My Favorite Graphic Novels of 2025

Every year I read a bunch of graphic novels, and these are the ones that I liked best that were published in 2025 (with one exception). I hope that you can check them out!

Favorite Overall Book

Santos Sisters, Volume 1

 Add Archie Comics-style visuals and format, superhero tropes, and a social media sensibility, and you get this book. Immensely entertaining, funny, and surprising!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Fictional Biography

Grommets

Although I was not a West-coaster or a skater, this book set in the mid-1980s was totally in my wheelhouse in terms of my childhood and pop culture references. What sets it apart is its universal coming-of-age story that shows a couple of teens mess up and succeed at life. A riveting read.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Satire of Contemporary Culture

The Toxic Avenger

This book may have been tailor-made for my love of Troma movies, but it extends and expands the original movie and characters in a way that fits our current moment to a T. Gross and engrossing!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Literary Adaptation

Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre

Not so much a strict adaptation, but more like the most unexpected and awesome What If? story, where Jay Gatsby decides to impress Daisy by battling Godzilla. It features a cavalcade of other literary and movie character, too. Undeniably incredible!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Literary Biography

The Novel Life of Jane Austen

I am not the world's biggest Austen fan, but this book is a great riff on her life and works. Educational and entertaining in the best way.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nathan Hale Award for Nonfiction

Bones and Berserkers

It seems weird to give an award a book to the guy it's named after, but in hindsight I did not read a lot of nonfiction graphic novels this year. This one is not all nonfiction, but it has many creepy, gruesome, and gobsmacking true tales that have haunted me since I read it.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Superhero Book for Younger Readers

Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia

I love Silver Age DC Comics madness, and I can think of no better introduction to that weird, wonderful multiverse than this book. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Superhero Book for Older Readers

Absolute Wonder Woman

Believe the hype! This book reinvents the Amazing Amazon in ways that only augment her character while she faces epic and gargantuan menaces.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Ghost Story

Spectators

This book is part epic adventure/part social commentary, about how we are desensitized by social media, what the afterlife might be like, and the apocalypse. The art is amazing, and the plot is entrancing.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Noir Book

Out of Alcatraz

This riff from a true-life tale features beautiful, evocative water colors and taut plotting. It's a unexpectedly moving page-turner.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Book I Read in 2025 that was not published in 2025

Big Jim and the White Boy

This re-imagined version of Huck Finn was published last year, and it is utterly fantastic. It is told across three distinct historical periods, commenting on US history, culture, and literature in moving and insightful ways. I think about this book all the time.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Thank you for reading! Happy New Year! 

The Novel Life of Jane Austen: A Graphic Biography

The Novel Life of Jane Austen is a fascinating and informative look at the life of one of British literature's most enduring authors. Most of her works were published during her short lifetime, though none of them under her name, and she never got the chance to enjoy their eventual popularity. This book makes clear where many of her inspirations came from, with a look at three distinct periods of her life: first when she was aspiring to become an author, second when her family moved to Bath and suffered some financial austerity, and third when they moved to Chawton and had some measure of security. That was when Jane published most of her works, before illness claimed her at age 41.

What I liked most of this book is how well it captures the time period in terms of scenery, dress, and social structures. It also features lively dialogue that draws on Austen's works and displays its own sense of witty wordplay. The artwork is expressive and two-tone (blue and yellow), appropriate for depicting the mannered life of Austen's times. There are a few colorful moments, full of vibrant reds, when Austen's imagination and characters spring from her mind. There is much here for fans of Austen, but it is also very approachable for those unfamiliar with her books. And I appreciated the endnotes that illuminate some of the details of this biography. The Novel Life of Jane Austen is engaging and effervescent.

This book was a collaboration between two experts: writer Janine Barchas and artist Isabel Greenberg. Barchas is Chancellor's Council Centennial Professor in the Book Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, and she has written three scholarly books about Austen. Greenberg is an accomplished graphic novelist who is known for The One Hundred Nights of Hero, The Encyclopedia of Early Earth, and Glass Town. Together, they tell a detailed tale full of allusions to Austen's books and letters and with deft visual pacing and characterization.

