Our Favorite Stephen King Comic Books

We think these trades are all solid adaptations of King’s work, and also demonstrate the versatility of his storytelling in this visual medium.

Yeah, we know it’s November, but we’ve still got a Halloween hangover. Damn you Nestlé Crunch bars! This lingering spooky feeling got us thinking about how much we love Stephen King’s work, and how that’s been translated to comic books. Here’s our look at some of our favorite Stephen King comic adaptations to date:

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born (0785121447)
This comic series, published by Marvel, adapts King’s epic Dark Tower saga. The stunning artwork by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove brings Roland Deschain’s world to life in a striking way that captures the essence of King’s dark fantasy western. We’ll admit we didn’t get sucked into this series until we picked up the comic.

The Stand: Captain Trips (JUL098173)
Marvel’s adaptation of King’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece The Stand begins with this miniseries. Readers know this is a massive book and we think the comic successfully translates the sprawling narrative and complex characters of the novel into a compelling visual format.

American Vampire (JUN247217)
While not a direct adaptation, this Vertigo series was co-authored by King and Scott Snyder. King wrote the backup stories, exploring the series’ vampire mythology.

Creepshow (AUG240482)
This graphic novel expansion of the 1982 horror anthology film (which King wrote the screenplay for) captures the EC Comics aesthetic of the movie.

Road Rage (MAY120428)
IDW’s adaptation of Throttle, a novella King co-wrote with his son Joe Hill, combines with a comic version of the Richard Matheson story that inspired it.

Locke & Key (JUL084052)
While not written by King himself, this acclaimed series by his son Joe Hill shares many thematic similarities with King’s work. Stephen King wrote the introduction for the first volume, cementing its connection to his literary world.

The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home (0785127097)
Another entry in Marvel’s Dark Tower series, this comic expands on Roland’s backstory, filling in gaps from the novels and providing new insights into the gunslinger’s world. With Peter David on the adaptation, this comic is tight.

We think these trades are all solid adaptations of King’s work, and also demonstrate the versatility of his storytelling in this visual medium. They offer both longtime fans and newcomers fresh ways to experience King’s unique brand of horror, fantasy, and drama. We’re suckers for King’s work - we loved reading Duma Key most recently - and these trades are worth having in your collection. Ask your shop owner what King (or Joe Hill) adaptations they have in stock!