One of my favorite things about wandering my library or bookstore has always been how it puts me in a position to pick up things on a whim. I’m not marching in there to get something specific but am simply there browsing, discovering and taking my time. I think, especially after blogging for all these years, I’ve made it a point to regularly browse because it’s so easy to get caught up in reading what gets sent to me for review or what’s hot and new. It allows me freedom to just be drawn to something that interests me or that I might not have heard of (and I try REALLY hard to not consult social media/Goodreads all the time to look at ratings because I’m TOO affected and judge books by their ratings even though some of my favorite books I may not have picked up if I saw their rating).
Anyways, back to my point for this post. I was just browsing my library this past weekend and I saw a comic book that sounded interesting. And I was like “SELF, you have never read a comic book/graphic novel. LET’S DO THIS.” I read very eclectically am and always trying to broaden my reading horizons but this was one area that I haven’t ever dipped my toes into it.
The comic was Wytches and I’m super early into it but I picked it up because the cover looked creepy! I’m really enjoying it so far and I’m so glad I let myself be drawn to it and I’m wanting to dip my toes in even more.
SO..that’s where you come in….
I WANT YOUR BEST COMIC BOOKS AND GRAPHIC NOVEL RECS!! Please tell me your faves!!
Katrina Dawn says
I loved Seconds! It’s s graphic novel and its nice because it’s a stand alone so you’re not too totally sucked in all at once 😀
Lianne @ eclectictales.com says
I used to rely on GoodReads a lot more when it comes to gaging whether I should check out a title or not. I still do, but I admit, those ratings can something skew a bit when it comes to me approaching a story or not. So the pondering never ends, haha.
Anyway, comic book and graphic novel recommendations! Well, I loved the following (and thinking off the top of my head):
– Hawkeye’s My Life as a Weapon (Marvel Now! series; love the art, it’s hilarious but also great storytelling)
– Deadpool Killustrated (Deadpool going after literary favourites–oh no!)
– Okay, I haven’t read beyond volume 1 but I enjoyed the following first volumes: Lazarus, Saga, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman
– Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain (you don’t need to have watched the movie to read it but the artwork is gorgeous here)
– Bill Willingham’s Fables (I almost forgot about this)
I should read more graphic novels but I just haven’t gotten aroudn to them! xD Hope my recs help in a way 🙂
Cee says
I GOT YOU, JAMIE!
You must read:
– Saga (space opera awesomeness, BEST SERIES EVER);
– The Wicked + The Divine (12 reincarnated Gods + pop stars + shit hits the fan, MY FAVE);
– Batgirl: Year One (the best intro to Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl you’ll ever get, MUST START WITH THIS IF YOU WANT TO READ BATGIRL);
– Robin: Year One (like Batgirl: Year One, this is a GREAT intro to Dick Grayson’s Robin);
– Bitch Planet (space Orange Is The New Black where ladies refuse to be compliant with the shitty patriarchal world);
– Ms. Marvel (G. Willow Wilson’s run) (Muslim superhero who struggles with her own upbringing + identity);
– East of West (four horsemen story set in a world where the West meets the East, and one of the horsemen is out for revenge);
– Gotham Academy (cute YA-esque Gotham City about kids at a boarding school funded by the elusive billionaire Bruce Wayne);
– Runaways [Marvel comics] (teens with supervillain parents, and decide to use their powers for good)
I have other recs swimming in my head, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. (This essentially means I need to make a comic book/GNs rec post. 😅)
Samantha says
I really love Kelly Sue DeConnick’s stuff. Especially her Captain Marvel run.
Joss Whedon’s X-men run was also fantastic.
X-Treme X-men is a good one too.
Simone says
That is exactly what I have problem with lately because I don’t get to go to the librabry as much as I used to. All those RC and new releases, not to mention my slight obssession with goodreads ratings, prevents me from picking books from library which is sad. But to my recommendations:
– Nimona – amazing graphic novel, so original and cute and heart-warming
– The Wicked and the Divine
– Lock and Key
– Fables
– Death Note
– Saga
Hope you’ll like them and thanks for mentioning this Wytches. I’ve never heard of them but it seems interesting. 🙂
Sarah B. says
Batgirl – I love this starting from #35 (when a new creative team took over).
Ms. Marvel – Muslim teen girl!
Gotham Academy – boarding school!
Buffy – If you’ve watched the show.
Persepolis – memoir/comic, family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution.
Marvel 1602 – By Neil Gaiman, superheroes show up in the yea 1602.
Saga – space opera.
Ashley says
Graphic novels have been hit or miss for me, and I’ve read some that I liked a lot (Anya’s Ghost, & Robot Dreams both cone to mind) but the only graphic novel series I actually really got into and felt connected to the same way I connect to more standard format is the Fables series by Bill Willingham. Not terribly surprising, since I love fairy tales so much, but what I’ve read of the series so far has been awesome.
Nessa says
I recently read the first two Ms. Marvel comics, and they are AMAZING!
