Occult Comics: What Makes Them Not As Popular?

Occult Comics are a strange batch of bedfellows within the medium. If you go onto any of my underrated comic book lists, you’ll notice that a sizable chunk of titles are under this umbrella genre. Okay but why? More importantly, how do John Constantine and Hellboy thrive? Or how about Doctor Strange? Unlike Lady Death, you won’t see a lowest common denominator with these guys. That’s what we’re here to discuss today.

Occult Comics Statistics

I follow Tyler Carpenter’s Draw and Talk and he brought this to everybody’s attention:

It’s super important to understand that some genres aren’t as popular as others, and you’re capped to an extent depending on what you choose. So the solution? Either be the best at the genre, or shift.

These are the top genres on Kindle. If you do OCCULT, don’t expect $$$ pic.twitter.com/AQPTyrN0cq

— Draw and Talk (@tyler_c_world) November 28, 2022

Layman’s terms, if you want to financially succeed in occult comics, you’re going to face competition. And no, just slapping ‘Hell’ onto the title of your occult detective series isn’t enough.

You’d have an easier time making a travel guide to places literally named Hell.

Why Occult Detectives?

Occult detectives are arguably readers’ first occult comics. This is the sub-genre where John Constantine and Hellboy thrive in. Probably because rather than just teaching Sherlock Holmes magic, these characters help readers ease into the occult. With the protagonists being intel gatherers who piece together the magical world, readers experience it more naturally. But occult detectives also explore how the mundane world treats occultists like outsiders. A number of these series have the supernatural be crooks or gangs.

Yet the best of these series have all too human characters for readers to reflect on. Constantine for all of his snark cynicism is a humanitarian burdened by his sacrifices. Going into the occult has burned out every mundane trait John ever had. Because of this mindset, he can seem like a psychopath, especially since John’s friends tend not to live long.

Or in cases like Trese, the stoic title character acts as a foil to the liveliness of the supernatural Phillippines. She’s basically both a shaman and a warrior acting as a peacekeeper. But if not for her support by a police officer, she’d look more like a crime boss.

A Discarded Lense

As you can probably guess, the occult detective’s not just a lense but a shield for the average reader. The occult rituals and customs aren’t just complex, they’re almost inhuman. One series Criminal Macabre has a protagonist who gets scapegoated as the source of trouble. But it also answers other reasons why occult comics are so hard to get behind. The occult is full of things that go over people’s heads.

Are Occult Comics Consistent Or Not?

Unlike the occult detectives who act as the readers’ protective guides, occult in general can play with common sense. For example, Grant Morrison series The Invisibles, has to get creative to show off chaos magic. By challenging definition with the bizarre, readers have an easier time getting a new look at symbols. But even that comes with a few risks.

On one hand, there’s a bittersweet enlightenment that allows people to love something despite its flaws. On the other are schizophrenic outlooks that get people labeled as conspiracy theorists.

But quick disclaimer, that’s not enough reason for publishers to drop occult comics. Otherwise no one would have Doctor Strange.

Outsider: It’s Just A Phase

I believe the more concrete reason occult comics get a bad rep is their overall perception. Does anyone remember D&D and Heavy Metal music being labeled in the Satanic Panic? Or for that matter the Seduction of the Innocent trials? If I hear about that one more time, so help me I will start a movement to burns every copy of that book without a hint of irony.

Sadly, it goes beyond all of that.

Go onto any search engine and you’ll see a division in views; boring academia, and just plain dull conservative Christians. This gives the impression that the occult is for the social outcasts, or just some phase. Think maybe goth, emo, or (hopefully not) being depressed. Even with a growing number of TikTokers bringing the topics into the mainstream, the public doesn’t seem to view the occult as worth their time. Which is ironic considering D&D and Heavy Metal have been separated from the occult. Not by debunking mind you, but by oversaturation.

To toot my own horn, the Evil Ernie franchise probably shows this sequence best. This series was steeped in rebelling against conventions, that’s what made occultism interesting. But after a while, it just looks like staying in arrested development. People do get tired of looking at the world through a pessimistic lense.

An Awkward Phase

Plus there are plenty of times when it seems like occult comics appeal to a lowest common denominator. For example meet Lady Death, the muse of Evil Ernie’s creator:

As well as Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose:

If you saw these covers lying around… well what would some people think? That people got seduced into the occult because of their urges?

Quick disclaimer this is not to shame the designs of these characters. Let alone the nuance of their personalities… at their best. But public perceptions of treating women fairly tend to throw people off.

But Wait! There’s More…

Now it’s time for the views that’ll outrage some people. Do you think it’s hard to get into certain fandoms? Now imagine trying to get into a religion that dates back centuries to millennia. Okay, I guess it involves new ones too. The point is, there are decisions and commitments that go into this. Some of these practices that can seem taboo especially when they’re remade for sensations. Take for example, zombies or mummies; after so much saturation, most of them have lost their impact. Romero, I respect ya; but the mindless consumerism is just dull.

You can even argue that this is cultural appropriation to fit into other people’s topics. I mean it’s not like anybody prays to Baron Samedi when a shambling corpse is around. Do you understand how significant that is to certain people or does it goes against your own faith? Whether your answer is yes or no; maybe you see how difficult it actually is for occult comics. Doctor Voodoo and Shadowman have their work cut out for them.

Fantasy vs. Occult Comics

So if going into occult comics is hard, why not just build something from the ground up? Partly because that crosses into just plain fantasy or mysticism. Frankly I can’t tell what’s fantasy or occult with Doctor Strange. Why? According to Of Cardinal Virtues, magic systems have a metaphysical order to them and gaps in them lead to the occult. Which KnowledgeNuts suggest is learning or control something mystics shouldn’t. But since Stephen Strange deals with costs, effects, and redefining magic, he’s the perfect blend of fantasy and occult.

Occult Comics Need Better PR

So there you have it. The reason occult comics aren’t on top of everybody’s wishlists is because of a bunch of moving pieces. People’s view on the occult is probably the biggest reason. That it’s for devil worshippers or people going through a phase. Some people might even be afraid of getting labeled. But others might mistake fantasy series for the occult too. Thankfully occult detectives are around to help ease readers into a bigger world. I just hope writers get the inspiration they need to build on from that.

Thanks for coming to the end, and as always remember to look between the panels.