The 2020s have already been an incredible decade for graphic novels. Creators are experimenting with form, tackling ambitious themes, and telling stories that range from deeply personal memoirs to wildly imaginative fantasies. Whether you’re a longtime comics reader or just looking to branch out from traditional prose, these books showcase just how much the medium can do (and they’re all compelling, memorable reads in their own right). Taken together, these books highlight just how exciting graphic novels are right now. They span genres, styles, and subjects, but they all share a willingness to push storytelling in new directions. If you’re looking for proof that some of the most inventive and emotionally engaging work in publishing is happening in comics, this list is a great place to start.
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed
Set in an alternate Cairo where wishes can be bought and sold as commodities, Shubeik Lubeik examines class, power, and personal desire through interconnected stories. Deena combines intricate world-building with sharp social commentary, creating a fantasy that feels both imaginative and deeply grounded in contemporary realities.
Mary Tyler MooreHawk by Dave Baker
This graphic novel is a strange, funny, and poignant meditation on aging, loneliness, and the stories we tell ourselves. Blending absurdist humor with genuine emotional insight, the book follows a former television actress whose life begins to blur with fantasy and memory in unexpected ways.
A Guest in the House by E.M. Carroll
Part psychological thriller, part gothic horror, A Guest in the House follows a woman haunted by doubts about her husband and the circumstances surrounding his first wife’s death. The lush artwork and inventive page layouts create an atmosphere of creeping dread that lingers long after the final page.
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
In this memoir, Kate recounts her experiences working in Alberta’s oil sands as a young woman trying to pay off student debt. With compassion, honesty, and remarkable clarity, she explores labor, isolation, gender dynamics, and the human costs of resource extraction.
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V. and Filipe Andrade
When Death is stripped of her cosmic role after humanity discovers immortality, she is sent to Earth and becomes entangled with the man destined to change the world. Ram V.’s philosophical storytelling and Filipe Andrade’s vibrant, dreamlike artwork combine to create a meditation on mortality, purpose, and what gives life meaning.
Chasin’ The Bird by Dave Chisholm
Dave’s imaginative biography of jazz legend Charlie Parker captures both the musician’s brilliance and the restless energy of bebop itself. The book uses inventive visual techniques to translate music into comics, offering a reading experience that feels as dynamic as the performances it celebrates.
Cornelius: The Merry Life of a Wretched Dog by Marc Torices, translated by Andrea Rosenberg
This wildly inventive graphic novel follows a dog through a series of surreal adventures that constantly reinvent the story’s style and tone. Marc embraces experimentation at every turn, while Andrea’s translation preserves the book’s playful spirit and narrative ambition.
A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong
Centered on a group of teenage girls brought together by basketball, A Map to the Sun explores friendship, identity, and belonging with warmth and nuance. Sloane’s bold colors and expressive artwork give the story a distinctive visual energy that matches its emotional sincerity.
Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh
Set in a richly imagined fantasy world inspired by Middle Eastern history and culture, Squire follows a young girl who dreams of becoming a knight. What begins as a coming-of-age adventure gradually evolves into a thoughtful examination of nationalism, colonialism, and the costs of pursuing one’s ambitions.
Pulp by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Jacob Phillips
Set in the 1930s, Pulp follows an aging former outlaw who now writes dime-novel westerns while struggling to make ends meet. This is a lean, gripping crime story that doubles as a reflection on aging, reinvention, and the myths America tells about itself. The moody artwork and atmospheric colors perfectly complement the book’s blend of noir tension and frontier nostalgia.
Featured in the October 3, 2026 issue of The Independent.