All of the reviews I have read praise this book. Wendy Marshall wrote, "This graphic biography is a smart, stylish, and affectionate tribute to one of literature’s giants." Kirkus Reviews noted, "There’s nothing terribly new in this low-key portrait, but the focus on selected episodes gives a nice sense of the texture of Austen’s daily life." Kerrie Davies called it "a delightful reading experience."

The Novel Life of Jane Austen was published by Black Dog & Leventhal and they offer a preview and more information about it here.

Spectators

Spectators uses afterlife and science fiction future tropes to examine our contemporary lives and relationships with sex and violence. It is a wild book to read, one that will stick in my mind for a while to come. The story begins in 2022, when a woman named Val is stood up for a date at a movie theater, watches porn on her phone to pass some time, then gets gunned down by a maniac who is obsessed with a competition called #leaderboard. Her story does not end there however, as she becomes a spirit who haunts the Earth. She is unable to interact or affect any living beings, but there are plenty of other dead folk she can talk to. In an interesting stylistic choice, the living world is depicted in black and white while the ghosts are in full color.

Val spends the next few hundred years roaming around New York City, spying on people having sex (or using their personal masturbatory devices) and going to particularly violent happenings, some pretty popular pursuits among the other ghosts. Eventually, she runs into another ghost named Sam, and the two loners find an affinity with one another and begin to travel together. First they go looking for people engaged in a threesome but later getting drawn up in the increasing escalation of #leaderboard killers that kick off a series of international attacks that may just be the end of times for humanity. Clearly, this tale is an epic one with a grand scope, but it is also a commentary on people's obsessions with sex and violence, particularly in these times when both are digitally accessible within seconds. 

This book is about the end of humanity in the sense of extinction but also in terms of the desensitization that comes with our access to all sorts of experiences with the touch of a button. Sam's history especially brings this notion into focus, as he is old enough to have lived through Teddy Roosevelt's presidency and the early days of motion pictures. These ghosts are the ultimate lurkers, getting to experience people's most intimate and terrible moments, much like many of us can also via the internet and social media. 

None of this grand enterprise/social critique would work if not for the synergy of two superb comics creators, the writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Niko Henrichon. The plotting and characterization are as detailed and vivid as the artwork, which is well suited to grand vistas, dynamic action sequences, and private emotional moments. Both collaborated in the past of the graphic novel Pride of Baghdad, and they originally published Spectators over a two year period as part of their Substack newsletter.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Zack Quaintance wrote about the original newsletter publication (and I feel it still applies to this book version), "With Spectators, Vaughan and Henrichon really thought through what sort of story would be perfect for this format, and delivered a memorable story along with a rewarding reading experience." Rory Wilding wrote that it is "a multi-faceted epic that ranges from sci-fi to the afterlife and an examination of humanity at its most self-destructive and raunchiest." Justin Soderberg called it "a truly spectacular graphic novel."

Spectators was published in collected form by Image Comics, and they offer more information about it here. This book features sex and violence on an intense scale and is intended for mature readers.

Absolute Wonder Woman, Volume 1: The Last Amazon

DC Comics made a big splash last year with the launch of their Absolute series, which feature re-imaginings of some of their most prominent characters. I recently read this first volume of Absolute Wonder Woman, published this year and collecting the first seven issues, and it is fantastic. Here, the Amazon princess's origin is transformed so that she is the last Amazon, brought as a child to Hell by Apollo and left in the care of the witch Circe. From this unlikely start, Diana grows up to become strong and well-versed in magical arts and eventually goes to the surface world. Arriving in Gateway City, she takes on the vanguard of a series of monsters determined to destroy humanity. Armed with her magic lasso and a giant sword, riding a resurrected, skeletal Pegasus, she cuts an impressive figure.

