Top 101 Comics of 2025

Before you can say it, let me. This list is wrong. Well, because all lists are wrong. Art by definition is a subjective experience so then taking those experiences and trying to rank them is certainly not a science. I know people like to determine how legitimate a list is based upon how much they agree with it, but I find that to be a fleeting exercise. 

So then why do this list? Well for one it challenges me as a comic book reader. Back when I started doing this in 2016 it forced me to read comics I may have otherwise skipped. Doing a Top 100 list dominated by Marvel and DC would be a very boring list. Now those books I used to skip are often my favorite reads of the year. 

The other reason is I look at this as a way to encapsulate the year that what in comics. A quick glance at was happening in the year of my favorite medium. Lastly, and more importantly the thing I enjoy doing the most is recommending comics. What easier way than to have a list of 101 recently released books from a variety of publishers, genres, and creators that should be widely available. My hope is that everyone who reads this list will come away with at least one comic they never heard of before that now interests them in some way. 

Now comics are a little harder to rank than TV shows or movies because they come in so many different shapes and sizes so let me clarify what is eligible for this list. I try to keep it as simple as possible.

1. Any type of new comic that was released in 2025 is eligible so that includes single issues, mini series, ongoings, graphic novels, and yes even manga. 
2. That also includes comics that have been released in English for the first time, or at least the first time in a long time it has become widely available. 
3. So things like Omnibuses of classic series, DC Compact comics, or other collections of classic material that has been widely available are not eligible. 
4. I have had to read it. This list is just me so I can only rank what I have read. I try to read as much as I can and a big reason this is coming out later than most end of year lists is because I try to do my due diligence as best as possible to catch up with major books. I cannot read everything so there may be a book you love that simply missed the list because I haven’t read it. But I see that as a good thing. Let me know about those and I will gladly try to catch up with them down the road. 

So now that is out of the way on to the fun stuff. 

(Please not the Solicitation Notes are provided by the respected Publishers) 

101. Space Ghost

Writer: David Pepose

Artist: Jonathan Lau

Publisher: Dynamite

Solicitation: The Guardian of the Spaceways returns for more evil-thwarting action in an all-new series – kicking off with the first appearance of a classic Space Ghost villain!

As Space Ghost and Blip fight to defuse a hostage situation on an amusement park planet that’s been hijacked by the villainous Toymaker, Jan and Jace are confronted by a mysterious figure from their past – a meeting that will shake the Ghost Planet’s team to the core!

Why it Made the List: The current state of comics has a plethora of books that are based on classic Saturday morning cartoons. Some rather good ones like G.I. Joe and Transformers that have been both hugely successful and quite a good time as well. Others not so much in either category. I wanted to highlight Space Ghost for a few reasons. For one I have rather enjoyed it for a few years for now despite my only exposure to Space Ghost being the infamous Cartoon Network talk show which took a very different approach. It has the perfect tone. It never feels like you are reading something designed for a small child, but it never gets overtly mature to the point of parody. David Pepose has a knack for that. Another big reason is a consistent and quality art team. Dynamite can be very hit or miss when it comes to art but Jonathan Lau is one of the best artists working for them currently and gives this series a consistent look that doesn’t exist in most ongoings in today’s world. That also includes colorist Andrew Dalhouse, cover artist Francesco Mattina, and Taylor Esposito who give this book a continuity and a level of craftsmanship other similar series do not come close to having. So if you are a person who perhaps dismissed this as just another adaptation of a past property or because you are not a Space Ghost fan give this a shot because you may be surprised. 

100. Faiza is a Fighter

Writer/Artist: Debasmita Dasgupta

Publisher: Soaring Kite Books

Solicitation: Faiza wants to win the biggest boxing tournament in town. When the odds are stacked against her, will she be able to achieve her dream without the presence of her biggest supporter?

Life in hilly northern India is not easy. Every day, Faiza has to scale the mountains to reach her school or to fetch water from the stream. Faiza doesn’t have many friends or relatives who believe in her, but her dream of being a world champion boxer and the support of her only parent, her dad, and her grandma keeps her going.

When her dad’s travel is delayed due to a landslide, she has to enter the boxing tournament without her coach and support system. Will she give up or forge out on her own? Sometimes your biggest cheerleader is the voice inside of you. Fight, Faiza, fight!

Why it Made the List: Faiza is a Fighter is one of the books I am grateful that my local library uses Hoopla because I would have totally missed it otherwise. It is a quick one issue story that never over stays its welcome about a young girl with big dreams of being a boxer despite living in a world where that is frowned upon. Is that the most ingenious set up for a sports story? Of course not but as often is the case with sports stories it is simply an avenue to tell a more important tale. At the center of this comic is a father and daughter who share a special bond that makes up for the rejection the rest of the world hands them. They are each other’s biggest supporters. It was a nice change to see a sport story where the family is supportive of one another instead of the exact opposite. This was also my first time reading a comic by Debasmita Dasgupta and I found her art style so welcoming and warm. Her flat colors and bold lines are able to give Faiza a level of vulnerability when you see the world getting to her, but also power when she takes that to fuel her dream. Landscape plays a major role within this story and the picturesque mountains and snowy hillside give a sense of place. By the end it is very clear where the heart of this story is and if you are looking for a charming read about a girl with a killer right cross it is worth your time. 

99. Roots of Madness

Writer: Stephanie Williams

Artist:  Letizia Cadonici

Publisher: Ignition Press

Solicitation: At the turn of the 20th century, a young Black woman named Etta picks up the tradition of her late mother for creating special medicines using natural ingredients and secrets handed down from generation to generation. Her mother has passed on a book of recipes and formulas, but it’s also full of strange symbols and dark musings that she doesn’t quite understand. Within her community, one of the problems she hopes to fix is counteracting the poisonous and abrasive solutions Black women and girls are sold for straightening their hair. So, when the Meridian Fellowship reaches out and offers her a spot at their institute in Savannah, GA, to use their facilities to do her research, Etta jumps at the chance. She packs up her mother’s book and heads to the sprawling establishment, but what she finds is a place surrounded by natural wonders that may point the way to understanding the more mysterious parts of her mother’s work…if dark forces don’t claim her first.

Inspired by the life of Madame CJ Walker, this alternate history combines tradition with cosmic horror for something truly modern and unique. Featuring main covers by illustrator Juliet Nneka, whose illustrative work has appeared on prose novels, comics like Absolute Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, and in galleries.

