Once upon a time, not too long ago, comic books were derided as a lesser art form.

But times have changed, and with them, perspective. Now recognized as a creative and limitless medium, comic books, visual novels, and other forms of artistic storytelling have been basking in the spotlight thanks to the unique narrative experience they can offer.

If you are unsure where to start exploring the vast and diverse world of comic books, consider this list a starting point—a subjective list that includes some, but not all, of this medium’s best.

First Things First—What is a Comic?

Defining comic books is a lot harder than it looks.

That’s a discussion for a different blog, but it might be a good idea to establish the criteria to follow when picking the best comic books.

For this article, a comic book is any printed publication that depicts a story or narrative through art in sequential panels. This means that single-issue comics, serial comics, Japanese manga, and visual novels all fit this category, while webtoons do not.

What Are The Best Comics Everyone Should Read?

Narrowing down the best comic books of all time is a harrowing task, and many deserving entries did not make it into the final list. However, this article is not meant to be an exclusive list—it’s merely a collection of vastly different comics that changed the game in one way or another.

So forget about bestselling comic books or the ones with the most cinematic adaptations; it’s about their impact on the medium and what they offer to readers like you.

Ready? Let’s take a look, in no particular order.

1. Watchmen

by Alan Moore (writer), Dave Gibbons (artist), and John Higgins (colorist)

Deemed one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Novels, this superhero deconstruction comic explores an alternate history in which superheroes changed mid-century American politics as a conspiracy unravels.

The graphic novel was also adapted into a visually striking 2009 film directed by Zack Snyder, bringing its dark, complex narrative to the big screen.

2. Maus

by Art Spiegelman

The Pulitzer-winning Maus depicts author Spiegelman interviewing his Holocaust survivor father and coming to terms with the various ways the experience shattered his family. The cartoonish style represents animals as stand-ins for different social groups.

3. All-Star Superman

by Grant Morrison (writer), Frank Quitely (artist), and Jamie Grant (inker)

One of the most acclaimed Superman limited stories depicts the mighty hero exposed to lethal amounts of solar radiation. Knowing his days are numbered, he tries to do as much good as possible while coming to terms with the inevitable.

4. Persepolis

by Marjane Satrapi

This award-winning autobiographical story depicts the author’s childhood and early adulthood in Iran and Austria—her life shaped by the Islamic Revolution, the war with Iraq, and her experiences, particularly as an educated woman.

5. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

by Alan Moore (writer) and Kevin O’Neill (artist)

Britain needs protection more than ever at the tail end of the Victorian era and the early beginning of the Edwardian era. And no one is more qualified to do so than the most extraordinary—Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll, and many more literary figures.

6. Bone

by Jeff Smith 

This whimsical story stars the three Bone cousins after being run out of their hometown of Boneville into the mysterious and magical Valley. As they explore this new world, they are drawn into a hero’s journey that is as wonderful as terrifying.

7. Death Note

by Tsugumi Ohba (writer) and Takeshi Obata (artist)

Light Yagami is an intelligent yet ordinary student until he comes across the Death Note, an otherworldly tool that kills any human whose name is written on it. He decides to rid the world of criminals, but a brilliant detective soon gets his eye on the case. An unparalleled battle of wits ensues.

8. Monstress

by Marjorie M. Liu (writer) and Sana Takeda (artist)

This award-winning steampunk epic fantasy is set in a world reminiscent of a matriarchal, early 1900s Asia. It follows Maika Halfwolf, a traumatized teenager who develops a strange psychic link with a powerful monster.

9. V for Vendetta

by Alan Moore (writer) and David Lloyd (artist)

This graphic novel depicts an alternate history of the United Kingdom, now a totalitarian fascist police state following nuclear warfare. Within the country, a masked revolutionary inspires his peers to pursue anarchy.

10. Nimona

by N.D. Stevenson

Ballister Blackheart is a notorious villain seeking to destroy the Institute from within. Nimona is a mischievous and overenthusiastic shapeshifter eager to be his villainous sidekick. The unlikely team-up will bring chaos and changes they never expected.

11. Batman: The Long Halloween

by Jeph Loeb (writer) and Tim Sale (artist)

During his beginning as Batman, the hero faces the gnarly mystery of a serial killer who only attacks on holidays. He teams up with Captain James Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent—before he becomes Batman’s deadly foe, Two-Face.

12. Saga

by Brian K. Vaughan (writer) and Fiona Staples (artist)

Saga is an epic space opera starring Alana and Marko, a married couple from enemy extraterrestrial races, attempting to raise their infant daughter while on the run from authorities during a galactic war.

13. The Batman Adventures: Mad Love

by Paul Dini (writer) and Bruce Timm (artist)

The pens behind the legendary Batman: The Animated Series wrote this award-winning standalone comic. It provides the very first in-depth look at Harleen Quinzel’s backstory and how she became Harley Quinn.

14. Monster

by Naoki Urasawa

Japanese surgeon Kenzo Tenma sees his life in Germany fall apart when he saves ten-year-old Johan Liebert rather than the mayor of his city. He believes it was a worthy sacrifice—until the child grows to be a psychopathic serial killer. Could he have played a role? What does it take to create a monster?

15. Locke and Key

by Joe Hill (writer) and Gabriel Rodríguez (artist)

After their father’s death, the Locke siblings and their mother move into Keyhouse, their ancestral home. There, they find strange keys that unlock fantastic doors and magical gateways—too bad they’re not alone in the house.

16. Pride of Baghdad

by Brian K. Vaughan (writer) and Niko Henrichon (artist)

After a catastrophic bombing affected the Baghdad Zoo, four lions escape and navigate the destroyed streets of the war-torn city. In this allegorical tale inspired by real-life events, each lion represents a perspective on war.

17. Sin City

by Frank Miller

Sin City is a widely praised neo-noir comic series featuring short, interconnected stories that showcase the worst of Basin City’s dark underbelly and the murder, corruption, and depravity hiding even deeper.

18. Fullmetal Alchemist

by Hiromu Arakawa

In a steampunk world where alchemy is a science, young alchemists Edward and Alphonse Elric undertake a doomed ritual. Edward loses one leg while trying to bring his mother back and then an arm to rescue Alphonse, who is now a bodiless soul bound to armor. Edward must now enlist in the military to restore Alphonse’s body, but war is on the horizon.

19. My Favorite Thing is Monsters

by Emil Ferris

A treat for fans of B-horror and pulp monster iconography set in 60s Chicago, this graphic novel is the fictional diary of 10-year-old Karen Reyes as she investigates the murder of Anka Silverberg, her upstairs neighbor and a Holocaust survivor.

20. Fables

by Bill Willingham

This creative yet whimsical story follows characters from popular fairytales and folklore after they leave their mythical homeland and create a secret community in New York City. There, they deal with the challenges of modern life while dealing with a mysterious adversary.

Found Your Next Comic Soulmate?

This list is just a small glimpse into the creative and ever-expanding world of comics. Each of the aforementioned books is a masterpiece in its own right, set apart by its varying genres, art styles, and narrative choices.

Comic books have endless possibilities and infinite narratives—it’s a matter of looking around to find the story that speaks to your soul.

Plus, who knows? You might end up loving the medium and develop a collection—there are plenty of places to sell comic books you don’t like and use the means to purchase new ones to love.

And there are always new ones to love.