10 Best Graphic Novels of All Time
A graphic novel is a type of long-format novel that includes pictures and text. Remember that a graphic novel is not a genre; it is just a format. It can be anything like fictional, non-fictional, anthologized, or comic works.
There is debate about the definition and history of graphic novels. Before 1920, pictures were usually used in magazines to present a story. But pictures or art alone could not express the theme of the story; that's why they used some text to decode the picture. Still, this time, they used this type of graphic only for short stories.
Frans Masereel is a Belgian artist who first made a book based on the graphic theme. Then there were a few writers and artists who started to work on this format.
After the 1960s, the graphic novel industry gained popularity and experienced a boom. Today, in 2024, we have thousands of graphic novels, and they are expanding because of the visual attraction that engages readers. Let's see the 10 best graphic novels of all time as of 2024.
10 Best Graphic Novels of All Time
There are a lot of graphic novels that have gained popularity among a wide range of readers, such as kids, teenagers, and adults. Have you heard that pictures can tell thousands of words? Graphic novels became a popular format for writing novels because they can engage readers.
When a reader reads a book, he has to imagine based on the text of the book. If he can see art in texts, it becomes easier to understand and feel the plot.
Alison Bechdel, Art Spiegelman, Alan Moore, Will Eisner, Craig Thompson, and more artists and writers are famous for graphic novels. Alan Moore became popular for his Watchmen, a graphic novel series. I have included a list of the 10 best graphic novels of all time.
01. Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | The Complete Maus (Part 1 & 2) |
| Writer / Artist | Art Spiegelman |
| Publication Year | Serial: 1980; Graphic Novel: 1986 |
| Main Volumes | Two (Part 1: Vladek Spiegelman's WWII story; Part 2: Art and Vladek in the 1980s) |
| Themes | Holocaust, World War II, History, Family, Life |
| Metaphorical Strategy | Jews as Mice, Germans as Cats, Poles as Pigs |
| Awards | Pulitzer Prize for Special Citation (1992), American Book Award (1992) |
| Length | 296 Pages |
| Price | $23.25 |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.57 Out of 5 Stars (Among 215,096 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.8 Stars |
An American cartoonist, Art Spiegelman published “Maus” as a serial, a comic anthology, in 1980. After 6 years, in 1986, it appeared in the graphic novel (book) version. The book has two main volumes.
The first one is about the life of Vladek Spiegelman (Father of Art Spiegelman) during World War II. And then another part is in the 1980s when Art Spiegelman and his father were talking about what had happened yet.
The story of the “Maus” is about the struggle of Vladek Spiegelman. He had survived the Holocaust (a very difficult time). His son Art Spiegelman wrote the book inspired by his father's struggle. Art added a metaphorical strategy to make the story more interesting. Jews are shown here as mice (Mouse), Germans as cats, and Poles as pigs.
The people who are depressed or stressed in their life, it is highly recommended for them. The book will completely change the view of life.
After passing a very difficult time, you may have a better day, this is the rule of nature—also, the book talks about history, family, memories, and learning of the holocaust in life. The combination of all these things makes this book one of the best graphic novels among thousands of people.
02. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns |
| Writer | Frank Miller |
| Artist | Klaus Janson |
| Publication Year | 1986 |
| Themes | Older Batman, Corruption, Crime, Societal Unrest, Iconic Themes |
| Awards | The Graphic Novel Book Itself has Not Won Any Awards, But the Film Version (2012) Received Numerous Awards |
| Length | 197 Pages |
| Price | $17.99 |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.26 Out of 5 Stars (Among 1,85,077 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.8 Stars |
The graphic novel “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” was written by Frank Miller, drawn by Klaus Janson, and published in 1986. It has become very popular because of the story of the book. Though it is a comic book or graphic novel, it stands on reality with adventures. The story of this book is different from other superhero stories in comics.
You will find a great story of an old Batman, who has come back from his retirement to fight crime again. In the TDKR, Frank Miller shows Batman's life after getting old, and how they are apart from society. Also, you will find the struggles and learning of life.
