Comics to read
Not sure which comics to read? We ranked 20 of them using 6,681 reader ratings; the average is 8.5/10. Below: three books to start with, then short reads and series starts.
If you read only one, make it Maus by Art Spiegelman (9.0/10). If you prefer a series: Akira starts with Akira, Vol. 1.
Start here
Three comics that many readers rate highly — each one a first volume or a book that stands alone.
Maus“Maus” tells a Holocaust survivor’s story as a comic of mice and cats, and the distance of drawing makes the horror clearer, not milder.
Short reads: under 300 pages
For a weekend or a commute. 13 of the rated comics are this short; these score best.
Series worth starting
The first volume of each series, with the full reading order one click away.
Liked this? Try that
Pairs from our similarity data: the same kind of story, a different author.
| If you liked | try |
|---|---|
| V for VendettaMore like this in “Find a book” → | Akira, Vol. 1 |
| MausMore like this in “Find a book” → | Fun Home |
| Fun HomeMore like this in “Find a book” → | El Deafo |
How long are the rated comics?
17 of 20 rated titles with a known page count. Largest group: under 300 pages.
Narrow it down with “Find a book”
“Find a book” holds 18 comics. Pick a shortcut — the filters are already set:
Questions readers ask
What comics should I read first?
Maus by Art Spiegelman: 9.0/10 from 531 ratings, and it needs no earlier book. Next on our list: The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes and Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art.
What is a good comic under 300 pages?
Yukon Ho! (126 pages, 8.7/10) is the highest-rated one under 300 pages.
Which comic series should I start?
Akira: begin with Akira, Vol. 1, the first of 6 books. The reading order page lists every volume.
How are these books chosen?
Only books with enough reader ratings to be ranked (at least 50) are picked. The score is a weighted average across independent rating sources, pulled toward the category average when ratings are few.