8 Horror Comics Perfect for AMC

Wytches

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Jock

Published by Image Comics

While only one story (and a handful of backups in Image+) have been released, Snyder and Jock have crafted a mythos ripe for exploitation in a television series. This reimagining of witchcraft as the arcane arts practiced by an offshoot of humanity is truly terrifying. There's the witches themselves, twisted reflections of people with extra eyes and long teeth. They function best like xenomorphs, left in the shadows until a quick and gorey reveal. Yet it's the acts of people that make this concept truly horrifying, as only a friend, family member, or neighbor can pledge someone else as a sacrifice...

House of Penance

Written by Peter Tomasi

Art by Ian Bertram

Published by Dark Horse Comics

The legend of the Winchester Mystery House was recently adapted to film in Winchester, but it left a lot to be desired. If you're not sure why that is, then just check out the miniseries House of Penance. This story gets to the heart of the legend, making it clear that the real horrors of the mansion are not the ghosts attracted from a century of killing, but the makers and dealers of the weapons used in their slaughter. It's a mood-heavy piece packed with different characters and historical connections. A showrunner could easily expand upon this ghostly narrative to craft an ongoing series about the legacy of violence.

Rachel Rising

Created by Terry Moore

Published by Abstract Studios

This is a series with as perfect of a hook for a television pilot as you'll find. It begins with Rachel rising from a shallow grave with no clue as to how she got there. From that initial mystery, the story sprawls to include an entertaining cast of characters, witchcraft and demons, and an even-grander conspiracy. There's a lot for viewers from all different backgrounds to sink their teeth into, whether it's the character-driven drama or well-crafted lore of the small town setting. Almost every Terry Moore comic could provide a good premise for television, but none of them offers a better one than Rachel Rising.

Fatale

Written by Ed Brubaker

Art by Sean Phillips

Published by Image Comics

Fatale offers a new take on some of the core elements of Rachel Rising. The series still centers on a woman unsure of her role in a greater, demonic conspiracy. However, it goes to far darker places and sprawls across different decades of American history. This story has the ability to develop an anthology in the style of Fargo or American Horror Story with some overlapping threads of plot all in vastly different settings. As a conspiracy thriller, Lovecraftian adventure, or historical travelogue, Fatale is packed with potential.

Fell

Written by Warren Ellis

Art by Ben Templesmith

Published by Image Comics

If you're interested in the cross-section of horror and conspiracy, there are few better comics than Fell. While the series didn't last for long, it established a landscape in which everything was a clue and nothing was safe. Following Detective Richard Fell's transfer to Snow City, readers learn about the urban landscapes oddities right alongside him. This story emphasizes a constant unease with only brief revelations of the terror that rests just below the surface. It's a potent, dark tone that could be unbearably creepy on television.

American Vampire

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Published by Vertigo Comics

Another great opportunity for an anthology-horror series lies in the pages of American Vampire. While a few key characters, like Skinner Sweet, tie the entire narrative together, each new arc emphasizes a different style of story in a different era. A showrunner could go crazy exploring their favorite moments in American history while adding new vampires and bits of lore in each decade. AMC knows how to put together a historical look as shown with series like Mad Men, maybe it's time to add some vampires to the mix as well.

Revival

Written by Tim Seeley

Art by Mike Norton

Published by Image Comics

The start of Revival bears some resemblance to Rachel Rising with a girl coming back from the dead to find her murderer. This series brings back a lot more dead folk in a town packed with mysteries and soon to be overrun by the military though. It's a thriller much more in line with a series like Homeland. That means lots of characters, subplots, and other key elements to hold viewers' attention every week. It's an incredibly busy story with a sense of paranoia that feels increasingly apropos for modern times.

Locke & Key

Written by Joe Hill

Art by Gabriel Rodriguez

Published by IDW Publishing

Locke & Key has been in development for television and film multiple times, with multiple pilot episodes shot. Outside of a screening at San Diego Comic-Con in 2011 though, nobody has ever actually witnessed the potential of a live-action adaptation of this series. That's too bad because it would be perfect for television. Locke & Key offers a lovable core cast of teen characters in a coming-of-age story set against an old mansion with apocalyptic secrets. It's one of the best horror comics of the past decade and a guaranteed hit -- if it ever makes it beyond a pilot.