Best of 2025: Graphic Novels

Yelchin returns with a new graphic memoir about his young adulthood in Soviet Russia during the KGB-fueled 1980s. As school is coming to an end, Yvegeny knows that his draft notice is coming soon. Trying to avoid Afghanistan, he moves to Siberia to work in the theater. Meanwhile, he’s falling in love with an American studying abroad and planning for his future.

Shirato's classic Kamui series tells the story of the outcast ninja Kamui as he flees from his ninja clan. Famous for its unflinching historical accuracy and social commentary, this series is an essential read for those interested in Japanese history and for adult manga fans!

They Were Eleven sees a group of ten space cadets assigned to survive in an old spaceship as a final test for their advanced training program. Things don’t go as planned, though, when they discover that there are actually eleven members aboard the ship, and no one can figure out who the imposter is. Things then go from bad to worse when the ship faces some unexpected disasters.

Assassination attempts are a daily occurrence at the kindergarten for the world's most powerful people. That's why the teachers at the school are all convicted criminals hired to protect the children in exchange for reduced sentences. Rita is the newest hire, but her obsession with hot boys could be her downfall.

An excellent foray into the complexities of modern-day consumerism and how we might reconcile the contradictions of community-oriented mutual aid and the demands of a Western-style middle-class quotidian. The author grapples with these questions and argues that there are no easy answers. Aesthetically, the artwork was charming, and the narrative propulsion was languid enough not to be too overwhelming given the dense content. The author also tackles the daunting task of distilling opaque economic principles into easily digestible nibbles. And in an engaging visual form, no less.

Heady topic. But broaches important inquiries in an accessible and playful manner. A wholehearted recommendation from me.

A teen's journey with her father to Sri Lanka to re-meet her mom after being parted as a baby will pull the reader in. Nimmi not only needs to reconnect with her mother, but also has to live through the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. Gorgeous art and beautifully written.

Suspenseful historical fiction of Charlie, who lives next to Lizzie Borden and might or might not be seeing something horrific.

Not only is Ave stuck in Kansas after moving from Mexico, somewhere where they don't speak the language, but they've also just found out their father and beloved sister won't be joining them in the United States. Instead, Ave is starting middle school with no friends and no idea what to do next. Beautifully written and illustrated by Jose Pimienta, this is both a timely immigration narrative and a moving story that will strike a chord with anyone who's felt alone.

This is author and illustrator Ruth Chan's poignant reflection on her own experience of moving to Hong Kong from Toronto as a child. Although she initially struggles to adjust to living in a different country, she gradually makes new friends, grows closer to her parents, and establishes a sense of belonging in her new home.

A young girl whose family has the power to bake emotions into the desserts at their family bakery finds herself struggling after losing her aunt. When her grief makes its way into all of her desserts, she has to learn how to tend to her own emotions before she can give to anyone else. Grades 4-7.

Gifted with the ability to detect lies, high schooler Kaede reluctantly agrees to help his classmate find her missing boyfriend. Although he can sniff out some lies in his classmate's tale, he did not realize pursuing this case would lead to the discovery of aliens—and that those aliens are hidden in plain sight, backed by an alien insurance company, Cosmos. Recruited by insurance investigator Rin, Kaede joins Cosmos, and together they track down alien insurance fraud cases.

Student council president Otogi Katsura and vice president Toki Ninomae share a secret: both are hiding their true selves at school. Katsura upholds the image of the perfect beauty, but one day Ninomae witnesses Katsura's mask slip—and he drops his mask as well. As these "false angels" reveal their true personalities to one another, they continue to lower their guard around each other and grow closer as a result.

Emile is a rookie in battle skating, a combination of figure skating and martial arts in which competitors must perform technical elements while avoiding enemy attacks. In his first match of the season, Emile faces Radu, the best battle skater in the world—and Emile's skating idol! During their match, Emile discovers Radu's secret and must decide what to do with this information.

Failing to make her mark as an idol, Mimi has settled for working part-time while enrolled in college. Ibuki, a current idol hopeful and fan of Mimi's defunct idol group, encounters Mimi and inspires Mimi to once again channel her idol-seeking dreams. The two of them enter an idol show, competing amongst 16 candidates to form the ultimate girl group.

Yamato Kobayashi is drifting through life, unable to commit to anything—be it school or his part–time job—because he has a hard time focusing. Enter energetic transfer student Keisuke Uno, the neurodivergent kid who tends to shout his words and is hyper-focused on outer space. Kobayashi forms an unlikely friendship with Uno, and soon, Kobayashi's dull days begin to change.

Starting over in a new country, Victoria reinvents herself—from spy to civilian! All she wants is an ordinary life, free of strife, but as she encounters new people along her journeys, she finds her world expanding. Can she keep her espionage history a secret while maintaining her new friendships?

Former friends Chris O'Brien and Alicia Ochoa are stuck in a time loop repeating their high school graduation over and over and over again! During their multiple loops, the two discuss why their friendship fizzled out and discover new feelings along the way.

Forced to move due to her mom's new job, Nora and her beloved horse adjust to life in rural Greenville, home to a new barn, Creaky Acres. Eager to resume her previous horseback activities, Nora establishes an eventing team at Creaky Acres, but she soon realizes these new, laid-back equestrians are nothing like her previous town's teammates. Grades 3-7.

While their parents are off adventuring, older sisters Mira and Rosie are tasked with watching their youngest sister, Peanut. However, Peanut is going through some changes that neither Mira nor Rosie can explain. As they struggle to hide Peanut's new powers, rumors of a werebeast attract the unwanted attention of a monster hunter, and Mira and Rosie must defend Peanut from harm.

A blackbird narrates a story about Dutch Resistance during World War II and a family in 2011 dealing with the repercussions of the war.

A blend of historical fiction and queer romance, two girls work together to share an important story with the masses in order to bring about social change during the 1880s.

Being the perfect daughter is not in Nitasha's cards. The pressure from her life is about to boil over, and she's not sure what to do. A touching and sometimes hard look into mental health.

Beautiful graphic novel about Almudena, who has to spend the summer fixing up a brownstone with the father she's never met, and as the summer days pass, she becomes slowly intertwined with the neighbors, neighborhood, and her dad.

West Hollywood Monster Squad is a fun horror graphic novel about a group of teens out for a night on the town during a catastrophic monster attack. You know that moment in your life when some of your friends have gone away and potentially changed so much, but you’re still at home? Imagine it with added monsters. Also, as a bonus, notice the many West Hollywood landmarks!

Jose and Charlie's Guatemalan mother doesn't talk about her past with her boys very often. When Jose learns about a trial regarding the Guatemalan genocide in the 80s, he finally gets his mother to open up and share her story of escaping and surviving.

The X-Men have abandoned the island of Krakoa, and Kate Pryde is in mourning. But the world keeps on turning. People need help. Kids need teachers. The community we build in the aftermath of loss can sometimes be the thing that saves us.

A private academy's theatre society comes under scrutiny when a talented actress is found dead. Abby Kita knows there's more to the story than meets the eye and gets entangled in school secrets in this engrossing read.

In this middle-grade graphic novel, Santiago spends the summer in a town called Hillside Valley with his Colombian grandma. The dialogue in English and Spanish conveys the journey of becoming bilingual in a relatable and artful way.

An incredible graphic history of transgender people. Also includes many prominent trans activists such as Lilac Maldonado, Marie Angel Venarsian, Susan Stryker, and Monica Roberts.