This book depicts her heroism in many different ways, and I love how it comes from a very different place than the original character but still captures the spirit of her strength, valor, and compassion in a fresh and powerful way. The intricate storytelling is perfectly matched by incredible artwork, which depicts the infernal realms, gruesome monsters, and emotional moments with equal finesse and impact. The action and the stakes here are epic, and the artwork amplifies this aspect of the story with its pacing and grad storytelling. Also, I very much enjoyed these versions of WW's supporting cast, such as Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, and Barbara Minerva. I am very excited to see where this series goes from here.

The main creators in this volume are writer Kelly Thompson, artist Hayden Sherman, and colorist Jordie Bellaire, with the last two chapters drawn by guest artist Mattia De Iulis. Thompson has become a comics veteran with impressive runs on Jem, Marvel Comics' Captain Marvel and Hawkeye, and DC Comics' Birds of Prey. Sherman has drawn a wide range of titles from a variety of publishers. Bellaire has won Eisner and Ringo Awards for her coloring work on a number of books. De Iulis has drawn a few books for Marvel Comics and also collaborated with Thompson on the series The Cull from Image Comics. Thompson and Sherman speak about their work on Absolute Wonder Woman in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Tegan O'Neil called it "a miracle of a book." The reviewer at Short Boxes and Slabs wrote, "What works, I believe, is this: the creative team didn’t just pick up the familiar character and tweak a detail — they re-imagined the foundation, then built a story on that new foundation." You can also read a range of reviews of this book at the League of Comic Geeks.

Absolute Wonder Woman, Volume 1 was published by DC Comics, and they offer more information about it here.

Out of Alcatraz

Originally published as a 5-issue series, Out of Alcatraz is a fictional account of what happened to the three men, Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin, who engineered an audacious plan to escape from the penitentiary in 1962. It has largely been believed that all three perished in the treacherous waters of San Francisco Bay, but technically all three are still listed as wanted fugitives by the FBI. This graphic novel could have also been titled Out of the Frying Pan, because every chapter ends with a surprising escalation of their situation. Their quest for freedom is marked by people who try to profit from these outlaws, by getting them to perform forced labor or assassination. It is a wonderfully crafted narrative that ramps up suspense until the very last pages.

The artwork and pacing in this book are exceptional. I liked the use of watercolors to add ambience and tone, and it does a great job of portraying character's emotions as well as emphasizing explosive action sequences. The way that the plot unfolds leads the reader through multiple reveals while providing a good sense of mystery, the hallmark of a great thriller tale. 

I also very much appreciated the drama involving the two investigators, one FBI agent and the other an ex-federal marshal, who are trailing these fugitives. Their love story adds a different dimension to the fugitive narrative, exploring what it meant to try to exist as a homosexual during this time period, with many prohibitions against coming out and being able to live their lives in a free way. This book is not just a great piece of suspense, but also a moving story that will sit with you for a bit.

Out of Alcatraz was a collaboration between writer/producer Christopher Cantwell and artist Tyler Crook. Cantwell has written a number of series for Marvel Comics and also created and produced the TV series Halt and Catch Fire. Crook has drawn many comics series, notably the Eisner Award-nominated Harrow County and The Lonesome Hunters, which he also wrote. Cantwell and Crook speak about their work on Out of Alcatraz in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been glowing. In a starred review from Library Journal Thomas Batten summed up, "Atmospheric, beautifully rendered, and psychologically rich, this is a standout thriller." Justin Munday called it "a phenomenal fictionalized take on a true event." The reviewer at Turn & Work wrote, "The story is taut and compelling, tackling the social prejudices of its time with more nuance and depth than I expected from a five-issue series."

Out of Alcatraz was published by Oni Press, and they offer a preview and more information here. You can also read the entire first chapter of the story here. This book features profanity, violence, and some sexual situations so it is suggested for readers mature enough to handle those things.