Why it Made the List: So 2025 gave us the breakout of a new Publisher in Ignition Press. When a new Publisher comes out I do wonder what gimmick they will be using to try to separate themselves from others. Maybe they will ONLY have Variant covers. So far no gimmicks for Ignition Press. Instead they are focusing on genre stories that tend to have some horror elements. Series like Murder Podcast deserve recognition as well but Roots of Madness turned out to be my favorite. 

This is written by Stephanie Williams who is impressing me more and more as a writer. This past year with series like Temporal from Mad Cave and even a book like Street Sharks that did not work for me clearly accomplished what it set out to do. 

Regarding Roots of Madness it focuses on Etta who is learning the traditions of her family including creating medicines and other natural concoctions. Within those traditions are some darker secrets. What that leaves you with is a compelling story that gets to the heart of generational trauma and the struggle to both move past it but also understand. This is best demonstrated in scenes of the past that bring together all the different journeys that led to this moment. It was an effective way to give exposition regarding what Etta is set to face without it feeling like a massive info dump. 

Artist Letizia Cadonici is not someone who I was familiar with prior to this series and similarly impressed with what she brought. If you enjoy Werther Dell’Edera’s style in Something is Killing the Children I see you appreciating the look of this book.  Her character work is rather elegant and terrifying when the horror kicks in fully. Juliet Nneka also has some striking covers that do not just look great but incorporate some key storytelling regarding what you are about to step into. 

So the inaugural year for both Roots of Madness and Ignition Press and been a promising one. 

98. The Hexiles 

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Artist: Joe Bocardo

Publisher: Mad Cave

Solicitation: Six strangers, all broken and burdened, find themselves at the funeral for the father they never knew. Their father sold their souls to Hell on the days they were born. They are now destined to serve demonic masters in spreading chaos and misery. Jamison Kreel is dead. Six of his children from six mothers are attending the funeral of a father they never met. Each of the children possesses a different infernal power. These powers, though, come at a terrible price… a price Jamison Kreel has placed upon the heads of his offspring. And the demonic debtors have come to collect.

Why it Made the List: A big reason this series worked for me so well was because I was the perfect headspace for it. One of my comic goals in 2025 was to read all of the 300 issues of the original Hellblazer run. I did not quite get there but it did give me some Hellblazer fever, which is not something doctors have an antibiotic for–at least the doctors covered by my insurance. Luckily The Hexiles was a great way to treat it. (or maybe expand up it now that I think of it) You can quickly tell it was very much inspired by the Hellblazer comics. It’s basically what if John Constantine was actually a bad person who cursed his children to save his own soul and now those demons are coming to collect. The kids decide to join forces and fight back as being the decedent of a magic user with connections to demons has given them their own set of specific powers. Cullen Bunn has long proven to be a master horror writer, so it is no surprise that he is making this concept work. Artist Joe Bocardo creates a dark and dreary world where escape appears impossible. Knowing that Vertigo is returning in 2026 if they were to bring back Hellblazer DC would be smart to reach out to this creators. For now I am going to enjoy this run and hope we get more of it someday. 

97. Only I Know the World Is Ending and Getting Killed by Rampaging Beasts Only Makes Me Stronger

Writer: Shigeru Haijima

Artist: Tsubasa

Publisher: Seven Seas

Solicitation: Akira is your average office worker who dies in a not-so-average way. On his way home from work, he is killed…by a minotaur! He wakes up back in the office, but the world as he knew it has changed. Mythical beasts and monsters are running amok, destroying everything in their path. Akira discovers that every time he dies, he gets resurrected with the skills he acquired from his previous lives intact! Armed with unlimited lives and an ever-expanding skill set, he now stands in the way of the beasts and their rampaging wave of destruction.

Why it Made the List: Yes I will be including Manga on this list with the caveat that I really only started watching Manga over the last few years There are still plenty of major series that I am not current with. So if you are wondering why your favorite Manga series didn’t make it and this did it may simply be that I am still too behind to determine how well it fared in 2025.

Did I include this series simply because the name is ridiculous and I enjoy saying it? No, but it was a bonus in its favor. This is another addition to this list I can thank my library for as I picked it up there knowing nothing about it and found myself enjoying it a great deal. I do think knowing nothing about it certainly helped so if interested skip ahead but it starts like this Apocalypse version of Groundhog Day. You have this character living out the same day again and again after being killed by an assortment of monsters. But it adds another wrinkle because this is not someone learning to find themselves through the ultimate repetition of life, rather a person living the life of a video game character–a video game they are able to learn to control themselves. This adds a bit of strategy to the way challenges are taken and despite not being a gamer myself found the way challenges had to be overcome through the use of video game mechanics an attentive way to breathe new life into a very well worn genre. If you are wondering if it bares any resemblance to the Ryan Reynolds vehicle Free Guy my response would be no. For now it does not appear to be taking place inside an actual video. Also it’s not really a comedy at all. So despite being influenced by other mediums it remains its own thing. 

96. Hey, Mary!

Writer: Andrew Wheeler

Artist: Rye Hickman

Publisher: Oni Press

Solicitation: Mark is a good Catholic boy. He goes to church, says his prayers, and spends too much time worrying about hell. When Mark realizes he has a crush on another boy in his school, he struggles to reconcile his feelings with his faith as the weight of centuries of shame and judgment—and his fear of his parents’ response—presses on his shoulders. Mark seeks advice from his priest, as well as a local drag performer, but also receives unexpected input from key figures in Catholic history and lore, including Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, St. Sebastian, and Savonarola. Ultimately, only Mark can answer the question: Is it possible for him to be both Catholic and gay?

Why it Made the List: Typically being religious and being gay are not very copacetic. More often religion is used as a tool to legitimize hatred towards those that are in the LGBTQ+ community. The thing is though there are plenty of people who belong to both. What this does is show it is not the tool but how you use it. Although this is clearly not a true story you can tell it comes from a very true place. You can feel the struggle the main character Mark is facing as he learns more about himself and that discovery yields a major fear of rejection and shame. That then is counteracted by a cavalcade of historical figures that provide a different perspective to the one that has been preached at him for the majority of his existence. Information holds with it a great deal of power as this shows because you can shape reality not only by what you leave in but also what you take out. What Andrew Wheeler and Rye Hickman do with this work is show how to use information for good, yet also reminding us that to be comfortable with yourself is a journey only the self can control. Others can provide direction, it is up to the person to land in the final destination. 

