Back in March I wrote a piece on five series that are binge-worthy horror reads over at Marvel Unlimited, Marvel’s comic book “streaming” service. Well, now I’m back with five more picks and this time we’re taking a look at the other side of “The Big Two.” You think Marvel is the only comic company with a vast online library for a monthly fee?

Well, they’re not.

DC Universe launched last year, stepping up from Marvel’s comics-only format and including old episodes of fan favorite shows such as Super Friends and Batman: The Animated Series, as well as most of DCU’s animated movie catalogue and many of their live action films as well. Not only that, they launched a string of original television shows. Ranging from a grittier approach to Titans to an adult animated Harley Quinn series, the service is worth every dollar.

We’re here to talk horror though, specifically comics (though I implore you to check out the unfortunately short-lived Swamp Thing series). That’s right, hidden among the spandex of superheroes and wonder of dream people, DC also has a plethora of genre goodness to explore and I’m here to point out five different series or runs that are well worth the read. Keep in mind, yes, I’m very aware of Hellblazer (and the subsequent Constantine series) as well as Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, but I’m here to shed a light on some series that may be overlooked or lost in the weeds.

So on we go…

Xombi (2011)

Originally part of Milestone Comics, a line launched specifically to create more stories for minorities in comic books, Xombi centers on David Kim, a Korean American scientist whose body was fused with nanotechnology, making him an immortal “xombi.” His immortality entangled in the affairs of a millennia-long battle between various supernatural and arcane creatures, some allies and some foes, and we finally saw him interjected into the “main” DC multiverse post-Infinite Crisis, when multiple universes converged.

In 2011, writer John Rozum and artist Frazer Irving launched a new Xombi series that unfortunately only ran six issues. In just those six issues, we are introduced to so many gloriously horrifying and weird characters and creatures. Tracking down a villain who now has a chart of hidden fortresses that house demigods, Xombi must team with Nun the Less, Nun of the Above and Catholic Girl (all religiously-charged heroes) to fight a man who read an infected copy of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and thus developed his own Hyde persona. Oh it doesn’t stop there. Turns out when he transforms back, it’s not into a man, but instead the rage of god.

Littered with gonzo ideas like this as well as a slew of terrifying Clive Barker-esque creatures (Blood Mummies and Dental Phantoms) and even a ghastly army of trick or treaters who did not successfully hide from the spirits walking the Earth, it was a blast of a series and it makes for a quick, fun speed read.

Gotham by Midnight (2015)

In 2015, DC took a stab at getting weird in Gotham. You know, even weirder. Writer Ray Fawkes and artist Ben Templesmith (at least for the first six issues) introduce us to The Midnight Shift, a special division within GCPD to handle the cases that Batman just can’t make sense of. Comprised of Detective Lisa Drake, who has a sonic scream that can injure supernatural creatures, special forensic scientist Doctor Tarr, and Jim Corrigan, the human vessel of God’s Vengeance The Spectre, the crew tackles the oddities of Gotham that fall just outside of police jurisdiction.

Templesmith really does create an amazing spectacle in his issues. Known for his 30 Days of Night series, he brings something otherworldly to the horrific and macabre. Fawkes brings readers in a la X-Files by introducing Lieutenant Rook into the division as an internal affairs agent and skeptic who is forced into believing in the supernatural after his adventures with The Midnight Shift. Creating detective stories in Gotham is perfect alchemy, using pre-established settings and characters like Slaughter Swamp and Gentlemen Ghost for story arcs, as well as creating ideas like the vengeful spirit of Gotham’s murdered ancestors.

Gotham by Midnight was a too-short lived series that explored the dark magic behind one of DC’s longest standing cities.

I, Vampire (2011)

When DC did their soft reboot of the universe with The New 52, they decided to take some older stories and try to modernize them and reinvent characters. One of these was I, Vampire, an updated imagining of Andrew Bennet, a vampire who has learned to fight off his bloodlust and hunts other vampires. His largest adversary is his former lover, Mary, Queen of Blood. In this reboot, Mary decides she has grown weary of sustaining off of cow and rat blood and is going to use an army of vampires to take over the world; and it’s up to Andrew to stop her.

Joshua Hale Fialkov writes the entire run with beautiful inks by Andrea Sorrentino. Fialkov does a great job at capturing the feel of gothic romance with a more modern cultural relevance, even naming every issue after a song. Hell, the entire arc is named ‘Tainted Love.’ It’s a great combination of action and love story and Sorrentino isn’t afraid to dirty things up with a healthy smattering of blood.

Don’t shy away from this just because of its teen drama vibes, as it embraces those as well as classic vampire beats. Throw in some Constantine and Batman for good measure and you’ll have a good ol’ time.

House of Secrets (1956)

Let’s get to some old school classics.

DC’s anthology series covered a wide range of stories, everything from science fiction to fantasy, but it was particularly well known for horror. A host, Abel (brother of Cain from biblical lore), would introduce readers to various tales of suspense and the macabre. In fact, we saw our very first glimpse of Swamp Thing in these pages. It’s a thrill ride, going back and finding a slew of talented writers and artists tackling one-off short stories about murder, monsters, and mayhem. Len Wein, Neal Adams, Sergio Aragones, Bernie Wrightson, Jim Mooney, Michael Kaluta and even the king himself, Jack Kirby. It’s a veritable who’s who of the best of the best for the era.

Things get really wild, too, and very eclectic. Alien invasions, warlocks, vampires, the Bride of Death. It’s a revolving door of creatures and mystery and you’ll feel right at home on a dark night, by the fire, getting down on some old school horror.

Batman #871-881 (2013)

Scott Snyder’s Batman run is already iconic and will go down in the annals of time as one of the most legendary runs in comic history. He has continued to reinvent the character over and over and this particular run, called “The Black Mirror,” is a harrowing story that grounded the Dark Knight in an all-too-real realm of sociopathy.

Dick Grayson is handling the mantle of the Bat while Bruce is away and must team up with Commissioner Gordon to handle a string of murders. While still battling against the regular and superhuman crime of Gotham, Dick and Jim piece together a puzzle that hits closer to home than they could have ever thought.

I don’t want to give too much away here but this arc is truly a shining moment in Batman history. Artistic auteurs Jock and Francesco Francavilla tag team the ten issues for one of the most visually stunning and epic stints the Dark Knight has ever undertaken or ever will. Snyder masterfully balances the superheroics with David Fincher-style detective work, making this run an absolute MUST read.