BookRank
Where to start

Graphic novels to read

Not sure which graphic novels to read? We ranked 25 of them using 5,703 reader ratings; the average is 8.4/10. 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 graphic novels that many readers rate highly — each one a first volume or a book that stands alone.

  1. MausArt Spiegelman · 1986 · 295 pages9.0/10 · 531 ratings“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.
  2. Gender QueerMaia Kobabe · 2019 · 240 pages8.6/10 · 341 ratings“Gender Queer” is a graphic memoir that makes a long, private search for words about gender and sexuality easy to follow from the outside.
  3. NimonaN.D. Stevenson · 20158.5/10 · 599 ratings“Nimona” is a funny, odd and warm graphic novel pairing an impulsive shapeshifter with a disgraced knight who insists on his code of ethics.

Short reads: under 300 pages

For a weekend or a commute. 14 of the rated graphic novels are this short; these score best.

  1. El DeafoCece Bell · 2014 · 248 pages8.5/10 · 158 ratings
  2. Dog ManDav Pilkey · 2016 · 240 pages8.5/10 · 193 ratingsDog Man · book 1 of 15
  3. V for VendettaAlan Moore · 1988 · 296 pages8.5/10 · 1,044 ratings
  4. Roller GirlVictoria Jamieson · 2014 · 240 pages8.4/10 · 123 ratings

Series worth starting

The first volume of each series, with the full reading order one click away.

  1. Akira, Vol. 1Katsuhiro Ōtomo · 1984 · 362 pages8.5/10 · 213 ratingsAkira · book 1 of 6 · Reading order →
  2. SmileRaina Telgemeier · 20108.4/10 · 281 ratingsSmile · book 1 of 3 · Reading order →

Liked this? Try that

Pairs from our similarity data: the same kind of story, a different author.

If you likedtry
V for VendettaAlan MooreMore like this in “Find a book” →Akira, Vol. 1Katsuhiro Ōtomo · 8.5/10
MausArt SpiegelmanMore like this in “Find a book” →Fun HomeAlison Bechdel · 8.4/10
BlanketsCraig ThompsonMore like this in “Find a book” →PersepolisMarjane Satrapi · 8.4/10
Gender QueerMaia KobabeMore like this in “Find a book” →El DeafoCece Bell · 8.5/10
SmileRaina TelgemeierMore like this in “Find a book” →Roller GirlVictoria Jamieson · 8.4/10

How long are the rated graphic novels?

Under 300 pages14
300–499 pages3
500 pages or more3

20 of 25 rated titles with a known page count. Largest group: under 300 pages.

Narrow it down with “Find a book”

“Find a book” holds 23 graphic novels. Pick a shortcut — the filters are already set:

Graphic novels in a series4Standalone graphic novels19Short graphic novels (under 220 pages)4Graphic novels, mood: thoughtful8Award-winning graphic novels7
All graphic novels in “Find a book” →

Questions readers ask

What graphic novels should I read first?

Maus by Art Spiegelman: 9.0/10 from 531 ratings, and it needs no earlier book. Next on our list: Gender Queer and Nimona.

What is a good graphic novel under 300 pages?

El Deafo (248 pages, 8.5/10) is the highest-rated one under 300 pages.

Which graphic novel 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.

Go further

Other genres: where to start

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