95. Winging It

Writer: Megan Wagner Lloyd

Artist: Michelle Mee Nutter

Publisher: Scholastic 

Solicitation: Twelve-year-old Luna never wanted to move from California to Virginia, even if it is near historic Washington, DC, and no matter how excited her dad is to introduce her to the area where her late mother grew up. And she definitely doesn’t want to live with a very formal grandmother she barely knows. But during a visit to the National Museum of Natural History, the rarely seen luna moth for which Luna was named sparks her curiosity. Using her mother’s old naturalist notebooks as a guide, Luna, who has always preferred the indoors, endeavors to see a real luna moth with her own eyes. Learning more about nature just might help her make a new friend, figure out how to feel at home in her new life, and understand the mother she never got the chance to know.

Why it Made the List: If you have noticed yet this list will include all different types of books in all different shapes in sizes designed for a multitude of ages. As this choice and the previous entries indicate, it does include YA books. I mean Scholastic is probably the biggest comic book publisher in North America right now so this list would be incomplete without their presence. Plus I have kids of my own and I am always looking for books for them to enjoy. Winging It is definitely the book I would give to my ten and six year old as it does what good kids comics should do and that  is to approach difficult topics in a way that respects children’s emotional intelligence. Similar to Faiza is a Fighter this too has a father and daughter story at the center of it. The main character Luna’s mother passed away when she was very young so it has been her and her dad ever since. That changes when they move to the East Coast and move in with her grandmother who she does not know very well. Perhaps though this is a chance to learn more about her mom as she’ll be spending more time with the person who raised her. What this does well is show how grief is challenging in all its different shapes and sizes. Perhaps it leaves an emptiness due to a lost connection, or how it can lead adults to make harsh decisions because avoidance is an easier road than approaching challenge feelings. That’s all wrapped in an endearing tale about a young kid learning to enjoy life and embrace her new reality. 

94. Red Book

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Michael Avon Oeming

Publisher: Dark Horse

Solicitation: Nine students die tragically under mysterious circumstances known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident in Russia. Meng Zhaoguo, a logger with the Red Flag Logging Commune, witnesses a glowing white object crash into the Phoenix Mountain near the Russian border. Four children in the Russian city of Voronezh witness a red egg-shaped UFO descend and a group of seemingly extraterrestrial beings disembark. Flights are immediately diverted into and out of Xiaoshan Airport in China as passengers and crew aboard multiple planes report flashes of otherworldly light from four unidentified objects.

How are all the cover-ups by the Chinese and Russian governments over UFO sightings related? James Tynion IV and Michael Avon Oeming follow up their acclaimed work on Blue Book with an all-new volume of “true” tales capturing the strange world of alien encounters — this time focusing on the uncanny extraterrestrial stories of Russia and China.

Why it Made the List:  For those not in the know Red Book is a spinoff from James Tynion IV and  Michael Avon Oeming’s Blue Book series. This too looks to recount real life encounters with extra terrestrials but specific instances that occurred in Mother Russia and China. It’s a small miracle a comic like this even exists. Docu-comics are common in graphic novel form but rarely do you find anything non-fiction released in the issue format. But reading a series like this I get a similar feeling that I did when watching Unsolved Mysteries back in the day. If you play that theme while reading the eeriness would be turned up to eleven. 

What works best about this and the previous series is that it doesn’t over dramatize the events it is covering. There are a number of key stories including mysterious deaths of hikers in the Russian wilderness and strange underwater encounters and each is treated with the Joe Friday like approach when it comes to sticking to the facts of the case. 

So how does it avoid being dull and boring? First these cases are all fascinating and ones I personally never head of but also Michael Avon Oeming does wonderful work giving life to these events.  That includes a number of inventive sequences that allow for more interpretation than the words. For example a sequence where filing cabinets dominate the page like massive skyscrapers as people are lost in a maze of information trying to find the details of this story that have been locked away. 

Staying true to the title the color scheme here adds red and it is used as a very effective accent color. Not only does it tie into the history being cover but does also work to amp up tension in some of the more serious moments. Furthering the proof that sometimes limiting the tools you use can greatly benefit you in the long run. 

93. Goobers

Writer: Cody Ziglar

Artist: Ryan Lee

Publisher: K. Michael Russell

Solicitation: Shaun of the Dead meets Nope with an injection of IT in GOOBERS – a hugely humorous horrorfest!

Something strange is bugging the residents of Pine Cove.

Clayton Lowe is headed back to his small Southern hometown, despite his best efforts to leave it in the rearview mirror. Clay’s new friends from grad school are about to meet his old friends from high school and discover that something may have finally changed in the town where nothing ever changes: Pine Cove is ground zero for an infestation of body-snatching alien-bugs.

Time to bury the past.

And it ain’t going to be easy.

Why it Made the List: It feels good to put a Vault comic on this list. They are a publisher I have great respect for and have given us so many great series throughout their existence, but for the last couple years their output has majorly decreased. I am not sure why exactly that is the case but even though their quantity has declined, quality is still remaining. Goobers has the crazy energy of the best Midnight Horror movie release. One that has some impressive array of body horror that finds more and more ways to build upon itself. Cody Ziglar has a strong sense of genre seen in so much of his work including this series. He knows how to lean into the tropes you expect but also find ways to expand upon them. Ryan Lee is not an artist I am super familiar with but draws in a style here that gives everything a humor bent so it does not get overtly grotesque.  It reminded me a great deal of the approach Rob Guillory takes with his work. There have been plenty of stories that take the ‘Body Snatchers’ story and do not do anything with it so glad this adds some meaning behind all the insanity. Also it gives you characters that are immediately distinct and have their own voice. So when the world has gone to hell you at least have someone you know to cling onto. 

92. The Blood Brothers Mother 

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Eduardo Risso

Publisher: DSTLRY  

Solicitation: In the old American West, three children set off across the wild Texas frontier to rescue their mother-kidnapped by ruthless outlaws who gunned down their preacher father. Throughout their journey, they’ll face the harsh elements of an unforgiving landscape, deadly animals hungry for blood, merciless bounty hunters and so much more… all in a relentless quest to rescue their family.

Along the way, they’ll learn the terrible cost of revenge — not just in lives, but in how it stains a soul. While revenge may be satisfying in the moment, it leaves a yearning behind that lasts a lifetime. And once you taste it, nothing else is ever so sweet.

