My 2024 Graphic Novel Recommendations

Because I love drawing and good stories, I’m drawn to graphic novels. I appreciate the various styles of visual storytelling. And I love that they can be totally imaginative and out of this world, or depict real life stories.

I’ve been reading graphic novels for years, though last year was my most prolific. For the most part, everything I read was great. So I have a large list of recommendations.

(Links at the end.)

Graphic Nonfiction

Graphic nonfiction blends the visual storytelling of comics with real-life events, memoir, or reportage. Through a combination of illustration and narrative, it can bring complex topics—like history, politics, and personal identity—to life in a way that’s both accessible and emotionally resonant.

What I love about these books is they don’t just explain or recount events—they show them, often through deeply personal perspectives that stay with you long after you finish. For me, they’re a powerful way to learn, connect, and understand the world a little better.

There are lots of great options in this genre, including The Faithful Spy (Hitler’s Germany), Palestine, Safe Area Gorazde (Bosnia), and Such a Lovely Little War (Vietnam), The Arab of the Future (Syria in the 80s), and This Country (rural Idaho).

Joe Sacco’s work is a standout for his graphic journalism covering Palestine and Bosnia. Also, I highly recommend The Arab of the Future, which is a series of books about a boy growing up with a French mother and Syrian father, mostly living in Syria.

If you grew up in the 80s, love Star Wars and watched He-Man, and want to understand how your nostalgia may have been fabricated, check out The He-Man Effect. It highlights the power of marketing and the influence of politics on shaping culture and buying habits.

Side note: Though not related at all, This Country and The He-Man Effect both referred to the political slogan first used by Ronald Reagan during his 1980 presidential campaign: “Let’s make America great again.” I wasn’t aware.

Science Fiction / Fantasy

When I saw the movie version of V for Vendetta when it came out a while back, I didn’t know it was based on a graphic novel. Based on a dystopian version of the UK, this fantasy rebellion story written 40 years ago feels a little too like the present, but is fun because it’s not real.

Further from reality—though still full of political themes—I’ve found the Monstress series a great escape. Set in a matriarchal world with monsters and talking cats, the relationships, conflict, and fantastical worlds are deeply engaging—and the illustration is amazing!

Shubeik Lubeik is a fantasy story based in Cairo where wishes can be bought and sold (and come in different levels of quality). While the concept is wild, how it plays out within cultural constraints makes for a great read.

During a recent trip to Helsinki, I found myself surrounded by Moomin paraphernalia. While I had seen Moomin books and merchandise at times during travel, I had no connection to it. So I decided to read up on the origin story. I read the first book, The Moomins and the Great Flood, a little tale where Moominmamma and her child search for Moominpappa through a dark, flooded forest. Tove Jansson created the characters during World War II, and envisioned the Moomins as a way to provide a sense of hope and comfort amidst a dark and uncertain time.

Ratings, If I Must

While I recommend them all, if I had to rank them, here’s the rating.