Summary

DC ’s biggest summertime event , Knight Terrors , gave fans some of the most terrific variant covers in geezerhood . 2023 was a big year for event for Marvel and DC . From the rise of aGang Warstarted by Spider - Man , to theDawn of DC , which kicked off a major reboot for DC ’s characters , both publisher served up major crosswalk storylines . However , none were as grip asKnight Terrors .

This summer - longsighted event dropped some of DC ’s most iconic submarine and scoundrel into the world of repugnance as they navigated their bad nightmares at the hands of the villain Insomnia . The surreal nature of the series gave fans some ofthe creepiest stories surrounding the charactersyet , but what made it stand out most of all was its nontextual matter . The art for each miniseries gentle the market to show just how major this horror event was for the DC Universe , paving the way for some of the most terrifying variant cover to advertise the event in DC ’s foresightful account . These are some of the scariest variantsthe upshot had to offer .

10Harley Quinn Experiences An Arachnophobe’s Worst Fear

Riccardo Federici,Knight Terrors: First Blood#1

The first undulation of variants thatkicked off theKnight Terrorseventhad the crucial line of grabbing rooter tending , which many did by dally on real - world fear . Riccardo Federici took one of the most common phobic neurosis , fear of spiders , and made it absolute incubus fuel with this realistic variant screen . The art depicting Harley Quinn covered in spiders is unsettling because of how life - like it look . There ’s no interval between the comic humanity and the real world here , asFederici attempted to make Harley face as real as potential , to resound succeeder . The sheer feel of terror on Harley ’s face is haunting , relieve oneself it one of the most iconic masking from theKnight Terrorsevent .

9The Flash Faces Cosmic Terrors

Daniel Bayliss,Knight Terrors: The Flash#1

Sending the flash lamp into his worst nightmares without finding a way of life to contain the Speed Force would have been a squander chance during theKnight Terrorsevent . Daniel Bayliss ' var. forFlash’sKnight Terrorsstoryperfectly plays on this concept withthis terrific intent that taps into the world of cosmic horror , giving the speedster a Lovecraftian spin . The use of purple in the background feels otherworldly , as Flash set about to evade an eery number of hand tear him back . It ’s all bind together with the terrific image of the Flash ’s costume housing an empty vas , with no one really wearing it . It ’s an eery image that taps into what makes cosmic revulsion so terrific .

8Shazam Gets A Bloody New Look

Hayden Sherman,Knight Terrors: Shazam!#1

While Billy Batson himself was n’t the master wishful thinker in theShazam!side story , he still get a horrific new look in the form ofhis twisted alter - ego Teth - Shazam , where he took gain the ruthless personality of Black Adam . To showcase this update look for the hero , artist Hayden Sherman created an incredible variant cover with Shazam front - and - centre . However , his suit is a little off . Rather than the costume being his traditional Bolshevik , it ’s cover in blood , indicating to sports fan just how remorseless he can be in his new Black Adam - revolutionize costume . With the blood of his foe replacing framework for the red color , this cover underline the potential horror of an malign Shazam .

7Harley Quinn Channels Stephen King’sCarrie

Tula Lotay,Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn#1

Harley Quinn is no stranger to tackling pop civilisation in her history , give how universal she has become as a character . Therefore , it ’s no surprise that one strain forherKnight Terrorsstorywould feature an court to horror ’s most popular author , Stephen King . The artwork by Tula Lotay really spans across both issues of the mini - taradiddle , as it ’s revealed that Harley herself is the culprit behind dunk one of her variants in pigs ' profligate . However , the genuine recreation of the iconic present moment itself is hauntingly beautiful . The utilisation of reds , play up Harley cover in stock shortly after a well-chosen moment , is a loving homage to one of King ’s best stories .

6Punchline Succumbs To The Unknown

Ejikure,Knight Terrors: Punchline#2

Not eventhe newest Jokerwas dependable from Insomnia ’s ire during DC ’s monolithic summertime effect . Ejikure ’s contribution to Punchline ’s story in theKnight Terrorssaga is about as weird as horror can get , as she literally find herself being pulled into a clay - like binding by bodyless arm and watchful eyes . Based on the story within the pageboy , it ’s potential that this symbolise Punchline beingpulled into the net , though it never whole clear , leave behind buff with the horror of what sincerely lies past the binding . Ejikure ’s cover is a glorious depiction of how the scariest affair about horror can be the unknown , as it leaves what lie in beyond the veil up to the reader ’s imagination .

