Graphic novel recommendations please

pruningmybush · 2026-04-03T17:05:27+00:00

I'm currently really enjoying Persepolis, and a while ago I read Maus which I thought was brilliant too So I would just love recommendations for other graphic novels? I like quite a variety of books, anything from funny, thought provoking, informative. I think probably the only genre I don't like is horror/thrillers.

FeliciaFancybottom · 18/04/2026 16:00

OotontheRandan · 07/04/2026 13:21

I am also tempted to buy "beneath the trees where nobody sees" by Patrick Horvath. It's about a serial killer bear (i think!) And looks... interesting.

I've read it, it's really good, very dark and bloody.

OP, I loved They Called us Enemy by George Takei, it got me out of a massive reading slump a couple of years ago.

CrossPurposes · 07/04/2026 14:46

I keep remembering titles. If you want to break your heart then Laika by Nick Abadzis about the space dog will do that.

OotontheRandan · 07/04/2026 13:21

I am also tempted to buy "beneath the trees where nobody sees" by Patrick Horvath. It's about a serial killer bear (i think!) And looks... interesting.

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pruningmybush · 07/04/2026 09:13

Kepler22B · 07/04/2026 06:56

I got the Mr Men book. It was good fun. Obviously very short but had enough nods to classic Christie to make it very fun.

Not good ‘value to money’ in some ways but definitely made me smile and I will pick up the others as well at some point when I need a pick me up.

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That's really helpful feedback thank you, it does sound fun 😊

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pruningmybush · 07/04/2026 09:12

Philandbill · 07/04/2026 06:43

If you liked Persepolis then Embroideries, also by Marjane Satrapi, is very good.

Oh I didn't realise she had written another one, thank you

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Kepler22B · 07/04/2026 06:56

pruningmybush · 04/04/2026 10:12

I got this suggestion too! Will you let me know how you find it?
I love Agatha Christie books

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I got the Mr Men book. It was good fun. Obviously very short but had enough nods to classic Christie to make it very fun.

Not good ‘value to money’ in some ways but definitely made me smile and I will pick up the others as well at some point when I need a pick me up.

Philandbill · 07/04/2026 06:43

If you liked Persepolis then Embroideries, also by Marjane Satrapi, is very good.

MrsPringledusts · 04/04/2026 17:03

Le train de by Michel by Jed Falby. It's a true story about an engineer, Michel Hollard, and his espionage in WW2. Really enjoyed it - and it is in English!

QuietlyWonderful · 04/04/2026 15:58

The Grandville series - a set of steampunk detective stories, where the detectives are animals led by Detective-Inspector LeBrock (a badger) and the baddies are low life humans. Great fun!

C8H10N4O2 · 04/04/2026 14:11

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 04/04/2026 09:32

I used to read lots of graphic novels but haven't bought one for years. Watchmen is brilliant-as someone who grew up with superheroes, it was a logical next step.
If you like Pratchett and fantasy, id recommend Bone. It looks like a kid's book(and if you've got young teens it's a good option). But is surprisingly deep.
Alice in Sunderland by Bryan Talbot. Really good non fiction.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. If you like classic fiction it gives alternative backstreet to characters from victorian fiction.
Sadly, the series i would have recommended 15 years ago is Sandman. But Neil Gaiman...

I’d definitely second Jeff Smith’s’ Boneville series. They are a lot of fun as well as often thought provoking. My DC enjoyed these at least as much as I did.

Agree also that the Discworld graphic novels are good as are the Rivers of London graphic versions. I do think on the whole the “written as graphic” work better than graphic adaptations (which would apply to Sandman but as you say…Gaiman).

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pruningmybush · 04/04/2026 10:14

I've ordered Mysteries of the Quantum universe as it piqued my interest and my son is a self proclaimed physics nerd and has got me really interested in the subject

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pruningmybush · 04/04/2026 10:12

Kepler22B · 04/04/2026 09:51

This is turning into an expensive thread.

I also picked up a Mr Men Agatha Christie crossover, which appeared as a suggestion. Not in a similar vein but made me smile.

I got this suggestion too! Will you let me know how you find it?
I love Agatha Christie books

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pruningmybush · 04/04/2026 10:11

Sitwithit · 04/04/2026 10:05

In by Will McPhail is excellent and he's good to follow on Instagram.

Some of these recommendations are available at my local library so I shall look forward to borrowing those.

I love libraries (I worked in one for several years while studying) but mine isn't open at times I can easily get to it (plus I am often, but unpredictably, housebound). So I buy books 2nd hand online and am on a local "book exchange" Facebook page for our village

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Sitwithit · 04/04/2026 10:05

In by Will McPhail is excellent and he's good to follow on Instagram.

Some of these recommendations are available at my local library so I shall look forward to borrowing those.

Che456 · 04/04/2026 09:56

Cassandra Darke by Posy Simmonds

Kepler22B · 04/04/2026 09:51

This is turning into an expensive thread.

I also picked up a Mr Men Agatha Christie crossover, which appeared as a suggestion. Not in a similar vein but made me smile.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 04/04/2026 09:32

I used to read lots of graphic novels but haven't bought one for years. Watchmen is brilliant-as someone who grew up with superheroes, it was a logical next step.
If you like Pratchett and fantasy, id recommend Bone. It looks like a kid's book(and if you've got young teens it's a good option). But is surprisingly deep.
Alice in Sunderland by Bryan Talbot. Really good non fiction.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. If you like classic fiction it gives alternative backstreet to characters from victorian fiction.
Sadly, the series i would have recommended 15 years ago is Sandman. But Neil Gaiman...

BeaAndBen · 04/04/2026 09:11

Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley is great. He's more famous for his Scott Pilgrim books but this is my favourite.

Fables by Bill Willingham is a good series - a refugee community of fairy tale characters hidden in New York after escaping from their Homeland.

OotontheRandan · 04/04/2026 09:04

I loved Maus and Watchmen and just recently bought all 3 volumes of Paper girls in hard back.

Will take a lot of suggestions from this thread too, thank you!

LayaM · 03/04/2026 23:42

Ducks is the best graphic novel I've read. Very powerful.
Guy Delisle's Pyongyang
The Arab of the Future series.
Epileptic
are some other favourites.

CatChant · 03/04/2026 23:35

If you liked Maus look at Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa.

CrossPurposes · 03/04/2026 23:30

Dappy777 · 03/04/2026 22:42

There’s a very good one on the philosopher Bertrand Russell. I think it’s called Logicomix. Sounds dry, but Russell was a fascinating character who led a colourful life. His friendship with Wittgenstein would make a great film.

Oh, that reminds me of Kate Evans book about Rosa Luxemburg and the work that Bryan and Mary Talbot create. So many comics so little time.

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pruningmybush · 03/04/2026 23:07

Dappy777 · 03/04/2026 22:42

There’s a very good one on the philosopher Bertrand Russell. I think it’s called Logicomix. Sounds dry, but Russell was a fascinating character who led a colourful life. His friendship with Wittgenstein would make a great film.

Oh thank you. This sounds interesting! Have bought quite a few new (to me!);books this evening

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Dappy777 · 03/04/2026 22:42

There’s a very good one on the philosopher Bertrand Russell. I think it’s called Logicomix. Sounds dry, but Russell was a fascinating character who led a colourful life. His friendship with Wittgenstein would make a great film.

HowardTJMoon · 03/04/2026 19:13

DoorOpening · 03/04/2026 18:10

Gast by Carol Swain is absolutely gorgeous

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel is brilliant - a must-read!

Fun Home is fantastic