The idea that "comics are something for children and teenagers" is the most absurd stereotype that still exists in our society for some reason. Perhaps this is partly due to film comics and popular works, which really do not often offer anything truly serious. However, among printed products there are enough outstanding works that can significantly change your perception of comics as a medium. So with this text we will try to destroy the stereotype.
In the selection you will find 15 excellent comics, or graphic novels, if you prefer, which demonstrate all the diversity of this amazing art. All works are translated into Ukrainian. We tried to include in the selection mostly graphic novels from only one volume, but there were exceptions.
1984
Release year: 2021
Publisher in Ukrainian: Vivat
Genre: dystopia
Transforming one of the most important novels of the 20th century into a graphic novel, especially as its events increasingly resemble reality, is a near-impossible task, as the power of George Orwell's work lies not only in its plot but also in the oppressive atmosphere of total control that is revealed through its literary style. However, French comic book artist Xavier Coste has mastered this challenge brilliantly. His adaptation of "1984" is not just a retelling, but a visual reinterpretation that finds new ways to convey the horror of a totalitarian society.
Costa's style, using a limited, dirty color palette, perfectly conveys a sense of hopelessness and decline. Each panel is imbued with an atmosphere of paranoia and fear, and the images of the characters, devoid of individuality, are etched in the memory for a long time. Even the colors themselves are used by the author to convey specific ideas or moods. This is a great example of how a graphic novel can complement and re-explore a classic literary work, making it even more accessible and eerily relevant.
300
Release year: 1998
Ukrainian publisher: Varvar Publishing
Genre: historical epic
You may have heard of this story in the Zack Snyder adaptation, but the original source is actually a comic book. Frank Miller created one of the most influential and visually perfect graphic novels. "300" is not a true historical chronicle, but rather a mythological epic about the Battle of Thermopylae, executed in a "widescreen" style unique to comics. Each page of the book is a full-fledged picture, full of energy, fury and heroic pathos.
Miller uses minimal text, letting the visuals speak for themselves. His style is raw, expressive, and incredibly dynamic. Together with colorist Lynn Varley, he creates a palette that conveys the heat of battle and the bleakness of foreboding doom. It’s a monumental work that demonstrates the power of the graphic novel as a medium for creating epic and unforgettable images.
Watchmen
Release years: 1986–1987
Publishing house in Ukrainian: RM
Genre: superheroics, deconstruction
"Watchmen" is the work that many people use to get started with the world of "adult" graphic novels. And for good reason. The collaboration between screenwriter Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins forever changed the way superhero stories could be told. The action takes place in an alternate 1985, where superheroes are a reality and the world is on the brink of nuclear war. After the mysterious murder of one of the former heroes, his colleagues begin their own investigation.
Moore uses the detective story only as an excuse for a deep exploration of the psychology of his characters and a deconstruction of the genre itself. His heroes are not idealized saviors, but traumatized, neurotic and morally ambiguous individuals. Gibbons and Higgins, in turn, have created an incredibly detailed and realistic world. "Watchmen" is a complex, multi-layered masterpiece that can be reread endlessly, each time finding new meanings.
V for Vendetta
Years of release: 1982–1989
Publishing house in Ukrainian: RM
Genre: political thriller, dystopia
Another masterpiece from legendary screenwriter Alan Moore. If "Watchmen" deconstructed the superhero myth, "V for Vendetta" does the same with the idea of revolution and freedom. The action takes place in a dystopian Britain, ruled by a totalitarian regime. A mysterious anarchist in the mask of Guy Fawkes, known as V, begins his war against the system, involving a young girl, Eve, in the fight.
It is a complex, intellectual and philosophical work that explores themes of fascism, anarchy, individual freedom and the price one has to pay for one's ideals. Moore does not give easy answers, forcing the reader to question both the brutality of the regime and the methods of the main character. David Lloyd's drawing, gloomy and realistic, perfectly complements the oppressive atmosphere. This is a work whose relevance only increases over the years.
The 2005 film adaptation, written by the Wachowski sisters, is good in its own right, but differs significantly from the original comic.