Hayley @ Bookblogher says
I second Wicked & Divine and Bitch Planet!! They’re the only two single issues I track down on their release date. As others have said Ms. Marvel is also really great. I am obsessed with Matt Fraction’s run of Hawkeye it is so so good. The first trade of that one is called My Life as a Weapon. I also really dig Sex Criminals for some risque hilarity. Lumberjanes and Nimona both by Noelle Stevenson are super great. I’m really enjoying Groot but it’s still in single issues. I hope you find some good ones to love!! Also if you haven’t read any of his stuff Gene Luen Yang is so great particularly American Born Chinese.
Amy says
Omg yay! This is so exciting! I’m newish to graphic novels as well, but two of my favorites are Fables (fairy tale retelling) and Saga (intergalactic things). They’re very different but both very awesome.
Also this Wytches looks fantastic! I’ll have to check it out!
Nicole @ Nicole's Novel Reads says
I am so excited that you are asking for comic and graphic novel suggestions. Some of my favorite include the following:
– Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley
– Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki by Mamoru Hosoda (manga)
– Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon series ( first one is Sailor Moon, Vol. 01) by Naoko Takeuchi (manga)
– Courtney Crumrin series (first one is Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things ) by Ted Naifeh
I heard the following are good too and I am super excited about reading them:
– Lumberjanes (first one is Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy ) by Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis
– Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
– Amulet series (first one is Amulet, Vol. 1: The Stonekeeper) by Kazu Kazu Kibuishi
Emily says
YAY! I am working on getting more into graphic novels. I kind heavily rely on my husband’s opinions because he definitely does research on these things and because of him I definitely pay attention to the art and whatnot. A few that I have enjoyed:
-Ms. Marvel (I only read the first one because I can’t seem to get my hands on any others but it was really good!)
-Hawkeye (He is so different than in the Marvel movies and I honestly love graphic novel Hawkeye more than movie Hawkeye)
-Sandman by Neil Gaiman (I have read the first 6 and they are super good. Dark, but good)
-THE WALKING DEAD (The graphic novels are definitely different than the TV show, but in a good way. Still a lot of the same characters, and the show is definitely getting closer to the graphic novel now. It’s pretty dark. Darker than the TV show. But it is oh so good).
Some I have yet to read but am excited to try:
-iZombie
-Saga (EVERYONE is talking about this one so I gotta see what it’s all about)
-Y: The Last Man (husband said he thinks I would enjoy it so we shall see)
-Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman
Hope you find some good ones! I really enjoy breaking up my reading with occasional graphic novels. It’s an awesome break from all the lengthy books I have been reading lately.
Elena says
My time has come!
Superheroes:
– Hawkeye – Matt Fraction and David Aja’s run is brilliant. It’s Hawkeye’s life when he’s not being an Avenger and also features Kate Bishop aka the more competent Hawkeye
– Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie. It’s a lot of fun with bright art and isn’t too hard to get into even if you don’t know the characters.
– Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson
– Secret Avengers by Ales Kot and Michael Walsh. You can go into this only knowing the basics from the films and it’s a lot of fun, the arts great and the characters relationships are something special
– Black Widow by Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto. It has beautiful art and gives a great insight in Black Widow’s background.
Non-superheroes:
– Five Ghosts from Image Comics! One of my favourite series, it’s like Indiana Jones with ghost powers and is my favourite.
– Lazarus by Greg Rucka. I wasn’t a big fan of volume 2 but volume 3 redeems itself, it’s in this dystopian future and has a kickass female lead.
– The Fade Out by Ed Brubacker. It’s like a noir crime thriller set in Hollywood
– Saga by Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughn. It’s a space opera and kinda like Romeo and Juliet and is epic.
– Rocket Girl from Image comics. A time traveling teenage cop ends up in the 80’s and it’s a lot of fun.
Hope you find something you enjoy and have fun in the world of comics and graphic novels! 🙂
Kristin says
Everyone is going to say Saga (which is true) but I also really love BKV’s other series Y: The Last Man. There’s a disease that comes and wipes out all of the men from humanity except for one and you follow him on his journey around the world with his monkey Ampersand and see all of the different communities that form during a time of chaos.
Cat says
Fables is fantastic and it’s a finished series so you can binge read. Also the spin offs– Fairest and Cinderella (not Jack of Fables though– I didn’t care for that one).
Lucifer (spin off of Sandman, finished series. It’s about Lucifer Morningstar and what he does during the time he abandons hell)
House of Mystery (the 2008 series. horror/occult storytelling), also finished by some of writers who did Fables)
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (her webcomic in printed form) — plus Lumberjanes (ongoing YA series) which she also worked on
Also Saga which several people already mentioned. They’re sitting next to my bed in the to-read pile!
Trina (Between Chapters) says
In trying to think of what I think you personally would enjoy, I think Blankets by Craig Thompson would be a good one! I feel it’s an easy transition into graphic novels because it’s a long, full story and the panels are easy to follow. Very contemporary. It was also one of Stephanie Perkins’ inspirations for writing about first love. I really think you’d like it!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
Everyone’s already said Saga, and I second Cee’s recommendation for Runaways. SO SO good. Also, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane – the first couple volumes are some of my fave Spider-Man/YA-like books ever.
