Hello there my fellow Quackernauts! As it’s the spooky season, what better time is there to explore one of my favourite genres, horror. Horror is many things, but at its core it’s intention is to challenge the human mind; to remind us that, despite all our attempts to get away from wild forests of the hunter-gathers, we are still small, vulnerable creatures and the nights are long and dark with any manner of terrors lurking in the shadows. So whether you want your readers to experience agonising tension or full-on terror, let’s explore some of the different types of horror you can delve into.

Psychological Horror
What better way to scare your readers, than convincing them that the horror is in their own minds? Psychological horror focuses on creating a sense of unease or paranoia through the use of unreliable narrators, unstable states of minds and the twisted unease of the human psyche. This genre is perfect for slow burn comics. Giving your comic the space and time to build tension can make for a read that really digs into the reader’s minds. Foreshadowing is also your friend, when it comes to this genre. Oftentimes, there is a plot twist or two along the way, so placing hints as you go, draws the readers in and keeps them on their toes. A good plot twist is one that’s earned from a considered and deliberate application of foreshadowing, so make sure to plan any out in advance so that you can metre out the clues.

Supernatural Horror
It goes without saying that the go-to for horror is your ghosts, ghouls, demons and yurei. These vengeful spirits and otherworldly beings tap into that primal fear of the unknown. Not only do they lurk in the shadows of places we regard as being safe havens, they’re also forces to be reckoned with, and often unable to be reasoned with either. Be they a pure, malevolent intention or a sentient being with clear, evil motivations, they’re there to hunt us; to not only our lives, but to make it as torturous as possible. Capturing that feeling of dread can be enhanced by pacing out panels or even page turns. Adding small visual details that can be easily missed can also add to that feeling of unrest. This is a fun genre to explore as there is limitless potential!

Body Horror
The human body is a marvel. So much has to go right in order for us to function. Therefore, it is even more terrifying when things go horribly, viscerally wrong! This genre is your go-to if you love, and can stomach, gruesome visual details. Twisting limbs into spirals, elongated necks creaking and cracking, the combination of human and non-human parts are all there to explore, if you have the constitution for it. Is it the horror of what can go wrong when man tries to play god? Or will it be a tale of a force exerting its will onto a body that can only go so far?

Existential Horror
What doth life? That’s exactly the point of existential horror. Existentialism is a school of thought concerned with the exploration of human existence and the purpose of life. So what happens when we take this concept and warp it? This can be a very confronting genre to delve into as it asks very personal, philosophical questions. It’s not uncommon to see this sub-genre paired with cosmic horror; the genre that presents us as insignificant in the face of an uncaring, unfathomable being beyond our comprehension. The two share the common theme of nihilism and the futility of life. However, the twist that existential horror lends, is the sense that one’s fate, however terrible, torturous or terrifying is ultimately, inevitable. This can take the form of a character experiencing an unending life, where no matter what befalls them they cannot die, and thus time has no meaning. Or maybe a character comes to learn the true nature of their world and has no way to fight it or change it and must, ultimately, submit. There are many ways to explore this genre, though do so at your own peril * spooky hands *!

I hope you enjoyed this look into the different types of horror out there that you can explore/enjoy!

Stay spooky everyone!

Which horror genre sparks your imagination? Let us know in the comment section below!

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