In the tradition of The Searchers and The Outlaw Josey Wales comes a brutal new western series from writer BRIAN AZZARELLO and artist EDUARDO RISSO-the Eisner award-winning team behind the Vertigo crime classic, 100 Bullets and Image Comics, Moonshine!

Why it Made the List: You know what we do not get enough of in any medium in today’s market? Westerns. I know the glory days of the Western are long gone but always happy to get another quality story within the genre. Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are best known for their work in the Crime genre (Exciting to see 100 Bullets return in 2026) Their magic does not have to be exclusive to noir as The Blood Brothers Mother brings what works with Westerns. The first thing that comes to mind thinking back at this series was the color choices of Eduardo Risso. Stark yellows and oranges that give you the sense you are inside that desert air. Sometimes the best thing about comics is you can make it look like nearly everything is happening at magic hour. Risso’s linework also creates characters that look like they lived one harsh life. If you are quiet enough I  believe you can hear the Ennio Morricone score echoing within these pages. Besides that it is how brutal this story gets. A revenge story that makes you want to see these characters get what they deserved only to make you regret thinking that was a good idea. So if you are a person who loves the Man with No Name trilogy and wonder where stories like that have gone. Know they still exist and can be found with this series. 

91. Exorcism Island

Writer: Jordan Thomas

Artist: Chris Matthews

Publisher: Comixology

Solicitation: Following a terrifying confrontation Father Gigi Amato is sent to a remote Caribbean island to join a gang of misfit priests tasked with looking after the most long term demonic possession cases by the Vatican.

Why it Made the List: Do I have another favorite creative team? Jordan Thomas has been one of my favorite writers over the last few years. Spoilers for this list but this will not be the only time his name appears. One thing is clear is he knows how to work with great artists that have a style that enhances each story. With Chris Matthews I was a big fan of their Mugshots series as it fit quite well in the hole left but series like Criminal. 

With Exorcism Island they have joined forces yet again for a completely different series. One that exists firmly with the horror genre. Both of these series are test cases for how much color can impact the mood of a comic. If you go back to Mugshots you can see how blue is the dominant color making it cool and sleek in its execution. Exorcism Island however is dominated by orange to represent the hellish reality this book lives in. 

The premise is right in the name as the Catholic church has taken the idea that made Australia into the country it is today, but instead of shipping convicts to an island they are shipping those possessed in hopes a Conclave of priests can cure what ails them. Instead, similar to how kids feed each other’s chaotic energy in the back seat of a car, those demon possessed individuals are making each other more powerful. To be fair this is one of the few times the Catholic church had an idea that did not work out as intended. As long as you exclude the vast majority of human history. 

Jordan Thomas and ‘Chris Matthews sensibilities work just as well with the horror genre as it does noir, and I like how this maintains some levity even when things are are the darkest and most twisted, and boy do they get twisted. 

90. Los Monstruos 

Writer: James Robinson

Artist: Jesús Merino

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics 

Solicitation: The time is the 1950s and the place is a very unique American city. Los Monstruos is entirely populated with classic monsters from movies and folklore. Vampires, Man-Monsters, Werewolves, Mummies, and many other fantastic creatures. Perry Cutter, werewolf P.I., has just foiled a gill-man kidnapping when another case falls into his lap. The case: finding a missing vampiress, seems simple enough, until Perry realizes he must walk a razor’s edge between crime-boss and pyramid casino owner Ramses and the hardboiled team of vampire cops known as the Night Shift. Perry is reminded, yet again, that nothing in this city is simple. Come visit Los Monstruos, a wild, wonderful city full of monsters and mystery.

Why it Made the List: If I were to name my comic book writer of the year I would give it to James Robinson without a moment of hesitation. That is because despite being in this comic book game for literal generations he came out with so many series this year that gave the comic book world something it did not have, or at least has not had in quite a long time. Was it also because I had the chance to speak to him at Baltimore Comic Con and his joy for his current work was so infectious I Could not help myself but to buy in as well? Well, it certainly did not hurt. To once again spoil my own list his name will be turning up again soon enough. 

Two things I am a fan of are the classic Universal Monster stories and the noir genre. Now putting two things you love does not always come out great. Peanut butter and mayonnaise do not have the components that make you want to see them together as one. Chicken wings and pizza though? That’s a match made in heaven.  Los Monstruos is the chicken wing pizza of comics. That’s a pull quote if I have ever heard one. 

Jesús Merino art style and Kike J. Díaz’s colors create a world of shadow and mystery. Exactly what you should have in a Werewolf Private Investor story, and that story is the right level of convoluted where everyone is looking to stab you in the back one way or another. We get a small taste of this world so I would love it if they would return to again one day. I mean who wouldn’t want more Chicken Wing pizza. 

89. Free for All #1

Writer/Artist: Patrick Horvath

Publisher: Oni Press

Solicitation: In the future, the World Finance League exists to benefit all, randomly choosing those from among the billionaires and trillionaires of the world and presenting them with a choice: either donate half of their assets to the common good-or defend them in ritual combat.

Reigning champion and real estate magnate Ted Brooks has 22 victories under his belt-defending the wealth he schemed and stabbed to get-when he is forced to face his ex-wife, Luella Dominguez, in a fight to the death. Luella has been training, waiting for this moment. But will she have what it takes to defeat the man who would do anything-absolutely anything-to keep his fortune?

It’s every shareholder for themselves when death and bankruptcy collide in Free for All #1, a giant-sized, one-shot spectacle of commerce and carnage

Why it Made the List: With Free for All #1 Patrick Horvath had to do something that is difficult for any creator of any artistic medium. That is follow up on a surprise success that came out of nowhere that was also your debut into the medium. So many have not been able to live up with the pressure of a never before seen level of expectations. As you can tell Patrick Horvath clearly was capable, and yes to once again spoil my own list this will not be the last time you hear from him. 

From what I understand Free for All may have existed prior to the release of the much acclaimed Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, but its success helped this comic get published to the larger market. No matter when it was fully created it helps that this one-shot bears little resemblance to his previous work. 

Certainly the cover of a flailed head evokes similar feelings of the serial killer bear but the story itself is much different. Existing in the world of Science Fiction where in the future the riches of the rich are given a choice – either give away half your money or defend them in combat. So yes fiction with a capital ‘F’ based on that concept. 

