Just in time for Halloween, pop culture guru David Ferguson dives deep into the multiple worlds created by comics author James Tynion IV.

It has gotten to the darker evenings of October, so I can finally accept that the spooky season is upon us. At a time when horror fans like to read some scary novels and watch scary films and TV shows, I am going to give you something from the world of graphic novels. Coincidentally, I have recently gotten more into the work of one of the best writers of horror in the world of comics: James Tynion IV.

He has done a wide variety of stuff, including the likes of Batman, but I am going to narrow it down to five creator-owned series. I am also not going to include one of his most popular ones, Something Is Killing The Children, although I’m told fans of Stranger Things may like it. One important aspect of James Tynion IV’s work is the significant representation of queer characters, which I’ll highlight in relation to each book where applicable. I will also reference other shows and things to give you an idea of the tone and other elements.

The Department of Truth (with Martin Simmons, 2020 – present)
This one is definitely for fans of the X-Files, filled with secret government agencies and conspiracy theories.

The premise of the series is that if enough people believe a conspiracy theory, it will reshape the world and that theory will become the truth. The Department of Truth attempts to stop this from happening but it is up in the air as to whether they are doing it for the greater good.

Our entry character is Cole Turner, a gay man and an FBI agent who has studied conspiracy theories all his life, and ends up working for the Department. We go into every kind of conspiracy theory, from the JFK assassination to Barack Obama being Kenyan-born. The premise may seem odd, but Tynion treats the topics seriously and there is a truly haunting issue about mass shootings. Regular series artist Martin Simmons’ painted art style adds a lot of atmosphere to the stories.

The Closet (with Gavin Fullerton, 2022)
Something Guillermo del Toro might direct?

What was supposed to be a simple father-son cross-country trip becomes a literal nightmare. Thom, who is a bad father, neglects his son, Jaime, who needs his attention as he has something evil living in his closet. Something that follows him as the family travels.

The book is a sad story about regret, life, strained relationships, and the evil waiting in the dark. But it also looks at social issues like the responsibilities of being a parent. Irish artist Gavin Fullerton, along with Irish colourist Chris O’Halloran, provides art that really fits the story that James Tynion has written.

W0RLDTR33 (with Fernando Blanco, 2023 – present)
A science fiction story that might slightly resemble The Matrix, but not quite. The horrors of AI spring to mind.

A group of friends, led by Gabriel, a gay man, discover a secret space at the bottom of the internet, dubbed the Undernet. They chart this experience on a message board called W0RLDTR33. Something evil lurks in it. They thought they had closed it off, at a great cost, but years later, someone has opened it up again. Released, it is wreaking havoc on the real world and the friends reunite to try and stop it.

The Deviant (with Joshua Hixson, 2024 – 2025)
This is a psychological horror featuring a central killer with gritty realism.

Michael, a troubled young queer writer, interviews “The Deviant Killer” with the intention of writing his story. The man who, while he still professes his innocence, was convicted of committing unimaginable atrocities against young men, while dressed as Santa Claus. Michael seems to be developing an unhealthy obsession with the murders and things go in a strange direction when a copycat killer begins killing people connected to the case. A psychological crime thriller that also explores queer identities.

Exquisite Corpses (with Michael Walsh, 2025)
When I mentioned this one to a friend, as I thought it was right up his alley, he said it sounded like The Purge. Perhaps mixed with Bloodsport for those who may have seen that Van Damme movie.

Every five years, the wealthiest families in America play a game. Twelve dangerous killers are dropped into a town for a contest with one rule: the last killer standing is the winner. Each killer is masked and they look something like characters in Mortal Kombat. The families don’t care about any collateral damage or the deaths of normal citizens of the town, who are trapped as the town is sealed off.

This is where the strength of Tynion’s writing shows as he creates fleshed-out ordinary citizens with everyday worries, including a young queer couple. There are cartoon-like killers, but there is a humanity underpinning the story. There is a political aspect here too, as the winning family gets to rule America for the next five years, an obvious nod to the monetary power of the richest among us.

Well, hopefully at least one of these stories by James Tynion IV will appeal to you, so off to the comic shop you go before it gets too dark.

Did you know we have a team of wonderful runners taking part in this year’s Dublin Marathon and raising funds for GCN? You can support our athletes at this link.