A few that I think you might like that no one’s really mentioned:
-Good As Lily by Derek Kirk Kim (bonus, it’s short and a standalone) – a girl who ends up with three of herself on her 18th birthday – herself at six, 29, and 70, and she has to deal with them on top of being in a school play
-Blankets by Craig Thompson. Kinda reminds me of 500 Days of Summer
-Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore – it’s cool and the women are very realistic and realistically drawn
-Scott Pilgrim – there was a movie made of this, but the book is better. It’s all about a dude in his 20s and it has all these fun video game references from when we were kids
-The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
-anything by Raina Telgemeier
This whole list is pretty good: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/74282.Comics_for_Teen_Girls_that_are_NOT_Japanese_manga_#1079971
Nikki says
Nimona! Lumberjanes! Locke & Key!
Siobhan says
I really recommend The Walking Dead comics! The shows changes a lot of stuff so it’s kind of like reading a alternative universe of the show. Also Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley would have to be the best graphic novel I’ve ever read.
Sarah J. says
Outcast by Robert Kirkman has been a really interesting start. It’s about demons and possession. I also was really into The October Faction which is about a family of supernatural hunters forced out of retirement. It’s a newer title, but I liked the darker vibe. Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files: Down Town is a good introduction into the series if you haven’t read them and I think it can easily be read as a stand alone graphic novel. I HIGHLY recommend Tin Stars. It’s an amazing sci-fi novel that features robots and an interesting look into humanity. I wasn’t into the story at first, but I quickly fell in love with it. Highly recommend! Hope you check out a few of these!
Kay @ It's a Book Life says
I just started getting into graphic novels this summer. Some of my faves so far that I think you will enjoy…
Lumberjanes, Nimona, Ms. Marvel, Y: The Last Man, Sunny Side Up, Anya’s Ghost, El Deafo, The Baby-Sistters Club, & Through the Woods. I need to read a few more super hero type graphic novels. I don’t know why I haven’t yet.
Enjoy!
Jessie H. says
Oh! Nimona, Alex + Ada, the Amulet series, Zita the Spacegirl, Little Robot, Girl Genius (this one started as a webcomic and is still offered online for free), Death Note, Rat Queens, Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice, The Graveyard Book Vols. 1 and 2, Seconds, Hyperbole and a Half, Ms. Marvel, and Akatsuki No Yona (Yona, the Girl Standing in the Blush of Dawn) are so good!
threegoodrats says
I really liked The Plain Janes, Through the Woods (creepy!), Saga, The Arrival (wordless and beautiful!), and The Rat Queens (if you don’t mind violence.)
Emma @ Miss Print says
If you feel like checking out a longer running manga I’d suggest Library Wars. It’s my absolute favorite.
Kathy Ellen Davis says
Well, I read A TON of graphic novels, mostly MG-YA style, so here are some recs:
AMULET. The whole series. Awesome.
ANY BOOK BY Doug TenNapel: He’s awesome and his stories are always inventive and fun.
IRL: IN Real Life about computer gaming and a teen growing up.
WILL & WHIT and PAGE BY PAIGE
BOXERS AND SAINTS and anything else by Gene Luen Yang
THAT ONE SUMMER
ZITA THE SPACEGIRL
EL DEAFO
Paula says
Locke and Key. It was the first graphic novel that I ever read and it’s so good!
Heather says
I only just started reading comic books and graphic novels this year and I’m really glad I did as they provide some much needed rest for my brain – pictures are so much easier to look at sometimes than pages full of words.
I currently have a subscription to three Marvel comics – The Mighty Thor (Thor is now a woman and she’s AMAZING); Doctor Strange, which I’ve only received one issue of so far but it seems pretty good; and Howard the Duck, which I have received no issues of and therefore have no opinion of at the moment 🙂
I also read a Dark Horse comic called Harrow County each month which Julieanne at Outlandish said was really good – she was completely right. It’s set in the south of America and is about witches and ghosts and has a skinless boy in it. It’s super creepy.
The graphic novel Snowpiercer is really good, but if you’ve seen the movie adaptation and liked that then you may not be a huge fan of the novel – they’re really different from each other and the film is definitely superior in my opinion.
And everyone raves about Sandman, and Watchmen – I think they are basically graphic novel must reads. Haven’t read them myself but they’re on my list!
Deyse says
I don’t read much comics/graphic novels too on the last few years when I was a kid I remembered reading my father ones and Spider Man was my fave, but I did tried out this year two series that I ended up really enjoying: Fables (which is based on fairy tales characters, but is re-imagined and it’s actually very adult content, like sex/swear words/murders, and it’s so much fun, very unique and I looove the art!) and Saga (which everyone seems to be reading, also full of adult content with a plus that is its humor). I’ve been meaning to check out some others like Ms. Marvel, Amulet, Lock & Key, The Walking Dead, and some more.