Besides a different genre this was also a more action based story as we do get that combat the plot promised. I did not know if Horvath could draw well executed exciting action scenes and now I know that is for sure the case. So when you take his talents as a story teller and a work with pointed political commentary you get one of the best works of the year. 

88. Tokyo Alien Bros

Writer/Artist: Keigo Shinzo

Publisher: Viz Media 

Solicitation: Fuyunosuke’s been living the good life in Tokyo. In fact, he’s almost got the whole “being human” thing down. His brother Natsutaro, on the other hand, can’t figure out the first thing about blending in on this strange planet. There’s still a lot they don’t know about humans, but with any luck, Fuyunosuke might just be able to show his bro that life on this little blue ball isn’t so bad after all.

Why it Made the List: I really have no sense of what the general Manga fandom thinks of certain series and do wonder how much my taste matches up with the populous. I could see many not being a fan of this book especially with the in your face way this series opens up. It gives Saga a run for its money when it comes to starting a story with some sexually explicit shocking imagery. I tend to find the phrase ‘creators lightly disguised kink’ to be overused but hard to deny it here. If anything disguised is doing  a lot of work with in that phrase. 

To get past that the reason it is here is because I generally really enjoy this story. It is the classic formula of the fish out of water and all the hijinks that go along with that. In this case though the fishes are aliens and have an even weird infatuation with water. It is also meshed with another classic trope. The one of the outsider finagling their way into a society under false pretenses with the initial goal to destroy it only to fall in love with that world/culture and change their minds about their original mission. Tropes can work when executed well and that’s the case here. You have sharp writing, quality jokes, and characters that go on a believable emotional journey. Add in some intergalactic brotherly conflict and all these familiar pieces just work well together. 

87. It Rhymes With Takei

Writer: Justin Eisinger, George Takei, Steven Scott

Artist: Harmony Becker

Publisher: Top Shelf 

Solicitation: George Takei has shown the world many faces: actor, author, outspoken activist, helmsman of the starship Enterprise, living witness to the internment of Japanese Americans, and king of social media. But until October 27, 2005, there was always one piece missing — one face he did not show the world. There was one very intimate fact about George that he never shared… and it rhymes with Takei.

Now, for the first time ever, George shares the full story of his life in the closet, his decision to come out as gay at the age of 68, and the way that moment transformed everything. Following the phenomenal success of his first graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy, George Takei reunites with the team of Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger, now joined by the award-winning colorist José Villarrubia, for a jaw-dropping new testament. From his earliest childhood crushes and youthful experiments in the rigidly conformist 1950s, to global fame as an actor and the paralyzing fear of exposure, to the watershed moment of speaking his truth and becoming one of the most high-profile gay men on the planet, It Rhymes With Takei presents a sweeping portrait of one iconic American navigating the tides of LGBTQ+ history.

Why it Made the List: In 2019 George Take was one of the writers of They Called Us Enemy which told the story of his childhood growing up in a American concentration camp. While I do not put It Rhymes With Takei on the same level as that book it does show that George Takei has lived quite the life as an actor, activist, and as a person. 

This gets more into his life as a high school and college student, along with his time trying to become a working actor. If you are a Star Trek fan there are some good stories about his time on that show. Not that you need more reasons but it will give you even more respect for someone like Nichelle Nichols. 

As the title would indicate the focal point here though is George Takei coming to terms with his sexuality and figuring out how to live in a world that was not ready to accept him. It is one of those comics that operates as a transparent look at one person’s struggle but also how much progress can occur in one person’s lifetime. However, progress does not go in more direction as it has regressed some in recent years. What these creators did was find away to work against that push back to ensure everyone is free to express who they really are. How It Rhymes With Takei is not just a title but a small act of rebellion. 

86. The Great British Bump-Off: Kill or Be Quilt

Writer: John Allison

Artist: Max Sarin

Publisher: Dark Horse

Solicitation: A new cozy mystery graphic novel from Giant Days’ John Allison and Max Sarin, following up to their hit baking murder mystery The Great British Bump-Off.

When wildcat arson hits her new employer right where she lives, Shauna Wickle is drawn into the brutal and vindictive world of quilting, as sisterhood and community needlecraft deteriorate into internecine strife. With the promise of an end to all her financial worries, Shauna must cross enemy lines and infiltrate a cadre of “monsters in human skin”. But they seem… so nice?

Why it Made the List: John Allison and Max Sarin just make good comics. After Giant Days anything they do together I will check out and have enjoyed books like Wicked Things or the previous The Great British Bump-Off. They have a certain sensibility that is not found often especially when it comes to monthly comics.

I think this improves up the original run even though it does not have much to do with the original set up. The first series of course was inspired by shows like The Great British Baking Show, and this smartly doesn’t try to repeat that idea rather take the same character and place her into an entirely new mystery.

Both series work in large part because of the cartooning of Max Sarin. Their character work is so strong with loud body language and expressive faces that sell that comedy as well as the drama. Also some small inventive tidbits are thrown in like a rising counter of damages when Shauna’s houseboat gets a life of its own.

Is the mystery here so meticulously put together in ways that keep you guessing until the final reveal that blows you mind? Not really. This gives you a similar feeling of watching those shows like Murder She Wrote or Columbo and it’s not ashamed of that fact. The creators here are not trying to act like they are the smartest people in the room. Rather they tell a story about characters you learn to care about within a mystery that keeps you interested. Sometimes the simplest goals are the most effective.

85. The Moon Is Following Us

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson,  Riley Rossmo

Publisher: Image Comics 

Solicitation: When a mysterious force kidnaps their daughter, parents Sam and Duncan must do whatever it takes to bring her home in this heartbreaking and action-packed graphic novel duology.

Sam and Duncan LaMarr love their six-year-old daughter, Penny, more than anything in the whole world. But half a year ago, she was taken by the Cascade, an evil force they barely understand. Now, Sam and Duncan must fight side by side with the magical beings Penny cherished to try and get her back… before she’s gone forever.

Why it Made the List: Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo are two of my favorite artists so getting both of them on the same book was quite the treat. Daniel Warren Johnson drew the real world scenes and Riley Rossmo the dream sequences. Both of their styles are very distinct which gave each setting a very specific feel. 

Daniel Warren Johnson has a tendency to drop an emotional hammer in his series, and I was waiting for that to occur throughout this entire run. We got a couple making you think maybe we were safe and nothing else would occur. Then issue seven comes out, and we get another dark turn that recontextualized everything that came before and after. 

