As the guests arrive at the island enclave, they discover that there is no obvious link between them and that nobody is quite sure who lured them there. They resolve to enjoy themselves regardless of their missing host’s whereabouts. But when past crimes are brought to light, it becomes clear that their host’s intentions are not benevolent.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? remains one of the best films ever made. It managed to combine animation and the real world in a truly revolutionary way. You’ve got the iconic characters of Roger Rabbit, Jessica Rabbit, and Edie Vance, and can you think of another instance when Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny appeared together? On top of it all, at its core, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is a proper mystery. It’s also a great predecessor to the recently released Coyote V. Acme.
In honor of all things toons and mysteries, here’s a list of mystery and thriller comics for you to dive into. There’s a comic anthology, dark academia, jewelry heists, and even political murder!
This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Nicole Goux
Hell Phone Vol. 1 by Benji Nate
I think we can all relate to being haunted by our phones and losing track of time on these doom machines. But in Hell Phone, a flip phone is a real menace to friends Sissy and Lola. They can’t get rid of it or escape the creepy calls. Sissy picked up the phone, only to receive instructions about a decades-old murder. As each phone call comes through on the thing they cannot get rid of, the two friends find themselves dragged into an investigation that reveals horror after horror in the world they thought they knew.
Perfect Crime Party edited by Kel MacDonald
Iron Circus has released a comic anthology centered on all things crime! There are 25 short comic stories, each with different artistic styles and tones, from lighthearted heists and thefts to noir and thriller stories with dark motives and dead bodies. It’s got a pretty hard-hitting group of talented creators, including stories by Ryan Estrada, Tango, and Amy Chase.
And the cover? It’s by Jeff Smith of Bone fame.
Evil Eyes Sea by Ozge Samanci
This award-winning graphic novel is a snapshot into the lives of two girls, Ece and Meltem, at Bosphorus University in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1995-1996. They are trying to keep their grades up while making ends meet on their very limited budgets. But in their spare time, they enjoy scuba diving and pretending to have magical powers, like Medusa’s stare.
One day, the duo witnesses a woman drive her car into the water. Fearful that they caused the accident with their evil eye stare, they soon learn that the woman’s death may not have been an accident. Several people had significant reasons to make the victim disappear. Suddenly, the two students find themselves unexpectedly immersed in the world of conservative politics and organized crime.
Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo
If you need an alternative to a certain magic school, here’s a beautifully illustrated and creepy witchy YA series for you. When Abby’s best friend, Noreen, goes missing, Abby is very alarmed. But everyone at Younwity’s Institute of Magic is too busy putting together the Samhain festival to look into the disappearance. In fact, the Headmistress has expressly told Abby to stop or risk being expelled from the school. But Abby knows something is wrong and can’t wait for things to take their course. With some friends’ help, the group learns that Noreen isn’t the first witch to go missing at the school. The sequel, Speak of the Devil, came out earlier this year.
Gilt Frame by Matt Kindt and Margie Kraft Kindt
Sam and his wealthy Aunt Merry travel the world collecting antiques and solving dastardly murders. They certainly did not expect that their trip to Paris would result in becoming suspects in a grisly murder. They had gone to get some items appraised, and Aunt Merry wanted to purchase some picture frames. But things go wrong quickly. They are robbed and stumble on a crime scene. Now, they’ve got to solve the crime and stay out of French prison while dodging jewel thieves, art forgers, and a French detective who doesn’t want them to get involved.
I hope these comics will get your little grey cells working. If you want more mystery and thriller comic books, check out this list of graphic mysteries. Want some more horror in your comics? This roundup of Gothic horror from around the globe should do the trick.
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