What are the top dark humor novels?

Definitely. 'White Noise' by Don DeLillo. It has a lot of dark humor when dealing with topics like death, consumerism, and the modern American family. 'Blood Meridian' by Cormac McCarthy can also be considered. Although it's a very violent and dark novel, it has some elements of dark humor in its portrayal of the brutality of the Old West. 'The Day of the Locust' by Nathanael West is a great example too. It satirizes Hollywood and the American Dream with a lot of darkly humorous moments.

One characteristic is the subversion of expectations. They take familiar concepts, like superheroes in 'Watchmen', and turn them on their heads, creating a sense of dark amusement. Dark humor graphic novels also tend to have a gritty or edgy art style that complements the tone. For instance, the noir - like art in 'Sin City' enhances the dark and humorous elements of the stories. And they often use sarcasm and black comedy to make a point, whether it's about society, politics or human nature, like in 'Transmetropolitan' where the main character's cynical rants are full of dark humor.

'Fight Club' by Chuck Palahniuk is also great. It has a very dark and edgy sense of humor. The unnamed narrator's journey through his self - destructive and chaotic life, along with the creation of the fight club, is filled with darkly comical moments. It also makes some really interesting and thought - provoking statements about consumerism and masculinity.

One popular dark humor novel is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. It satirizes the military bureaucracy during World War II in a really dark yet hilarious way. Another is 'Fight Club' by Chuck Palahniuk. It has a lot of dark and subversive humor as it delves into themes of consumerism and masculinity. And 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis is also well - known for its dark humor while exploring the mind of a serial killer.

Another aspect is the treatment of serious or taboo topics with humor. 'Slaughterhouse - Five' deals with the atrocities of war. But instead of presenting it in a straightforward and solemn way, Vonnegut uses dark humor to make the reader see the absurdity in the midst of the horror. It makes you question the whole idea of war and how we perceive it.

One classic is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. It uses dark humor to expose the absurdity of war and military bureaucracy. Another is 'Slaughterhouse - Five' by Kurt Vonnegut. It tells the story of Billy Pilgrim's time - traveling experiences during World War II in a darkly humorous way. And 'Fight Club' by Chuck Palahniuk also has elements of dark humor as it delves into themes of consumerism and masculinity in a rather dark and satirical way.

They are often highly intelligent. For example, in 'Gone Girl', Amy uses her intelligence to create elaborate schemes which are both dark and have a twisted sense of humor to them. They are also self - aware, like Bridget in 'Bridget Jones's Diary' who is aware of her flaws and uses that self - awareness to create darkly humorous situations.

One of the best is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. It's full of absurd and cynical situations in the military, with dark humor that makes you both laugh and cringe. For example, the way the military bureaucracy is portrayed is both hilarious and deeply cynical.

One great example is 'Watchmen' by Alan Moore. It has a dark and complex narrative with elements of dark humor. The characters are morally ambiguous, and the satirical take on superheroes adds to the darkly humorous tone. Another is 'Preacher' which is filled with dark, irreverent humor as it follows a preacher with strange powers on a wild journey through a world full of corruption and odd characters. Then there's 'The Boys' which is a brutal and darkly humorous take on the superhero genre, showing the seedy underbelly of so - called heroes.

Humor novels at the top usually have a strong sense of the absurd. Take 'A Confederacy of Dunces' for instance. Ignatius's actions and his view of the world around him are so out of touch with reality in a hilarious way. Wordplay is also common. In 'Three Men in a Boat', Jerome K. Jerome uses clever language and puns to create humor. And they tend to make you laugh at human nature, whether it's the self - centeredness in 'Bridget Jones's Diary' or the naivete in 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series.