With this story taking place in a dream world; the imagination is something else. You have people riding a monster version of a unicorn with a shark staff and a foxhand…AND that’s just one character. It was crazy, emotionally charged, and kept you on your toes the entire run. My expectations where high going into this run and it is a good feeling when you do not walk away disappointed. 

84. The Exorcism at 1600 Penn 

Writer: Hannah Rose May

Artist: Vanesa R. Del Rey

Publisher: IDW 

Solicitation: The most famous address in the U.S. becomes the center of an epic struggle in this chilling supernatural-horror graphic novel!

Kelly Doyle has just been elected the first female president of the United States of America, and boiling political tension could spill over at any second. Having to balance being a mother to two teenagers and navigating the shifting media landscape, all while preventing World War III, has Kelly spread thin, but she could never predict that the nation’s hallowed halls would soon become a demonic battleground for good versus evil.

Why it Made the List: I wonder what was in the air that made Hannah Rose May and Vanesa R. Del Rey want to do a comic about someone becoming possessed by a demon at the White House? To be fair this does not resemble our reality in any major way and for what I can tell does not try to lightly disguise its characters as real life people. Despite the setting this is not super involved in the politics of today. They are going for something more universal and timeless.  

I long thought Vanesa R. Del Rey was one of today’s best artists when it comes to the horror genre and that just continues to be the case. She’s stepped up her game even more with some incredibly ambitious page layouts with this series. Full page spreads filled with walk and talk scenes that would make Aaron Sorkin proud. Kudos to letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou for helping guide the eye on those sequences. Like many stories about Exorcism there is somewhat of a slow build. What I like about what they are doing is keeping you guessing regarding what is really happening. The characters here are all strong but with understandable flaws.

How can you do something new with an exorcism story? Well, put it in the most important home in perhaps the entire world and suddenly the stakes are majorly raised. 

83. The Night Eaters, Vol. 3: Their Kingdom Come

Writer: Marjorie Liu

Artist: Sana Takeda

Publisher: Abrams

Solicitation: The thrilling conclusion to the critically acclaimed, award-winning Night Eaters trilogy!

What happens when you and your twin accidentally trigger the apocalypse while trying to defend your family from an evil warlock? Well, Milly and Billy are about to find out.

Los Angeles has been decimated by the Ting twins and the hole they’ve accidentally torn in the fabric of the universe. But that’s not all . . . across the world things are . . . changing. The long-separated realities of Earth and the magical world have collided with disastrous results. Milly and Billy are desperate to set things straight, but Keon and Ipo know better—some things can’t be undone. The final war for the fate of our world has begun.

In Their Kingdom Come, the New York Times bestselling creative team Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda return to conclude their epic tale of magic and monsters, demons and demigods, and the capricious, incontrovertible power of luck.

Why it Made the List: There is not a more underrated creative team than Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda. Their series Monsters which has been going for a decade now continues to be great and unlike any other fantasy book on the shelves right now. Not only did we get more of that this year but also the conclusion of The Night Eaters.

I went back and reread the previous volumes since it had been some time since volume two was released. That definitely enhanced the experience of seeing this story come to a close. It was a little strange to be honest as the first volume is so entrenched in the height of the Covid Pandemic it was like revisiting a very different time and place that feels very far away from today yet so close.

This series is a meshing of family drama with supernatural ideas all powered by the beautiful art of Sana Takeda. Not many people can draw the insanity of what happens in this book and make it look as elegantly creepy as it does. With this being the third volume it is a bit hard to explain the plot line without spoiling the first books. I will just say this series centers on a family that appears to be normal but has major connections to the supernatural world. In that world there has been a struggle for power and world dominance. Now that battle reaches its final conclusion.

This graphic novel trilogy progressed quite nicely as the stakes and scope started small and intimate and grew to a worldwide level by the end.

82. The Well

Writer/Artist: Jon Allen

Publisher: Top Shelf 

Solicitation: Cute characters, quarter-life crises, chemical supplements, and corporate catastrophes… Jon Allen’s cult-favorite online comic is now a must-read graphic novel!

Veronika is 24 and tired: of her crummy boyfriend, of living with her parents, of feeling stalled out while everyone else moved on. With a new job coding software for a “wellness” company that makes brain-boosting energy drinks, she finally has a chance to turn things around. At this rate, Veronika may never feel tired again!

But as she gets more comfortable with the office and the people in it, Veronika stumbles upon surprises in the dark that leave her questioning everything she thought she knew about the world… and about herself.

With confident cartooning and expert pacing, writer/artist Jon Allen makes his Top Shelf debut as a must-read storyteller whose anthropomorphic animals feel exquisitely human. The Well combines deadpan dialogue with thrilling plot twists, and its skepticism about techno-utopian promises is matched by its affection for relatable characters. Fans of offbeat slice-of-life stories with a hidden dark side (Bojack Horseman, Severance, The Menu, Get Out) will plunge into these pages and resurface, gasping, at the story’s end.

Why it Made the List: Leave it to dogs to best represent the doldrums of young adulthood. Jon Allen’s The Well is a comic featuring anamorphic dogs that are stuck living human lives. Veronica is 24 trying to live on her own for the first time and dealing with all the problems that come with it. That is including an untrusting boyfriend who is more interested in music than being a responsible adult. She has a job that lacks purpose but pays the bills well enough. However, when Veronika walks down the wrong stairwell she discovers something far more nefarious is going on in their lifeless Office Space. 

Allen’s artwork is deceptively simple like you would see in classic newspaper strips for a more modern age. With the 4:5 aspect ratio and use of the four grid structure feels like a comic ideal of catching up on through Instagram or other social media platforms. That’s not to say it doesn’t read well in physical form. In fact it reads much better being able to see details that may be easier to miss on your phone screen in between all the noise social media brings. 

Despite the fact these characters are dogs that’s never really called attention too. No cheap jokes revolving around that way characters interact outside of a sex scene or two which was extra humorous because after a while you forget these characters are in fact dogs. Then that moment happens and your brain gets reminded regarding what exactly you are reading.

The reason why it’s easy to forget is because Jon Allen has a really natural way of writing dialog. Anyone who has spent time in an office or went out to a bar after a day of mind-numbing work will find plenty to relate to regarding how those situations are approached. There is a good balance here in how the drama is both intriguing while never falling victim to becoming overwrought melodrama. At its heart it is a very human story. 