The Road
Release year: 2024
Publishing house in Ukrainian: Vydavnytstvo
Genre: post-apocalypse, drama
Cormac McCarthy's novel "The Road" is one of the darkest and most emotionally difficult works of modern literature. Without which, by the way, the game The Last of Us would not exist. Transferring the oppressive atmosphere into a visual format is a task of incredible complexity, but French artist Manu Larsen has coped with it brilliantly. The graphic adaptation, which received McCarthy's personal approval before his death, is an independent work of art.
Larsen uses an almost monochrome palette, with the only bright spots being fire and blood. His style is raw, expressive, almost physically tangible. He is not afraid to show the cruelty of a devastated world, but the main focus remains on the touching relationship between father and son. Each panel is imbued with a sense of cold, hunger, and boundless love, the only source of light in this dead world. This is a difficult, but important and unforgettable work.
From Hell
Release year: 1999
Publisher in Ukrainian: Vovkulaka
Genre: historical thriller, horror
Another monumental work by Alan Moore – he has a lot of them – this time in tandem with artist Eddie Campbell. "From Hell" is a deep and chilling study of the Victorian era, its morality, mysticism and social ulcers, which pretends to be a "simple" detective story about Jack the Ripper. However, Moore rarely has anything "simple". The author offers his own, carefully researched theory about who the killer was and what his true motives were, linking them to a Masonic conspiracy and the royal family.
This is a huge, complex and demanding work for the reader. It is divided into three volumes, but it is better to read them without interruptions in order to perceive the story as best as possible. Campbell's rough, black and white and engraving-like style perfectly conveys the dirt and gloom of the London slums. "From Hell" is not an entertaining thriller, but an intellectual horror that plunges into the darkest corners of human history and psychology. The Ukrainian collector's edition with a huge number of notes and comments is a great opportunity to get acquainted with this masterpiece.
Maus
Years of release: 1980–1991
Publishing house in Ukrainian: Vydavnytstvo
Genre: biography, history
Art Spiegelman's "Maus" is the first of only two graphic novels to win the Pulitzer Prize, and that fact alone is enough to understand its significance. It is a story about the Holocaust, based on the author's father's true memories. Spiegelman uses a unique storytelling style: the Jews in his book are depicted as mice, the Nazis as cats, and the Poles as pigs.
This simple metaphor allows us to tell the unspeakable horrors of war without excessive pathos, but with incredible emotional power. "Maus" is not only a story of survival in concentration camps, but also a complex family drama about the relationship between a father, traumatized by his past, and a son who tries to understand his pain. This is an undisputed classic, a must-read.
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters
Release year: 2017
Publishing house in Ukrainian: Vydavnytstvo
Genre: detective, drama
Emil Ferris' debut graphic novel, which became an instant sensation, is a unique work, stylized as the diary of a 10-year-old girl, Karen, who loves horror movies and imagines herself as a werewolf. She lives in 1960s Chicago and begins her own investigation into the mysterious death of her neighbor, a charming woman who survived the Holocaust.
The novel's main feature is its visual style. The entire book is drawn with ballpoint pens on squared pages, creating the effect of immersion in a child's world. The story combines elements of detective fiction, social drama, and art history, exploring themes of otherness, violence, and art as a way to escape reality.
Persepolis
Release years: 2000–2003
Publishing house in Ukrainian: Vydavnytstvo
Genre: autobiography
Another monumental work in the genre of autobiographical comics, "Persepolis" is the story of Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi about her childhood and adolescence during and after the Islamic Revolution. Through simple, almost schematic black-and-white drawings, Satrapi tells a complex, tragic, and at the same time witty story of growing up in the face of political repression and cultural change.
"Persepolis" shatters stereotypes about Iran, showing it from the inside, through the eyes of an ordinary girl. It is a story about finding oneself, the struggle for freedom, and the gap between Eastern and Western cultures. The simplicity of the visual style only emphasizes the universality and depth of emotions experienced by the heroine. This is a sincere, courageous and incredibly important work that helps to better understand not only another culture, but also yourself.
The Sandman: The Dream Hunters
Release year: 1999
Publishing house in Ukrainian: RM
Genre: fantasy, mythology
The Sandman universe is vast and multi-layered, and at times Neil Gaiman would stray from the main storyline to tell self-contained, intimate stories. Dreamcatcher is perhaps the most refined example of such a story. Based on Japanese mythology, it tells the story of a brave kitsune fox who falls in love with a humble young monk. When she learns that a powerful nobleman has plotted to take the monk's life using dream magic, the kitsune embarks on a perilous journey to the Realm of Dreams to make a deal with Morpheus himself and save her lover.
