Happy Halloween, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog post on the art and craft of storytelling. Today, in honor of All Hallows’ Eve, I’ll be ranking the ten best monsters and supernatural creatures across all forms of storytelling. These mysterious beings have captured our imaginations for years, some going as far back as ancient mythology. But which supernatural creatures are the best and most iconic of all? We’ll explore that today, looking at the origins of these creatures and examining some of their most iconic portrayals throughout history. Of note, I’m defining these entries specifically as non-human entities. Half-human creatures or humans that transform into supernatural creatures as their only or predominant ability are fair game, but otherwise regular humans who have learned how to harness magical forces are not. For this reason, witches, wizards, sorcerers, warlocks, and the like will not be on this list. With that out of the way, let’s get spooky!
Number Ten – Trolls
Though the term Troll has become a modern term for someone trying to annoy a rival with juvenile antics, the first trolls were far more dangerous. Originating in Scandinavian mythology, trolls were powerful nature beings with a reputation for kidnapping civilized humans. They usually live in isolation, typically in the mountains, but less frequently by river banks. Their popularity in storytelling exploded from there, as the “troll beneath the bridge” became a frequent trope in fairy tales. Some analysts even define Grendel, the notorious antagonist in Beowulf, as being within the troll family. In modern storytelling, trolls have become a mainstay of the fantasy genre, such as in Tolkien’s Middle Earth and Rowling’s Wizarding World. Hell, there are now versions of the creatures designed to be child-friendly, such as Treasure Trolls. Through the many subvariants of this monster, such as goblins and orcs, the troll has become an enduring staple of storytelling, and a worthy start to this list.
Number Nine – Centaurs
Of all the land-based half-human creatures, such as satyrs and the dreaded Minotaur, centaurs are probably the most well-known of them all. They are a fantastic device for exploring the struggle between civilized man and untamed nature within a single being. As such, many centaurs have a reputation for being wild and raucous. After all, it was a centaur, Nessus, who was the ultimate downfall of the mighty Heracles, killing the hero after his own death using his poisoned blood. Then again, perhaps the most famous centaur, Chiron, was known as a pillar of wisdom and justice. He personally taught many Greek heroes, such as Achilles and Jason. This reputation has endured to the modern day, where Chiron trains the title character in the Percy Jackson book series. A similar situation occurs in Harry Potter, as most centaurs are wild and dangerous, but one centaur, Firenze, shuns his brethren to become the Divination professor at Hogwarts. In the Chronicles of Narnia, this is further expanded upon, with centaurs being wise stargazers loyal to King Aslan. In spite of their more positive portrayals in the modern day, centaurs remain the very definition of complicated creatures.
Number Eight – Ghosts
Though ghost can sometimes be an overly generalized term, true ghosts are defined as the restless and wayward spirits of deceased humans. At best, they are frequently depicted as tragic figures imprisoned by their failings and regrets in life, such as the house ghosts in Harry Potter. Perhaps the most famous signature ability of ghosts is the power to possess the living for a time, as seen in stories such as Beetlejuice. Often, ghosts have a limited ability to manifest and communicate directly with the living. The more benevolent ones will use this to actively try and help those they knew in life to avoid their miserable fate, most famously done by Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol. Of course, when ghosts become angry and vengeful, there is no force on Earth capable of stopping them. One has to look no further than the film Poltergeist to see what happens when ghosts declare the living to be their enemy. Treat ghosts with respect, and whatever you do, don’t build a house on their buried corpses!