I was reminded of something like Scott Pilgrim, not in the way the story is executed but how you have this relationship drama that has this more fantastical element in the background that becomes a bigger and bigger part of the story before it takes over. To be honest I didn’t need that part of the story but I got why it was there as it gives a grander mystery beyond where’s everyone sleeping tonight. 

So if you are looking for a breezy read that feels like an adult animated show that’s never been in comic book form Jon Allen’s The Well gives you plenty to enjoy. 

81. Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale

Writer/Artist: Luana Vecchio

Publisher: Image Comics

Solicitation: A twisted new entry in the LOVESICK universe from Russ Manning Award winner LUANA VECCHIO.

Twelve-year-old Madeleine dreads the idea of growing up. She fears becoming like the cruel older girls or facing the contempt of her devoutly religious mother. But most of all, she doesn’t want to become a target for the monsters that are out there, hiding in plain sight. However, a stomach-churning discovery forces Madeleine to confront the harsh reality that growing up isn’t a choice — it’s survival.

Why it Made the List: With Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale created a story that takes place in the early 2000’s but still very much speaks to the online culture we live in today. How kids can become isolated to the point that the only place they feel welcome is with total strangers on the internet. Luana Vecchio is a stellar talent and has full command of this story. Showing how kids can be pushed and pulled into so many different directions it can be impossible to know who you are or what you really want. So when someone offers affirmation, even if that is a faceless entity on the internet, it can lead to an unhealthy addiction that is almost impossible to overcome. 

The story follows Madeleine who has parents that seem to resent her existence, which in turn leads to criticism regarding nearly any decision she can make. Madeleine sees what the world can do to people and does not wish that upon herself. 

Luana Vecchio told quite the tale here this is utterly terrifying but in a different way than most horrors. She places you within the mind of a teenager and you can understand the disconnect from the world around her as it is a series of unrelenting dangers. Despite that though she continues to push forward to spite those who wish her harm. This is Madeleine learning the best way to avoid being a victim of the world around her and finding the power within herself to reject the monsters that wish to hold you down. This is not a story about a victim. This is a story about of refusal.  

80. Surrounded: America’s First School for Black Girls, 1832

Writer: Wilfred Lupano

Artist: Stéphane Fert

Publisher: NBM Publishing

Solicitation: n 1832, in Canterbury, Connecticut, a “charming and picturesque” little school for young girls opens to accommodate around twenty residents.

Educating girls is a bit ridiculous and useless, they think in the area, but harmless enough. Until the day when the “charming school”, led by Prudence Crandall, announces that it will now welcome Black girls….

Thirty years before the abolition of slavery, some fifteen young people in the Crandall school are greeted by a wave of hostility of insane proportion. White America is afraid of some of its children.

The story of this school and its legal legacy for civil rights cannot be understated. Crandall v. State (of Connecticut) was the first full-throated civil rights case in U.S. history. The arguments by attorneys in the Crandall case played a role in two of the most fateful Supreme Court decisions, Dred Scott v. Sandford, and the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education. It catapulted Ms. Crandall into a Civil Rights pioneer.

Why it Made the List: I love when comics can open a door to a part of history I know nothing about and such is the case with this story. Crandall v. State (of Connecticut) was a case I have heard of in the past but never had the context for how it all came about. 

Now this is clearly done in a more narrative sense with that classic tagline of ‘Based on a True story’ rather than being more of a graphic textbook explanation of the event. Clearly that means some fiction gets mixed in with the fact, but also makes for a much more entertaining read. 

Stéphane Fert’s art is a clear indication of that fact with a style that looks like a child’s fairytale come to life.  Fert is quite the storyteller as well as there are a plentiful amount of pages with little to no text. Colors are fantastic as well using a lot of flat colors as well to help complement the simplified style. 

I did get worried this would be yet another White Savior story but it does avoid that trope for a number of reasons. For one it shows that even those with initial good intentions can still hold prejudices they are not even aware of, not to mention that not all events that push society forward are successes. Not to spoil history but just because the law is on your side does not mean society is and this represents that fact quite well. 

79. Pearl

Writer: Sherri L. Smith

Artist: Christine Norrie

Publisher: Scholastic

Solicitation: Amy is a thirteen-year-old Japanese-American girl who lives in Hawaii. When her great-grandmother falls ill, Amy travels to visit family in Hiroshima for the first time. But this is 1941. When the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, it becomes impossible for Amy to return to Hawaii. Conscripted into translating English radio transmissions for the Japanese army, Amy struggles with questions of loyalty and fears about her family amidst rumors of internment camps in America — even as she makes a new best friend and, over the years, Japan starts to feel something like home. Torn between two countries at war, Amy must figure out where her loyalties lie and, in the face of unthinkable tragedy, find hope in the rubble of a changed world.

Why it Made the List: I have read and watched many stories and documentaries regarding World War II and its events but this is the first time I have ever seen this perspective. Amy is a teenage girl living in Hawaii. Her parents born in Japan moved to the States prior to her birth so she was raised there during her adolescents. Wanting to reconnect with the heritage she never really knew she travels to Hiroshima to visit family right before the events of Pearl Harbor that forever change the world and her life. 

Amy finds herself a foreigner in her own land and a citizen of the country Japan was now at war with. Even if she wanted to be an absent participant she doesn’t get the chance as her skills speaking English have her enlisted to help translate radio messages back from the states. Ironically those messages remain her only connection to her home.

It’s a fascinating setup that offers so much to dissect and think about and rightfully it doesn’t provide any specific answers.  The oddity of the situation is presented and the struggle of finding a form of identity in a world where everyone views you as a stranger. 

The title Pearl comes from her heritage as her Grandmother was once a pearl diver who would travel to dangerous depths to find the beauty nature had created. Now she finds herself trapped with a danger not of her own creation searching for something of equal value.

Fitting Chrstine Norrie uses a color palette akin to a shinny pearl with the near exclusive use of light blue and whites to give it that shimmering design. This is a book of limited words so its up to her to give this book life and she does just that. She excels at character emotion especially since so much of the struggles Amy goes through are shown just through her face and quiet moments of contemplation. 

This is published through the Scholastic Graphix line which tends to make books directed towards middle and early high school students.  It informs regarding the state of the world at that time and raises so many challenging questions that do not have any exact answers. It’s a book that yearns for deeper and meaningful discussion and I hope it gets that. 

