New 56-page Halloween anthology features horror comics by a terrifyingly terrific slate of creators

Comics publisher Dark Horse is a regular in the horror comics space, like publishing the Hellboy comics from creator Mike Mignola, the supernatural detective Criminal Macabre comics from creator Steve Niles, and the Count Crowley comics from creator David Dastmalchian. Now Dark Horse has added the new 56-page horror anthology The Headless Horseman Halloween Annual 2023.

One of the Headless Horseman Halloween contributors is actor and comics writer David Dastmalchian. (You saw him in a couple of Ant-Man movies and as Polka-Dot Man in the underrated 2021 movie The Suicide Squad.)

As a comics writer, Dastmalchian told CBR that he LOVES anthological horror like classic EC Comics:

“I have always looked at short film, short fiction, and short anthological comic book writing, as greatly inspired by Rod Serling, O. Henry, and Poe. I feel like they’re most effective, and this does not mean they have to be funny if they work like a good joke, where it’s a great setup and a great punch line. I also think there’s a wonderful space in things that horrify us for laughter and comedy.”

Dark Horse editor Megan Walker told Fangoria:

“Doing a Halloween-themed anthology has always been a dream of mine, and we were able to assemble a fantastic crew of creators to help carry out that vision. The book is full of fun, creepy, and iconic stories that will scare and delight readers, I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it!”

In addition to Dastmalchian, The Headless Horseman Halloween Annual 2023 also includes stories by these creators: Angela Slatter (Castle Full of Blackbirds), Lukas Ketner (Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter), Olivia Stephens (Darlin’ and Her Other Names), Phillip Sevy (Tomb Raider, The House), Christie Porter, Leah Kilpatrick, Valeria Burzo (Castle Full of Blackbirds), Tyler Crook (Harrow County), and Frank Cvetkovic (The House).

Find Headless Horseman Halloween Annual 2023 on Amazon

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About the original Headless Horseman

The Dark Horse comic seems to be using an alternate version of the headless horseman. (Isn’t that actually a headless horsewoman?)

The original Headless Horseman debuted in the classic short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” published in 1820 by author Washington Irving. Regularly making its rounds in pop culture—especially around Halloween—the story revolves around a character believed to be a Hessian soldier who was decapitated during a battle. Over the years, the story has been adapted and revisited many times, including projects from Disney, Tim Burton, and more.

Further reading:

• Top 7 Kolchak: The Night Stalker episodes (including that headless biker)

• Jude S. Walko reimagines the legend of the headless horseman: “I have always had a penchant for good horror.”

• ‘Classic Monsters Unleashed’ by Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire, Owl Goingback, and more

• Monsters Vs. ‘Murder, She Wrote’: Vampire, Witches, Ghosts, and the Headless Horseman

More from Monster Complex

• Mignola on Hellboy in Love: “I loved the idea of Hellboy just trying to have a relationship.”

• Why were these ‘Twilight Zone’ episodes banned from reruns?

• S.H. Cotugno on Jekyll and Hyde comic: “If I can get you to laugh…you’re more likely to care when I throw them off a cliff.”

• Military Monsters ‘Creature Commandos’ returning in new TV show, new comic book

• Bram Stoker Award win for horror comic ‘Kolchak: The Night Stalker: 50th Anniversary’

• Hellboy: Fight Scene

• Q&A: Vincenzo Natali on his sci-fi horror graphic novel TECH: “I’m fascinated by the duality of our relationship to our technology.”

• Quiz: Was That Episode On Twilight Zone or Outer Limits?

• 21 Great Halloween Pop Songs

• Gold Key Comics is coming back—and they’re bringing Boris Karloff

• Hellboy Novels and Anthologies In Order

• VIPs making horror comics: Creepshow, Bruce Campbell, Owl Goingback

• Celebrating the Universal Monsters with the love song “Children of the Night”

• Complete Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez: The horror comic book that inspired the TV show

• 15 Best Horror Authors: Dead and Alive

• Twilight Zone: 13 Books For Fans of the Rod Serling Classic TV Show

• Marvel Cries Wolf: 13 Facts About Werewolf by Night

• 100 Supernatural Detective Series

• It’s Lit: Why Edgar Allan Poe Isn’t Just a Sad Boy

Further reading online

• Halloween Is Coming: 7 New Comics for Horror Fans (New York Times)

• Best Horror Comics/Graphic Novels—more than 500 books! (Goodreads)

• The Walking Dead #100 Is The Perfect Horror Book For Halloween (CBR)

• 10 Best Horror Comic Books of All Time (Screen Rant)

• The Best Horror Comics to Read Right Now (Thrillist)

• Night of the Ghoul Director on What Drew Him to Scott Snyder Horror Comic (ComingSoon.net)

• Marvel: Best Horror Comics (Game Rant)

• 13 Essential Horror Comics (Den of Geek)

• Hellboy: The Wolves of Saint August Is A Great Horror Comic For Halloween (CBR)

• The TOP 13 HORROR COMICS Series of the 1970s (13th Dimension)

• Horror Comics to Carry You Through the End of the Year (Book Riot)

• Somna: Comics Superstars Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay Join Forces for New Horror Series (IGN)

• 7 Classic Horror Comics Murdered by CCA Censorship (The Escapist)