You must enjoy reading this book because of the adventures, dark mood, and mysterious tense, which improve the interest in reading sequentially. For this reason, thousands of people consider it one of the best graphic novels of all time.
03. The Sandman
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | The Sandman (Series) |
| Writer | Neil Gaiman |
| Artist | Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones, J.H. Williams III, & others |
| Publication Year | The Series Began in 1989 and Concluded in 1996 |
| Reading Alignment | Sandman Vol.1-Vol.5 > Death > Sandman Vol.6-Vol.10 > Endless Nights > Overture > Death II > Dream Hunter > Rest of all the Best Graphic Novels |
| Themes | Dreams & Reality, Natural Desire, Destiny, Struggle, Death, Mythology |
| Number of Books | 16 Books (Approx. 170–280 Pages Per Book) |
| Price Range | $15-$25 for Each Book |
| Goodreads Rating | Approx 4.4 Out of 5 Stars Among 1 Million Ratings. |
| Amazon Rating | 4.3–4.8 Stars |
The Sandman is one of the best graphic novels of all time among comic love. It is not a book only, it is a series of novels. The series graphic novel “The Sandman” is written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by various artists. The great storytelling of these books makes them attractive to people, but only intelligence can understand their deep meaning of them.
The writer uses a lot of symbolism in this graphic novel. So it becomes more complex for basic readers. But if you are a comic enthusiast and love to read books a lot, then you can enjoy the book very much.
The central character of the Sandman series is Morpheus (Dream). Though helping characters also have their dream, desires, experiences, and everything, they do not exist at all as part of the Sandman. The graphic novel explores all the experiences, struggles, and interactions of various characters.
Neil Gaiman weaves a complex and multi-layered story by balancing the realm of dreams, mythology, and the cosmic. After reading the best graphic novel series ‘The Sandman’, you will have deep knowledge about the difference between dream and reality, acceptance of the changes, and more. You will also believe the desire, destiny, nature, death, myth, and these types of things.
04. Watchmen (2019 Edition) Part 1-12
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | The Watchmen |
| Writer | Alan Moore |
| Artist | Dave Gibbons |
| Publication Year | 1986 |
| Number of Parts | 12 parts (Series of Comic Novels) |
| Themes | A murder investigation, The Role of Superheroes in Society, etc. |
| Characters | The Comedian, Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, Silk Spectre, Nite Owl |
| Awards | Hugo Award for Other Forms (1988), Locus Award for Best Non-Fiction/Art (1988), IGN Award for Best Collection (2005) |
| Length | 449 Pages |
| Price | $13.79 (Paperback) |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.38 Out of 5 Stars (Among 552,317 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.8 Stars |
“Watchmen” is one of the best graphic novels of all time, which has won numerous awards. The novel was written by Alan Moore, designed by Dave Gibbons, and colored by John Higgins in 1986. The super complex story of The Watchmen has 12 parts, that make a series of comic novels.
Besides the written text, pictures are telling a part of the story. Thanks to Gibbons and Higgins for giving us this meaningful artwork in The Watchmen.
The story of the graphic novel has been designed very smartly like a puzzle. You can see various characters in different tricky situations. However, the story starts with a world where superheroes used to be loved, but these are illegal now. It is illegal after the murder of a superhero, “The Comedian”.
The Story is all about the murder and the investigation of it. The wondering matter is that though they have superpowers, they are not using these powers to solve their problems. They feel like regular people and struggle like men.
The uniqueness of the Watchmen series is that it does not have any specific hero in the story. But there are a few most important characters The Comedian, Rorschach, Ozymandias, Dr. Manhattan, Silk Spectre, and Nite Owl. People consider The Watchmen the best graphic novel of all time because it changes how we see superheroes.
