A graphic novel is a book in comic format. Wikipedia explains that this term was introduced in 1964 by Richard Kyle. In the US, the term refers to individual books: at first only those with new, previously unpublished material, and later also collections of earlier issues. In practice this is a handy clue: in front of you is a story that can be read without any backstory, and that ends in one book or in a few volumes.
Below are eight books that don’t require knowledge of superhero universes. We wrote separately about superhero stories worth starting with in our article on Marvel and DC comics, which also covers Watchmen. Here we’ve collected real-life stories, fantasy, science fiction and family dramas. Data on the books, authors and awards comes from Wikipedia pages checked on October 14, 2026.
Maus
Author: Art Spiegelman. The story was serialized in the magazine “Raw” from 1980 to 1991, and in book form it came out as “Maus I: My Father Bleeds History” (1986) and “Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began” (1991). In the book Spiegelman questions his father Vladek, a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust, and talks about their difficult relationship and his mother’s suicide. Jews are drawn as mice, Germans as cats and Poles as pigs. According to Wikipedia, in 1992 the Pulitzer Prize committee gave a special award in literature to the completed “Maus,” making it the first graphic novel to be honored with a Pulitzer.
For whom: for those ready for a difficult subject told with great restraint.
Persepolis
An autobiographical story about the author’s childhood and youth in Iran and Austria during and after the Islamic Revolution. The original French edition was published by L’Association in four volumes from 2000 to 2003. The English edition came out in two volumes in 2003 and 2004, and in 2007 a combined edition and a film adaptation appeared.
For whom: for those who want to see a big historical story through the eyes of a child who grows up.
Fun Home
A graphic memoir about Alison Bechdel’s childhood in rural Pennsylvania and her complicated relationship with her father, Bruce. Among the themes Wikipedia lists are sexual orientation, gender roles, suicide, emotional abuse and the role of literature in self-discovery. The book won the 2007 Eisner Award for best reality-based work, and according to Time magazine it was the best book of 2006. The musical based on it won the Tony Award for Best Musical.
For whom: for readers interested in family dramas and literary reflection.
Blankets
An autobiographical coming-of-age novel about childhood in an evangelical Christian family, first love and the author’s early adulthood. In 2004 the book received the Eisner Awards (best graphic album and best artist), the Harvey Awards and the Ignatz Awards.
For whom: for those who love quiet, lyrical stories.
American Born Chinese
The author also drew the book himself. It was a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award in the “Young People’s Literature” category and won the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award. Three storylines (a retelling of the legend of the Monkey King, the story of a Chinese-American boy at a mostly white school, and the story of a teenager ashamed of his stereotypical cousin Chin-Kee) come together at the end.
For whom: for older teenagers and adults who like stories about identity.
Saga
The lovers Alana and Marko belong to alien races that have been at war for a long time. They flee from the authorities of both sides of the galactic war and raise their daughter, Hazel. Wikipedia notes that the series has won twelve Eisner Awards, and that the first collection received the Hugo Award in 2013. It also says the series has mature content, and in 2014 it was challenged over nudity, profanity and sexual content.
For whom: for adult readers of space science fiction at the heart of which is a family story.
The Sandman
The series ran from January 1989 to March 1996 and includes 75 issues. The first collection, “Preludes & Nocturnes,” includes issues #1–8. Dream (Morpheus), one of the seven Endless, is held captive by an occultist for decades; when he is freed, he sets out to restore his kingdom and his power. Wikipedia mentions the 1991 World Fantasy Award for issue 19, more than 26 Eisner Awards for the series and its spin-off projects, and the 2016 Hugo Award for a prequel miniseries.
For whom: for fans of fantasy, myths and literary stories.
Bone
Author and artist: Jeff Smith. At first Smith published the series himself; later the publisher Scholastic (imprint Graphix) reissued the collections in color: nine volumes from 2005 to 2009. The original is black and white. Three cousins are forced to leave their hometown and end up in a fantasy valley, where they are drawn into a hero’s journey against rat-like creatures and an ancient evil. Wikipedia mentions ten Eisner Awards and eleven Harvey Awards; a critic for Time called it the best graphic novel for all age groups ever published.
For whom: for family reading and for those who love fairy-tale adventures.
How to choose your first book
| What you feel like | What to pick |
|---|---|
| Real stories and historical memory | Maus, Persepolis |
| Family drama and personal stories | Fun Home, Blankets |
| Identity and humor | American Born Chinese |
| Space science fiction | Saga |
| Fantasy and myths | The Sandman, Bone |
About themes. Maus depicts the Holocaust, Fun Home deals with suicide and emotional abuse, and Saga has mature content according to Wikipedia’s description. If you read with teenagers, read the description first and then decide.
Tip. You don’t have to buy everything at once. For series like Saga or The Sandman, start with the first collection: it will show whether the tone suits you.
And if manga or webtoons interest you more, look at the format in our explainer on manga, manhwa and manhua.
Frequently asked questions
How is a graphic novel different from a regular comic?
Often only by format and the way it is published. According to Wikipedia, the term first referred only to new, previously unpublished stories, and later it was also used for collections of earlier issues. So the line is a matter of convention.
Where should I start if I’ve never read comics?
With a single complete book: Maus, Persepolis, Fun Home or American Born Chinese. They don’t require knowing the backstory or following releases.
Are there graphic novels for children?
Among the books listed, the one closest to family reading is Bone: Wikipedia cites a Time critic’s view of it as the best graphic novel for all age groups, and the author himself said he was not initially aiming at teenagers. For the other books, check the themes and the reader’s age.
Where can I read them?
Publisher and bookstore catalogs change, so we don’t name stores. Look for the edition by title and author in bookstores, libraries and on publishers’ websites.
Sources
- Maus (Wikipedia)
- Persepolis (comics) (Wikipedia)
- Fun Home (Wikipedia)
- Saga (comics) (Wikipedia)
- The Sandman (comic book) (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against live official pages and Wikipedia on October 14, 2026.
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