The Best Comics About Death & the Afterlife
This time of year, everybody seems to be thinking about death. If you’re celebrating your beloved dead, try these comics about the afterlife.
Samhain, Día de los Muertos, All-Saints Day, and the Buddhist and Toaist Zhongyuan Festival – many cultures have holidays to honor those who’ve passed on. These celebrations usually happen near the fall harvest, when some believe the veil between our world and the afterlife is at its thinnest.
It’s a time to celebrate those lost, offer them tribute, and feel close to them again. So if you’re spending this season partying with your ghosts, might I recommend these comic books?
As always, we know that digital comics are very convenient. But if you see something you absolutely need to own in the meatspace, be sure to head to your local comic book shop!
You Died: An Anthology of the Afterlife by Kel McDonald, Andrea Purcell, & More
Death ― the one aspect of life we all have in common ― is waiting for everyone, yet our practices, beliefs, myths, and stories about it are as diverse as we are. YOU DIED celebrates these vibrant cultural expressions of the great equalizer in a thrilling, life-affirming whirlwind of a book, an inspirational volume to be treasured through times of both loss and abundance (and every day in between).
At turns both brazen and insightful, morose and optimistic, YOU DIED asks a wide array of cartoonist newbloods and all-stars to relate their most unforgettable tales of death and what comes next. Filled with beautifully illustrated accounts of grief and mourning, ancient myths, memorial rites around the globe, afterlife in the far reaches of space, and the simple and touching ways both the living and the dead carry on, this lively collection starts a comforting and much-needed dialogue about death as a natural part of life.
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNaple
Imagine Garth Hale’s surprise when he’s accidentally zapped to the spirit world by Frank Gallows, a washed-out ghost wrangler. Suddenly Garth finds he has powers the ghosts don’t have, and he’s stuck in a world run by the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who would use Garth’s newfound abilities to rule the ghostly kingdom. When Garth meets Cecil, his grandfather’s ghost, the two search for a way to get Garth back home, and nearly lose hope until Frank Gallows shows up to fix his mistake.
The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman & More
From Neil Gaiman, the best-selling novelist and creator of the world-renowned comics title The Sandman, comes a mesmerizing tale of the dangers and opportunities of youth, and its endless possibilities. Illustrated by four of comics’ most accomplished artists, John Bolton, Scott Hampton, Charles Vess and Paul Johnson, THE BOOKS OF MAGIC collects all four issues of the original miniseries that introduced the character of Timothy Hunter and set the stage for his continuing adventures. Timothy Hunter could be the most powerful magician in the world, but does he really want to be? Guided through the magical world starting at the beginning of time by a group of DC Universe magicians, often referred to as the Trenchcoat Brigade (John Constantine, Phantom Stranger, Mister E, and Doctor Occult), they attempt to aid Timothy in his decision whether or not to embrace his gift. However, by the time Timothy makes a choice, it may have already been made for him.
This is a great choice for the Sandman fan who was looking for Death to make an appearance on this list. Well, here you go! Check this one out for free with Comixology.
Loving Reaper by Jenny Jinya
Our beautiful planet is home to 8.7 million species. Animals that walk, crawl, fly, swim, and all of which, in one way or another, enrich our daily lives. Whether it’s watching a football game with your dog, the first time your eyes meet those of a fox in the forest, or the warmth and purring provided by that cat you took in. Our lives are affected by exchanges with our animal companions, whether domestic or wild. With these comics, the author wants to show the diversity and beauty of the animal world, but above all to denounce human behaviour that we should no longer see, ever. We’re not going to lie to you, these are incredibly sad stories and it is likely that some of them will touch you. But they are also stories of hope, because every tear you shed means that these animals matter to you, and that you will take care of those who are lucky enough to cross your path.
Just so you’re aware, if you buy these comics, we’ll make a little money. We’re shopping for funeral shrouds because it’s never too early to start planning for your final party.