05. Batman: The Killing Joke
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | Batman: The Killing Joke |
| Writer | Alan Moore |
| Artist | Brian Bolland |
| Publication Year | 1988 |
| Notable Event | The Joker's attack on Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) leads to Her Paralysis |
| Themes | Psychology, Morality, Identity, Consequences of Tragic Events |
| Story Focus | The Complicated relationship between Batman and the Joker, Joker's transformation into a villain |
| Awards | Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album (1989), Eisner Award for Best Writer (for Alan Moore, 1989), Eisner Award for Best Artist (for Brian Bolland, 1989) |
| Length | 96 Pages |
| Price | $15.99 (Hardcover) |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.37 Out of 5 Stars (Among 218,647 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.8 Stars |
It is not clear how many “Batman” stories have been published yet, Batman is a series of comics, that started in 1940. A group of people said that it is nearly 2500 as of 2023, but not sure. However, we have included two Batman stories, in the best graphic novels of all time. “Batman: The Killing Joke” is the second one on our list.
Alan Moore has written the graphic novel “Batman: The Killing Joke”. Then illustrated by Brian Bolland and published in 1988. This story comes to life with the right illustrations, drawn by Bolland.
The story of this book is about a complicated relationship between Batman and the Joker. This dark and intense comic book tells a story about the Joker's chilling look change into a crazy villain.
We can learn from the story that one terrible day can make someone completely mad. Alan Moore has tried to add a deep psychological layer to the Joker's character, similar to a human. You can see at the beginning of the story, the Joker attracts a girl named Barbara Gordon.
The girl is known as Batgirl in the story. She was paralyzed by the attack of the Joker. It is not clear why Joker trying to shoot the Batgirl. It is still a controversial character among the readers of the best graphic novel “Batman: The Killing Joke”. We have considered this book to be one of the best graphic novels of all time.
06. V For Vendetta
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | V for Vendetta |
| Writer | Alan Moore |
| Artist | David Lloyd |
| Publication Year | 1982-1985 (As Part of the British Comic Book "Warrior"), Graphic Novel Published in DC Comics in 1988 |
| Symbolic Element | Main Character "V" wears a Fawkes Mask to Fight Against the Oppressive Government |
| Themes | Messed-up Politics, People’s Freedom, Rebellion, Personal Stories |
| Awards | Harvey Awards Nominee (Alan Moore, 1989), Prometheus Hall of Fame Award (2006) |
| Length | 296 Pages |
| Price | $33.02 (Library Binding) |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.26 Out of 5 Stars (Among 306,515 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7 Stars |
Another best graphic novel by Alan Moore is “V for Vendetta,” by the artist of the book, David Lloyd. The story was originally published as a part of the British comic book “Warrior” from 1982 to 1985. Alan Moore collected it as a graphic novel and published it in DC Comics in 1988.
The story of the book is about the messed-up politics of the future of the UK. I read at the beginning of the story that the main character of “V” is wearing a Fawkes mask to fight against the government. Because the government has become the superpower and taken the freedom of the people. Besides the politics, the story also has a combination of deep thoughts and personal stories.
It is a classic comic, one of the best graphic novels of all time, and even still, the story matches a lot of regions worldwide. You must read this book to learn about the government's power and the importance of individual freedom.
07. The Walking Dead
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | The Walking Dead |
| Writer | Robert Kirkman |
| Artist | Initially: Tony Moore; Later: Charlie Adlard; Color by Dave McCaig |
| Publication Year | 2003-2019 (16 Years) |
| Number of Issues | Nearly 193 Issues (Coverage from 2003-2019) |
| Themes | Zombie Stories, Survival, Hard Decisions in a Post-apocalyptic World |
| Awards | Scream Awards: Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel (2010)(2011) |
| Length | 146 Pages |
| Price | $25.09 (Library Binding) |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.27 Out of 5 Stars (Among 228,102 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7 Stars |
Robert Kirkman wrote the comic “The Walking Dead”, and initially Tony Moore did the artwork of the book. And later Charlie Adlard completed the artwork of one of the best graphic novels of all time, “The Walking Dead”. They started to publish the story part by part from the beginning of 2003.
From 2003 to 2019 in these 16 years, they have covered nearly 193 issues on their story. But after coming to the pandemic issue (COVID-19), they haven't published anymore. Dave McCaig colored black and white pictures of the book.
