16 Years Later, 'The X-Files' Greatest Crossover Is Officially This Forgotten 6-Part Horror Event

In the early 2010s, there was a serious uptick in The X-Files content. Even before the 2016 revival, FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) found their way into a plethora of exciting adventures in the pages of comic books published by WildStorm or IDW that further embellished the iconic '90s pairing. Often, these new cases would either thrust the agents into new horrors or force them to confront old enemies once more, but on one occasion in 2010, The X-Files crossed over with an unlikely horror comic franchise that made a splash on the big screen several years earlier: 30 Days of Night.

'The X-Files' Crossed Over With '30 Days of Night' in a Comic Book

Although Josh Harnett's 30 Days of Night is a brilliant piece of filmmaking that deserves higher praise, it originated as an IDW comic book in 2003 by writer Steve Niles (who, ironically, originally intended it to be a feature film). From there, the comic miniseries spawned several sequels and by the time the six-issue The X-Files/30 Days of Night miniseries came around, it was well-established as a leader in the horror comic space. Predating IDW's groundbreaking Joe Harris-penned X-Files continuation comics by just a few years, this IDW/WildStorm collaboration was co-written by Niles and Tool guitarist Adam Jones and drawn by legendary DC Comics artist Tom Mandrake. What's especially grand about this six-part series is that it's accessible to X-Files fans or 30 Days of Night junkies alike — and can even be enjoyed by those who have no connection to either franchise.

Of course, if you know anything about the 30 Days of Night comics, then you can probably guess some plot points. As Mulder and Scully head north to the barren, snowy wastes of northern Alaska, they find a decapitated body trail that leads to a horde of the undead. Because this is very much framed as an X-Files story, first and foremost, we follow the FBI pair as Scully tries to find any possible shred of evidence to dispel Mulder's theories that he's living in a real-life Dracula movie. But 30 Days of Night is nothing like Dracula, and the usual vampire trimmings and trappings won't work in this frozen hellscape stuck in a month of darkness. From terrifying vampire children to centuries-old sea captains who have been tormented by their role as a member of the undead, Mulder and Scully are haunted by the possibility that the wasteland of Wainright, Alaska cannot truly be tamed.

Mandrake's artwork is a certain highlight here, but it's Niles and Jones' construction of this X-Files-sized mystery (which mimics the beats of an actual monster-of-the-week episode quite well) that really seals the deal. What's especially interesting here is the worldbuilding that the writers insert into this quick six-part tale. From historical flashbacks and opposing federal agents to Russian involvement and the townsfolk of Wainright, everything is well-balanced in this horror story that fans of either franchise will enjoy. Indeed, the wintery wonderland that is northern Alaska has untapped narrative potential, and while the 30 Days of Night franchise has spent decades now exploring that region, this X-Files deviation is a breath of fresh air. As we wait patiently for Sinners director Ryan Coogler's take on The X-Files (which better feature vampires), this comic book miniseries is a great pastime.

Mulder and Scully Have Battled Vampires Before 'The X-Files' Crossed Over With '30 Days of Night'

Funny enough, longtime X-Files fans know that this isn't the first time that Mulder and Scully have been on the trail of vampires. The first instance came in Season 2's "3," when Mulder flew solo to investigate a series of ritualistic murders in Los Angeles. Much like the 30 Days of Night crossover, these homicides turn out to involve a cult of vampires — one of which Mulder sleeps with. As the first episode of the show without Scully, it's a bit darker than the usual X-Files fare, but an interesting exploration of vampirism nonetheless. The second instance reunited the agents for Season 5's "Bad Blood." A fan-favorite episode penned by Vince Gilligan, this is a far more comedic take on vampires. Here, Mulder and Scully head to Chaney, Texas to investigate a possible vampire attack — one that proves to be much stranger than either of them bargained for.

The way The X-Files/30 Days of Night ends, it leads right into the larger 30 Days of Night saga as the remaining vampires make their way to the town of Barrow — where the events of the original comic book (and the 2007 film) take place. For X-Files fans looking to jump on another horror bandwagon, this may be the perfect segue into the larger universe that Niles created. Full of fascinating characters and a larger vampire-ridden conspiracy, X-Files fans may find themselves quickly at home.

The X-Files is available on streaming on Hulu in the U.S.