78. Tales of Paranoia

Writer/Artist: Robert Crumb

Publisher: Fantagraphics

Solicitation: The first R. Crumb comic book in 23 years!

The seminal cartoonist who single-handedly invented the alternative comics format of the one-person anthology in 1967 with ZAP returns at age 81, still raging at the world and himself, still drawing like a master, and still funny… mostly. In his latest comics excursion, Crumb dives down internet and newspaper rabbit-holes, and comes up asking questions. Why don’t we know the real background of deep state careerists? And is Crumb himself just as paranoid as everyone else tells him he is? Or is that just what THEY want you to think?

Mixing memoir, essay, polemic, neurosis, and conspiracy across 12 short comics — including the final Dirty Laundry story, drawn by Crumb with a script written with Aline Kominsky-Crumb before her death in 2022 — Tales Of Paranoia shows there’s still plenty of life in both the artist and the classic underground comics format.

Why it Made the List: As someone who enjoys watching wrestling I am not usually a fan when a wrestler of an advanced age that either comes out of retirement or comes back after time off gets the ‘You still got it’ chant from the crowd.  Mostly because it sounds like a backhanded complement. So let me be hypocritical for a moment because reading through Tales of Paranoia I was, ‘Yea Crumb still got’s it’. 

Now with that being said what Crumb has may not be what everyone wants. Crumb  has faced his criticisms and deservedly so based on his past actions. I understand those who wrote him off and continue to do so, but looking at this comic in a vacuum he still remains one hell of a cartoonist with a voice all his own. 

What I found interesting is the comic book store I bought this from mentioned how much this issue seemed to resonate with their Gen Z and younger clientele. I was a little amazed at, but as I read it I could see why. For one Crumb gets to the impact of Anxiety like few others. He is an open book and is well aware of all those voices that are in our heads regarding all the things that can possibly go wrong at any time. 

On an artistic standpoint his ability with the pen still remains even in his 80’s. This looks just as good as any issue of Zap during its height. Is this comic a lot of an old man yelling at a cloud? Yes. Is some of the commentary heavy-headed? Certainly, but does have some twists along the way as well that show Crumb may be more social ware than you make think. 

To recall another phrase I am not the biggest fan of but, ‘they don’t make them like this anymore’. It is impossible to capture the underground energy of the 60’s in 2025. This gets as close as anyone can get. For those who do not enjoy Crumb’s work I do not seeing this changing you mind in any way. If you are a person who was always curious about his work this is a good window into what he has to offer and may even hit harder since it touches upon issues you will be far more familiar with. 

77. Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums

Writer/Artist: Stan Sakai

Publisher: Dark Horse

Solicitation: The trees within the valley of ten thousand plums are beautiful to behold. But the umeboshi, or pickled plums, made in the local village are renowned for their strong medicinal properties, and a favorite of the Shogun. As a series of deadly events grip the valley with fear, the Shogun’s samurai strongman is immediately suspicious when Usagi, Yukichi, and Gen are found wandering among the prized foliage… can their appearance be a mere coincidence?

Why it Made the List: When in doubt – Usagi Yojimbo. That’s a big comic book motto of mine. What I mean by that is Stan Sakai has been so consistent with his Usagi Yojimbo run now for over forty years it is always something you can rely on. So if I am in the doldrums of comics for some reason I tend to return to Usagi Yojimbo to get me out of that funk. 

What is also great is that we continue to get new Usagi Yojimbo stories each year. This year was another stellar installment that has everything you want from this series. A tale that feels etched in time about the dangers of not helping those in need wrapped within this Samurai adventure. 

I mentioned this nearly every time I talk about Usagi Yojimbo but it is worth repeating. If you are an aspiring comic book creator you need to be reading at least some of Usagi Yojimbo to see the power of getting the fundamentals of storytelling right early and often. Stan Sakai has been telling Usagi stories for forty years all within the same continuity. By normal comic book logic that would mean everything would be far too convoluted for someone new to jump on board, but that is not the case at all. You can start with this series or any other and Sakai will give you just the right amount of context to understand what is happening. Personally I started around issue two hundred and only went back to the original run in the last few years. It is always the perfect time to read Usagi Yojimbo.

76. Uncanny Valley 

Writer: Tony Fleecs

Artist: Dave Wachter

Publisher: Boom! Studios 

Solicitation: The line between reality and cartoons shatters in the thrilling conclusion of the Eisner-nominated series!

Oliver’s connection to the cartoon world runs deeper than he ever imagined — and now, that connection may be the only thing standing between two collapsing realities. As darkness spreads and the rise of The First threatens both worlds, Oliver must harness his strange, storybook powers to save the people he loves and uncover the truth behind his family’s past.

Harvey Award–nominated writer Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs) and acclaimed artist Dave Wachter (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) return for the mind-bending finale of the critically acclaimed, coming-of-age crossover!

Why it Made the List: Uncanny Valley is a good example of the challenge of ranking comics within a year, because if we are talking about the series as a whole it would rank much higher than this. The thing is though only two issues came out in 2025 so it is hard to rank it much higher than this with a more limited output. 

Overall this series taps into two things I rather enjoy – cartoons and comics. After a boy discovers he is part cartoon he gets brought into an entirely new world and becomes the central figure in a War of epic proportions. 

One of my favorite things with this series is how it plays with the language of comics and cartoons. Using those classic tropes of how you can’t fall if you don’t look down or drawing a tunnel on a side of a mountain and magically walking through it as part of the storytelling. Similar to Roger Rabbit we get to see what happens when humans and cartoons interact. 

Unlike Roger Rabbit this doesn’t get to use the licensed characters and you would think it would be a hindrance. Like when you are a kid and your parents don’t want to spend the money on G.I. Joes so you get the generic ‘Soldier Man’ from your local 99 cent store. With Uncanny Valley you don’t have that level of disappointment. For one the characters are so close you know exactly what they are going for or it’s used as an opportunity to do some creative fun things you wish were real like a Kung Fu warrior who transforms into a buggy. 

Have to also give major credit to Dave Wachter who has the hard task of having to mesh two very different styles with the same panels. It looks amazing in how well both these worlds mesh together. I can only imagine the difficulty of trying to bring so many of these different story elements to life and through the combination of talent and imagination they make it work. 

75 – 51

(101 – 76 | 75 – 51 | 50 – 26 | 25 – 1)