The story of the “The Walking Dead” comic is about zombie stories. But it completely changed the thinking about zombies. In this story, it is shown how people are trying to survive in the world over the zombies. It also, discussed how people deal with loss, how relationships grow, and how they make hard decisions in a messed-up world.
08. Locke and key
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | Locke & Key |
| Writer | Joe Hill |
| Artist | Gabriel Rodríguez |
| Publication Year | 2008 (in 6 Volumes) |
| Number of Volumes | 6 Volumes |
| Themes | Family Struggle & Story, Ancestral Home, Relationship, Trust, Mystery |
| Awards | British Fantasy Award for Best Graphic Novel (2009), Audie Award for Excellence in Marketing (2016) |
| Length | 1136 Pages (Combined for 6 Volumes) |
| Price | $91.16 (Paperback) |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.32 Out of 5 Stars (Among 309,541 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.76 Stars |
Joe Hill wrote, and Gabriel Rodríguez drew, the horror graphic novel series “Locke & Key”. The novel was published by IDW Publishing in 2008 in 6 volumes.
This horror comic novel won the British Fantasy Award for Best Graphic Novel in 2009. Also, it has won the Audie Award for Excellence in Marketing in 2016. The horror-hooked storytelling and the great artwork make the book one of the best graphic novels of all time.
The “Locke & Key” graphic novel is a series of combined horror and a family story. At the story's start, we can see that the Locke family moves to their old home after a tragic event. Mainly, they have come to this ancestral home to get solace and healing. They noticed that the house was full of special keys.
The family had discovered each key had a special magical power. On the other hand, every member of the Locke family had struggled a lot, and they are using their experience to survive in this mysterious house.
09. Saga Graphic Novel
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | Saga |
| Writer | Brian K. Vaughan |
| Artist | Fiona Staples |
| Publication Year | 2012 (ongoing) |
| Themes | Science Fiction, Love, Family, Impact of War, Fun, Tragedy |
| Family Members | Hazel (Newborn Baby of Alana and Marko) |
| Awards | Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story (2013), British Fantasy Award for Best Comic/Graphic Novel (2013), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Graphic Novels & Comics (2012) |
| Length | 802 Pages (Combined for 6 Volumes) |
| Price | $90.00 Approximately (Paperback) |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.43 Out of 5 Stars (Among 452,961 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.8 Stars |
The graphic novel “Saga” is written by Brian K. Vaughan and drawn by Fiona Staples, has an amazing space story. The novel was first published in 2012 by Image Comic. After publishing the novel, it gained popularity for its unique storytelling and fiction love story. The comic book is a combination of science fiction and love story.
At the start of the story, you can see that Alana and Marko from different spaces fall in love with each other. Alana has come from a technologically advanced landfall, and Marko came from a magic-using Wreath.
The couple have a newborn baby called Hazel. The daughter of Alana and Marko had given them a new, adventurous peace. But the parents of Hazel were in a war between their spaces. That's why they have to face a lot of challenges.
When the different planets or spaces are fighting, the lives of Alana and Marko become more difficult. Here, Brian K. Vaughan shows how can a war make it hard to survive for people. Also, this story talks about how wars affect their family.
Saga is one of the best graphic novels and my favorite comic book for its various feelings. Such as it has funny, sad, family, love, fiction, responsibilities, war, and more. If you want to read an interesting science fiction, romantic, and tragedy novel, then Saga is the best for you. If you read this, you can enjoy the story very much.
10. House Of X/Powers Of X
| Attributes | Details |
| Title | House of X/Powers of X |
| Writer | Jonathan Hickman |
| Artist | Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva |
| Publication Year | 2019 |
| Themes | Fictional Character Mutant’s (like X-men) Life, Politics, History of Significant Moments of Mutants |
| Crossover Storyline | Yes |
| Number of Series | Two Series Combined: "House of X" and “Powers of X” |
| Number of Volumes | 12 Volumes (448 Pages in Total) |
| Price | $27.85 (Paperback), $110.17 (Hardcover) |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.4 Out of 5 Stars (Among 7,559 Ratings) |
| Amazon Rating | 4.8 stars (Among 4,244 Ratings) |
Jonathan Hickman has written, and Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva have drawn these two best graphic novels, “House of X” and “Powers of X.” These comic books are like superhero stories and series. Those comics were published by Marvel Enterprises in 2019. It should be clear that “House of X” and “Powers of X” each have a crossover storyline.
