. Vampireshas been a champion of the Elseworlds Imprint since its establishment.
The series continued in 2022 when award-winning comic writers James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg joined forces to penDC vs. Vampires: All-Out War. The monochromatic comic introduces still more heroes to the vampiric world, including John Constantine, Deathstroke, and Mary Marvel. WhileAll-Out Wardidn’t perform as well with critics or audiences, the original run celebrated an impressiveaverage critic ratingof 8.1 from ComicBookRoundup.com.
5The Last God (2019)
Average Critic Ranking: 8.2
One of DC’s newer publications,The Last Goddebuted in 2019 by renowned comic book writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson, whose work on comics likeSuperman, the Incredible Hulk, Green Lantern: War Journal,andAlien.The Last God Book Onekicked off Johnson’s dark fantasy seriesThe Fellspyre Chronicles.In the series, two fellowships of heroes stand against a common threat, though 30 years separate their mirrored quests as they move to kill Mol Uhltep, the world’s last living god, once and for all.
Despite being a new venture for DC, the comic performed exceptionally well with audiences, with ComicBookRoundup reporting anaverage critic ratingof 8.2. The final issue in the comic’s first volume was a huge success, with the singular issue earning an impressive critic rating of 9.3.
4Justice League Dark (2018)
Average Critic Ranking: 8.5
Justice League Darkwas released in 2011 as part of the first wave of new comics released as part of DC’s ‘The New 52’ relaunch. Featuring a titular team of heroes, the comic saw the likes of Wonder Woman, John Constantine, and Doctor Fate as they unite to take on a cacophony of supernatural and other mystic threats that fall outside the scope ofthe Justice Leagueproper.
Justice League Dark Vol. 1ran from 2011 to 2015, with a second volume being published from 2018 to 2020.Justice League Darkwould incorporate more supernatural heroes onto the team, such as Man-Bat, Swamp Thing, and Detective Chimp. While the dark fantasy superhero team no longer boasts its own comic run, the team, led by Wonder Woman, has since appeared in mainlineJustice Leaguecomics. Volume 1 ofJustice League Darkearned an impressive 7.6average critic ranking, though the series' second volume really established the run as one of DC’s best dark fantasy comics with a rating of 8.5.
3Dark Knights Of Steel (2021)
Average Critic Ranking: 8.7
From writer Tom Taylor and artist Yasmin Putri,Dark Knights of Steelwas introduced in 2021 as part ofDC’s Elseworlds Imprintand re-imagined the DC Universe as a high fantasy world ruled by swords and sorcery. The 12-issue limited series opens with Jar-El and Lara as they land on Earth after fleeing a decimated Krypton. Shortly after arriving, their son, Kal-El, is born.
The comic then jumps forward 19 years to Bruce, a knight of the Kingdom of El, and a re-imagined variant of Batman, as he sets out on a hunt for the legendary banshee. Kal-El, now a prince, insists on coming along, kicking off a dangerous chain of events leading to a prophetic demon uprising. The medieval take on DC fan-favorite heroes Batman and Superman has proved a success among fans and critics alike despite its relative recency, earning anaverage critic rankingof 8.7 from ComicBookRoundup.com.
2The Swamp Thing (2021)
Average Critic Ranking: 8.9
Ranked no. 28 on IGN’s Top 100 Comic Book Heroes list, the titular plant elemental creature has become a staple of DC’s lineup of supernatural heroes sinceSwamp Thingfirst hit comic shelves in 1972. Though the character of the Swamp Thing was introduced inHouse of Secrets #72in 1971, the character later received his own solo comic run that stretched over six volumes, published from 1972 until 2016, with a number of issues from the comic’s second volume being penned byWatchmencreator Alan Moore. His work on the series earned Moore numerous Jack Kirby Awards for ‘Best Writer’.
The character returned once again in 2021 when the series was re-branded asThe Swamp Thing.The new series, penned by award-winning writer Ram V, follows a new Swamp Thing, Levi Kamei, who transforms intothe powerful creaturewhile visiting his family in India. While the originalSwamp Thingseries was well-received, the 2021 run remains one of DC’s highest-rated dark fantasy comics, with anaverage critic ratingof 8.9.
Average Critic Ranking: 9.5
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in Americais the latest installment in the long-running story of John Constantine, astreetwise English sorcererwho originated as a supporting character inSwamp Thing #37before headlining his own run of comics in 1988 withHellblazer. The publication was one of the first to be republished under DC’s Vertigo imprint when it launched in 1993 and remained the imprint’s longest-running title when Vertigo was discontinued in 2020. In 2019Hellblazershortly re-branded asConstantineas the titular character returned as part of the greaterSandmanuniverse under DC’s new Black Label imprint.
However, it was 2024’sJohn Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in Americathat received thehighest critic ratingsamong DC’s dark fantasy comics at an impressive 9.5. Certain one-shot comics featuring John Constantine even achieved a perfect 10 out of 10 rating from critics, including the 2005 graphic novel,Hellblazer: All His Engines.