Number Seven – Sea Monsters
As long as man has sailed the oceans, there have been myths and legends about what monsters may lurk beneath the waves. This is understandable, as even a fleeting glimpse of a massive creature in the open ocean will make a sailor fearful. Of all these legends, none have endured in storytelling as much as the terrible Kraken. Stories of giant squids attacking ships at sea have always captured our imaginations, such as in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. More modern stories, such as Clash of the Titans and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, have solidified the Kraken specifically as a sea monster to be feared and respected. Beyond the Kraken, there are other monstrous legends based on sea creatures, primarily whales and sharks. Most famously, Moby Dick tells the epic tale of Captain Ahab’s ill-fated mission to kill the giant whale that took his leg. And who could forget the giant great white shark from Spielberg’s classic film, Jaws? Ultimately, sea monsters of all sorts are meant to tap into one of the most primal human fears of all – the fear of the unknown.
Number Six – Mermaids
Though technically sea monsters, mermaids are often a category all their own, being human-fish hybrids. While most modern depictions show mermaids as benevolent creatures of grace and beauty, their origins are far darker. Sailors were warned to resist listening to their songs for fear of dying in the resulting shipwreck, similar to the Greek myths of the sirens. Though there were some conflicting early accounts of mermaids, the shift to them being benevolent really began with Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. Disney’s later reimagining of this story as an animated film further cemented the popularity of Mermaids in modern times, spawning other variations such as Aquamarine and Ponyo. Still, some modern adaptions harken back to the darker origins of mermaids, most notably Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. In general, when writing about mermaids, it seems prudent to decide in advance which direction to take them as characters and commit to this direction.
Number Five – Succubi
Among the darkest and most consistently evil of supernatural creatures, succubi are demons appearing as beautiful human women. They feed on the life force of men, taking their strength from them during intimate sexual contact. According to some legends, the first succubus was Lilith, the original wife of Adam. Over time, however, the term succubus has simply come to mean a woman who tempts and seduces men into sinful sexual acts, rather than stealing their life force or soul literally. Still, they are popular antagonistic figures in fantasy storytelling. One of my favorite versions takes place in The Dresden Files book series. Here, they are called the White Court of Vampires, but despite their title, the members of the White Court are succubi and incubi (male succubi), feeding off the life force of humans through intimate contact. Author Jim Butcher’s ingenious twist is that they must do this to survive, with one particular White Court vampire fighting against his inner demonic desires and only feeding as much as he must to survive. This is a brilliant changeup that turns a terrifying, evil creature into a tragic soul tormented by the nature of his very existence. Such subversions of expectations often make for the best characters in storytelling.
Number Four – Werewolves
Speaking of tormented souls, let’s talk about werewolves, shall we? Werewolves, sometimes called lycanthropes, originated in European folklore as far back as the first century AD. Many of these superstitions were rooted in the general fear of wolves, which were among the greatest threats of the day to anyone who did not live in a large city. What could be more dangerous than a simple wolf? A wolf who walked among normal humans by day. In some traditions, werewolves were truly evil, with the human using a spell or a talisman to transform willingly. In others, werewolves were tragic figures, their transformation a completely involuntary affliction that stripped them of their mind and free will, sometimes even transmitting the disease to other humans bitten by the werewolf. As such, they’re extremely popular figures in fantasy and Gothic horror, receiving countless depictions in literature and even being paired with other monsters, such as Dracula. There has been excellent variety in the types of werewolves used even in the modern day – tragic werewolf Remus Lupin in Harry Potter, heroic shapeshifter Jacob Black in Twilight, and multiple different types of good and evil werewolves in The Dresden Files. Regardless of what type of werewolf shows up, here’s hoping you’ve got a silver bullet handy.
Number Three – Dragons
Dragons were always going to be on this list, but a recent spike in popularity launched these creatures into the top three. Dragons have existed in folklore across the world for centuries, and their depictions vary greatly depending on the country of origin. In most European traditions, dragons are powerful, dangerous creatures known for capturing maidens and hoarding treasure. East Asian folklore, conversely, almost universally depicts dragons as powerful, wise, and benevolent omens of good fortune. Some dragons in these nations even have wish-granting abilities, as seen in the Dragon Ball franchise. Even further variations exist in South America, where many of their deities are serpentine dragons and run the gamut from benevolent to destructive. Regardless of origin, dragons are mighty not only for their size and physical strength but also for their power over the elements. Dragons have been known to breathe and manipulate fire, water, ice, and even lightning! They’re so popular, I can’t possibly list all of their best appearances in storytelling. Game of Thrones, American Dragon: Jake Long, How to Train Your Dragon, Wagner’s The Ring Cycle, and The Hobbit are just a very few of the many iconic depictions of dragons in storytelling.