In the story of “House of X,” there is a group of superhumans like X-men called mutants who get a new home (Krakoa). The story talks about their politics, coming back to life, and how they are dealing with the world.
On the other hand, the story of “Powers of X” is about the important moments in mutant history at different times. Though the story of these comic books is a bit complicated, it is very interesting and exciting.
“House of X/Powers of X” is a graphic novel or comic made up of two stories. It is like a superhero revelation in 2019 because Jonathan has brought a lot of creative changes to the X-Men (mutants). If you like superhero comics and are looking for something new about superheroes, then these best graphic novels are for you.
Best Graphic Novels of the 21st Century
Comic or graphic novel is an interesting part of the literature. After the 1960s, we have seen that the demand for drawing novels has increased a lot. We have seen the 10 most popular graphic novels of all time above. Now take a look at the 10 best graphic novels of the 21st century.
| Graphic Novels | Writer/Author | Artist & Colorist | Publish Year | Genre |
Phonogram | Kieron Gillen | Jamie McKelvie | 2006 | Music/Fantasy |
Tokyo Ghost | Rick Remender | Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsworth | 2015-2016 | Sci-Fi/Cyberpunk |
Prophet | Brandon Graham | Simon Roy | 2012-2014 | Sci-Fi |
Royal City | Jeff Lemire | Jeff Lemire | 2017-2018 | Drama/Family |
Blankets | Craig Thompson | Craig Thompson | 2003 | Autobiography |
Fun Home | Alison Bechdel | Alison Bechdel | 2006 | Autobiography/Drama |
The Arrival | Shaun Tan | Shaun Tan | 2006 | Wordless/Fantasy |
Habibi | Craig Thompson | Craig Thompson | 2011 | Fantasy/Romance |
Conclusion
At the last of the reviews, the best graphic novels of all time can be different based on an individual's interest. Though we all love to read comic books, the topic, tone, genre, and story are the main factors in reading a graphic novel. For example, I love to read Sci-fi and fantasy. But my friend Mark loves to read horror and romantic comics.
That's why I have covered every topic and briefly discussed which graphic book talks about what. I have also considered these book's popularity, awards, readers' reviews, and my personal opinion to include in the list of 10 best graphic novels of all time.
Hope you got the list of the most popular 10 graphic novels of all time to read in 2024. You can read any book according to your interest here. Most of the books have a series on Netflix. So you can also watch there. But if you want to feel this story, you have to read these, Not recommended to watch on Netflix.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Highest-selling Graphic Novel?
According to Wikipedia, ‘One Piece’ is the highest-selling graphic novel. Approximately, sales of the One Piece series are around 523.2 Million copies. Besides this comic, X-Men, Maus, Spider-Man, and X-force are also the highest-selling graphic novels.
Which Graphic Novels Should I Read?
As a comic lover, you should read Maus, Watchmen, The Complete Persepolis, Nimona, Batman, Saga, The Sandman, V for Vendetta, Fun Home, etc. Likewise, you can read the 10 best graphic novels of all time from the list above.
What are the 4 Types of Graphic Novels?
These are the 4 types of graphic novels below:
- Manga. (Japanese Version)
- Superhero Stories. (Fictional Characters and Settings, Saga)
- Perzines. (Auto-Biographic Story)
- Non-fiction. (Historical & social contents, ‘V for Vendetta’)
What Graphic Novel has the Best Art?
Art is equally important as the story of a graphic novel. Here are some best graphic novels: Kingdom Come, Blacksad, Tale of Sand, Sin City: The Hard Goodbye, Die, and Marvels have the best art.
Are Graphic Novels Better than Novels?
Yes, Graphic novels are better than novels for those people who feel bored reading general novels. The highly visual content can engage children and anyone easily. So you can consider the graphic novel better for the pictures or art of these novels.