5Nightwing And Two-Face Prove Sometimes Less Is More

Jason Shawn Alexander,Knight Terrors: Nightwing #2

Artist Jason Shawn Alexander ’s variant cover forKnight Terrors : Nightwing # 2isn’t as surrealistic as most of the others in the 2023 revulsion consequence . However , this does n’t have in mind its simplicity count it out as one of the most terrifying of the yr . This introductory concept for a screen excels in depict dreadwith its brainy use of shadow and face as it features Two - aspect grasping Nightwing ’s head . The linework , along with the use of obscure people of color , make this cover more terrifying than it has any right to be , as it runs with its simplicity to make one of the scariest covers in theKnight Terrorsevent .

4Beast Boy Becomes One Of Horror’s Scariest Movie Monsters

Christian Ward,Knight Terrors: Titans#1

DC ’s follow - up toKnight Terrors , theBeast Worldstory consequence , begin with thetragic end of Beast Boy . Before that , his shapeshifting abilities were give a dark discourse , as artist Christian Ward delivered a ferocious redesign with a everlasting court to John Carpenter ’s 1982 filmThe Thing . The excogitation of Beast Boy ’s wolf amalgamation is a perfect recall to the iconic dog creature scene from the cult horror movie , faithfully replicating what made the iconic moving picture feel so terrifying . There are elements that are familiar , butas a whole the beast is something otherworldly , making it dead terrifying to look at .

3Zatanna Takes On A Disturbing Eight-Legged Form

Chuma Hill,Knight Terrors: Zatanna#2

Zatanna may have been one of the few heroes to resist the sleep spell placed by Insomnia , butthat does n’t mean she was safe from artistsdepicting her large incubus . This blanket crafted by Chuma Hill transforms the occult Zatanna into one of her creepy-crawly shape ever , as she becomes more wanderer - like than human . She is depicted as maturate spindly legs out her back , as well as a hinged jaw , brimming with fangs , eager to consume her prey . What ’s even worse are the eyes that pop up around her , gain this arachnid form one of the most terrific transformations throughout theKnight Terrorssaga .

2Cyborg Meets A Fate Worse Than Death

Christian Ward,Knight Terrors: Titans#2

Christian Ward had more inspired work to share for DC fans , in theKnight Terrorsstory feature the Teen Titans . This sentence , Cyborg take the spotlight , in what could be his biggest incubus . Cyborg has always feared become more machine than man , observe the accident that run to his don cheer his body . This terrible art depictshis worst revere fall to life , as he ’s plug into what is probable Titans Tower , serve as a live battery . The only remnant of his humanity is his skin , easy decaying , being kept alive just so he can stay on to be used as a superpower source . Ward ’s nightmarish image will certainly continue burned in readers ' minds for twelvemonth to come .

1Batman’s Biggest Fears Erupt From Within

Puppeteer Lee,Knight Terrors: Batman#1

One of the most common themes present throughout theKnight Terrorsevent was that the most horrific imaging often emerge from the minds of devotee - favorite heroes . Not only is creative person Puppeteer Lee ’s bone - chill take on Batman the right , but it ’s also the scariest variant cover of the whole event . Lee reached late into medieval mental imagery for this creation , asa terrify batlike animate being , with Joe Chill ’s handgun as a head , emerges from a young Bruce Wayne ’s oral cavity . The covert forKnight Terrors : Batman#1 is an ikon that constitures stark incubus fuel , and usher that Batman has the darkest fears of all lying within of him , making thisDC’smost terrifyingKnight Terrorsvariant cover .

Peanuts and golden sky

Robin Curtis and Kirstie Alley as Lt. Saavik in Star Trek.

gary larson far side cow and cavemen

DC KNIGHT TERRORS COVER SCREAMING NIGHTWING CREEPY FLASH AND BEAST BOY

Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 Variant by Riccardo Federici, featuring a realistic-looking Harley Quinn covered in spiders

Knight Terrors: The Flash #1 Variant by Daniel Bayliss, faceless Flash running as hands grab at him

Knight Terrors: Shazam #1 Variant by Hayden Sherman, evil Shazam covered in blood

Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1 Variant by Tula Lotay, Harley covered in blood in a “Carrie” homage

Knight Terrors: Punchline #2 Variant by Ejikure, Punchline being consumed by disembodied hands and eyes

Knight Terrors: Nightwing #2 Variant by Jason Shawn Alexander, featuring Two-Face with a grip on Nightwing’s head

Knight Terrors: Titans #1 Variant by Christian Ward, Beast Boy in an homage to John Carpenter’s “The Thing”

Knight Terrors: Zatanna #2 Variant by Chuma Hill, Zatanna morphing into a spider

Knight Terrors: Titans #2 Variant by Christian Ward, Cyborg being turned into a living power source

Knight Terrors: Batman #1 Variant by Puppeteer Lee, young Bruce Wayne vomiting a bat, which has a gun for a head