Number Two – Vampires
Closely related to succubi, vampires are undead creatures, sometimes called demons, who are sustained by the blood of the living. Though some folklore associates vampirism with a host of demonic creatures, the modern depiction of vampires as cultured, charismatic, and seductive began with Polidori’s short story, The Vampyre. This was further cemented by Stoker’s immortal classic, Dracula. Much like succubi, vampires have recently been explored in a more tragic light, exploring the psyche of these men and women who must feed on the blood of humans, possibly transforming their victims into vampires themselves in the process. As such, vampires are perhaps the most dominant supernatural creatures in horror storytelling, with Dracula being the second most common major character in the history of film, beaten only by Sherlock Holmes. In the modern day, countless examples of vampires persist, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and True Blood. Vampires are so dominant that they very nearly took the top spot, but for the number one pick coming on very strong in recent years.
Before that, let’s do a few…
Honorable Mentions
Unicorns – Often seen as a pure, benevolent counterpart to dragons in European folklore, they’ve become less of a storytelling medium in modern times and more of a symbol for free spirits, as well as the national animal of Scotland!
Giants – Another common antagonist in folklore and fairy tales, giants can often be described as “Trolls, but bigger.” Still, the popularity of giant antagonists helped inspire similar modern characters such as Godzilla, so they’re worthy of a mention.
Elves – Whether it’s the jolly helpers of Santa Claus or the brave, beautiful warriors of Middle Earth and so many other fantasy stories, Elves are a mainstay of the fantasy genre. Still, they’re so close to human that I couldn’t include them in the actual list.
Gorgons – While gorgons may not be as widespread throughout storytelling as other creatures, they make up for it with sheer iconicity. The tale of Medusa endures with ease even in modern times, and turning your enemies to stone is just badass.
Mummies – A classic monster of many books and horror films, but as they’re basically corpses reanimated by an Egyptian curse or something like that, I decided they were just too similar to the top pick. Speaking of which, it’s time for…
Number One – Zombies
Thanks to a recent surge in fictional representation, zombies have upset the vampires and stolen the crown! This was such a close call, but the idea of artificially reanimated corpses was the very genesis of the science-fiction genre. I argue this genre would never have existed without the first sci-fi novel ever: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Frankenstein’s monster, while not technically a modern zombie, provides the foundation upon which zombies were built in their modern form. Whether through scientific experiments, disease, or necromancy magic, the core essence of a zombie is the reanimation of a corpse, making zombies the opposite of ghosts. Sometimes, zombies are slow, mindless creatures who infect humans with their bites, as in Night of the Living Dead. Other times, zombies are fast and highly intelligent, such as in the Resident Evil series of video games. Sometimes, they’re surprisingly complicated sentient beings, as shown in I Am Legend. They can even be played for over-the-top laughs, as in Zombieland. Still, the lynchpin that cemented their win over the vampires comes from their presence in two iconic modern TV series – the White Walkers of Game of Thrones and the Infected of The Walking Dead. They’re so popular that it’s almost a given that every franchise will eventually introduce some zombie-like group of antagonists, even if for no other reason than to give the heroes a hoard of enemies to slice to bits again and again. Zombies aren’t living, making them insanely hard to kill for good, and that persistence has landed them atop this ranking.
And that’s going to do it for this Halloween ranking. Of course, I’d love to know your thoughts. Do you agree? What monsters or creatures did I miss? Feel free to let me know in the comments or reach out directly if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!
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