From Maus to Watchmen, behold our, very bias, list of the 5 greatest graphic novels of all-time.
We all have our personal favorite comic books. But like anything, there’s never going to be a definitive list of the greatest graphic novels of all-time, so in this list, allow me to rhapsodise about my favorite graphic novels of all-time. Who knows, perhaps you’ll find a new favorite!
Oh, and these are in absolutely no particular order.
Maus
Art Spiegelman’s Maus is undeniably a masterpiece. The graphic novel, split into two parts, recounts the real story of Art’s father Vladek and his harrowing journey throughout the Second World War. The story is a historical memoir, in which Art himself sits down with his father and transcribes his story, from the outbreak of the war, through the holocaust and its ultimate conclusion.
The novel is a deeply disturbing, provocative read. The way Art illustrates the comic too is utterly unique. He utilises anthropomorphism, drawing Jews as mice and Germans and Poles as cats and pigs respectively.
The groundbreaking work was culminated in being awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1992, becoming the first and only graphic novel to get the prestigious accolade.
You can pick up Maus on Amazon here.
The Dark Knight Returns
Whenever anyone asks me to recommend a DC comic, my initial response is always: “Have you read The Dark Knight Returns?” Written by Frank Miller with art by Klaus Janson, and colour by Lynn Varley, the 4-issue series is widely regarded as one of the seminal works of the genre.
Published in 1986, in the dawn of the modern age of comics, The Dark Knight Returns takes place in an alternate DC Universe, where Bruce Wayne who, now 55 years old, returns from a decade of retirement to continue his facade and once again fight crime. But this time, he faces very real opposition from Gotham City police force and the United States government, who weaponize Superman against Batman. It also features iconic villains Two-Face and Joker.
In short, if you haven’t yet read The Dark Knight Returns, I implore you to do so. The Batman mythos as we know it simply wouldn’t be the same without it.
You can find a copy of The Dark Knight Returns on Amazon here.
Watchmen
Watchmen heralds no introduction. The esteemed 1986/87 graphic novel is an absolute titan of the comics genre, to put it lightly. Written by Alan Moore with artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins, the story took everything everyone knew about superheroes, and flipped it on its head. The book was the only graphic novel to feature on Time’s 2005 “All-Time 100 Greatest Novels” list.
The story takes place in a world where masked vigilantes exist and the U.S. won the Vietnam War. When a masked vigilante, the Comedian, is killed, a group of former heroes investigate his mysterious murder, leading them to find some rather interesting… and morally ambiguous… discoveries.
Chances are, if you haven’t read the book, you’re aware of the adaptations. Most notably, the Zack Snyder movie from 2009, or Damon Lindelof’s masterful 2019 series (which acted as a sequel rather than a straight adaptation). Of course, Alan Moore famously dislikes any and all adaptations. While they might be objectively quite good, nothing will ever come close to the original work.
You can pick up Watchmen on Amazon here.
Marvels
You simply can’t have a list of the greatest ever graphic novels without featuring at least something Marvel-related on there. Choosing a Marvel comic is hard. I’ve been tied between Daredevil: Born Again, Civil War, Planet Hulk, Old Man Logan, The Ultimates, etc, etc. But my personal favorite has to be Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross. At 4 issues, it’s short and sweet, but it packs a lot into those pages.
So what makes Marvels stand out from the gluttony of Marvel stuff out there already? Well, one thing that instantly makes it stand out, is how it seamlessly chronicles Marvel Comics history through the eyes of Daily Bugle photojournalist Phil Sheldon. It spans the 1930s to the 1970s, covering the dawn of Human Torch and Namor, to the rise of the Avengers, the X-Men, and everything in-between. If there’s one all-encompassing Marvel graphic novel that still tells a thrilling-yet-emotional tale, this is it.
You can purchase Marvels on Amazon here.
The Walking Dead
Okay, I’ve got to be honest here. I’m a little bias. I love The Walking Dead. It’s probably my favorite comic series ever. Robert Kirkman writes such deeply emotional stories that resonate with readers. Sure, the zombies might take a back seat at times, but the characters are all so fleshed out. It’s a long-running, epic saga of survival, where the living pose just as much danger as the dead.
Moreover, The Walking Dead comics are undergoing something of a resurgence right now. Since 2020, the entire series has been gradually being reprinted as The Walking Dead: Deluxe. Now it’s in full-colour thanks to Dave McCaig, who’s done a stellar job at making panels and pages pop. If you’ve not read The Walking Dead or you want to give it a re-read, The Walking Dead: Deluxe is the best option to do so!
You can start reading The Walking Dead on Amazon here.
What would you put in your list? Tell us in the comments down below!