This work is unique even for Gaiman's multifaceted world. It was originally published in the format of illustrated prose with incredible, watercolor-like dreamlike drawings by the legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano, known for his character and logo designs for the Final Fantasy series. The story was later adapted into a more traditional graphic novel format by artist P. Craig Russell. Regardless of the format, "Dream Chaser" captivates with its poetic language and deep exploration of the theme of self-sacrifice.
The Call of Cthulhu
Release year: 2019
Ukrainian publisher: Varvar Publishing
Genre: horror, picture book
H.P. Lovecraft's work, full of cosmic horror and unspeakable monsters, has always been a challenge for visual interpretation. However, the edition of "The Call of Cthulhu" with illustrations by French artist François Barangé is something unique. This is not a graphic novel in the classic sense, but a full-fledged illustrated book, where the full text of Lovecraft's story is accompanied by large-scale, hyper-realistic paintings.
Barangé, known as a concept artist for films and games, masterfully conveys the feeling of man's insignificance in the face of ancient gods. Each of his illustrations is a complete work of art, immersing you in the atmosphere of madness and inevitable doom. This format, which is significantly different from the traditional comic, offers a different, no less interesting experience of immersion in the world of Lovecraft, where text and images perfectly complement each other.
Death
Release years: 1993–1996
Publishing house in Ukrainian: RM
Genre: fantasy, philosophical drama
Death from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman comic series is one of the most beloved characters in modern pop culture. Instead of a gloomy skeleton with a scythe, Gaiman gave us the image of an optimistic, kind and compassionate goth girl who is not the end, but an integral part of life. This edition collects all of her solo stories under one cover, which is a great opportunity to get to know the character.
The stories collected in this volume are philosophical parables about life, death, loneliness and hope. They are touching, witty and incredibly wise. Gaiman, as always, skillfully combines mythology with the everyday, forcing you to think about eternal questions. And the wonderful works of artists make these stories even more expressive.
Frankenstein
Release year: 2023
Publisher in Ukrainian: Readberry
Genre: horror
Mary Shelley's classic novel has seen countless screen adaptations, but the version by French master Georges Bess deserves special attention. The artist, also known for his amazing adaptation of Dracula, has turned to another pillar of the horror genre, and the result is no less exquisite.
Bess creates incredibly detailed and atmospheric black and white graphics that perfectly capture the gothic spirit of the original. His shading, play of light and shadow, and attention to detail immerse you in the eerie world of Dr. Frankenstein's experiments. The adaptation remains very faithful to Shelley's text, retaining much of the dialogue and philosophical depth of the novel.
Black Hole
Years of release: 1995–2005
Publishing house in Ukrainian: Vydavnytstvo
Genre: body horror, drama
Charles Burns' Black Hole is one of the most important and disturbing works in the history of independent comics. Set in a Seattle suburb in the mid-1970s, a strange sexually transmitted disease is spreading among the local teenagers, causing grotesque physical mutations.
Burns uses body horror as a powerful metaphor to explore teenage fears, sexuality, alienation, and anxieties. His black-and-white, surreal drawings create a unique, waking-dream atmosphere. It's a complex, uncomfortable, yet deeply human coming-of-age story that leaves a lasting impression.
Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation
Release year: 2017
Publishing house in Ukrainian: Vydavnytstvo
Genre: biography, history
Adapting such a tragic and personal document as Anne Frank's diary into a comic book is an extremely delicate task. However, director Ari Folman and artist David Polonsky have handled it with great respect and skill. Their graphic version is not just an illustrated retelling, but an attempt to visualize the girl's inner world, thoughts, fears and dreams.
The authors use a variety of visual styles to convey Anna's moods. Realistic scenes of life in the vault alternate with fantastic, surrealistic plots that reflect her imagination. This allows us to take a new look at a familiar story, making it even more accessible to the younger generation without losing its tragic essence. This is a powerful and important work that proves that the language of the graphic novel is capable of talking about the most complex topics.
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Do you read comics and/or graphic novels? Which ones can you recommend? What do you think about this medium in general? Share your thoughts in the comments!