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Bones and Berserkers

The 13th book in one of my favorite graphic novel series, Bones and Berserkers changes up the format in that it features a collection of 13 tales rather than one overarching narrative. Still, all the major players are still here, and the range of horrific stories run a gamut of genres. There are folk tales like the Demon Cat, an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "Hop-Frog," the real-life misadventures of pro-golfer Eben Myers with medicinal radium, and the terrible murders and arson at Frank Lloyd Wright's home/studio Taliesin. I felt that in some ways this book was a bit more documentary in places, like history mixed with true crime writing, which worked well.

This book is dedicated to Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell, and it shares a real kinship to their Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. It features some pretty graphic scenes, including a human head stripped bare by cancer treatments, a bunch of men dressed as orangutans who are set on fire, and butts being chopped off of people's bodies, so it is pitched toward an older audience than earlier volumes in the series. Still, there are moments of grim humor that punctuate the proceedings much like the Crypt-Keeper did in Tales From the Crypt. It's not a book for the squeamish, and I found it to be wonderfully gruesome and fun. This book is a treasure trove of horror for fans of both fiction and nonfiction.  

The Jersey Devil!

Bones and Berserkers was made by Nathan Hale (not related to the Revolutionary War spy), a highly accomplished graphic novelist. I love his work so much that I named one of my annual favorites list categories after him. Aside from his great success with this series, he has also published the fictional graphic novels The Mighty Bite,  One Trick Pony and Apocalypse Taco. He has also drawn a few others, including Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack. I learned some more about Hale's work on this book and his upcoming projects in this article.

The reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Kirkus Reviews summed it up, "Not all true, but truly nightmarish." Susan Harari wrote that it would be "perfect for reluctant readers in middle or even high school who are brave enough to handle both fictional and factual horror stories."

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Bones and Berserkers was published by Abrams Fanfare, and they offer more information about it here.

Santos Sisters, Volume 1

This collection gathers the first five issues of the 2025 Eisner Award winner for Best Continuing Series. Santos Sisters is a tough book to categorize, but I think it characterizes some of the best aspects of comics in general. It looks like an Archie comic, features adventures and characters straight out of superhero stories, and is mostly full of clever repartee and relationship talk. This strange amalgamation makes for some very funny and engaging stories, and I have really enjoyed reading this series and revisiting the comics in this version was very rewarding.  

Ambar and Alana are the titular sisters, and one day they discovered a pair of medallions on a beach and were transformed by the mysterious and mystical Madame Sosostris into masked super-beings to defend the fictional town of Las Brisas. That is, when they are not laying about the house, watching silent bee cartoons, and bickering, especially about Ambar's self-absorption or boyfriend Dirk. 

Together they deal with a motley crew of threats such as the saboteur 8Ball, Scope the assassin, Weird A.I. Ankhovic, Kreg the Handsome Barbarian, and Bridgette Spinner (say it out loud). These characters are a vivid and distinctive bunch, and a lot of the fun of this book is seeing just how ridiculous they and their villainous motivations are. The sisters often defeat them more out of personal reasons or irritation than altruism, and as they battle they are often engaged in side conversations about food, relationships, or sex acts. 

And there are lots of comics Easter eggs. Check out those teeth!

They also talk to lots of anthropomorphic animals, including a bunch of jerky forest animals and a know-it-all dolphin. These are some surreal, fun, and smart comics that have a lot going on but also trust the reader to catch onto what's happening without needing much context or backstory. I love the episodic way the tales are structured like classic Archie comics: each one is a celebration of comics, a burst of inventiveness and joy. And much like stones in a mosaic, cumulatively these stories depict a wonderfully realized fictional world.

This book's creators Greg & Fake collaborate between Chicago and Manzanillo, Mexico, respectively. Fake Petre is the writer and Greg the artist, and they also incorporate ideas and input from Graham Smith, Dave Landsberger, and Marc Koprinarov. G&F speak more about their origins and work in this interview. You can learn more about the series at its official website.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been full of praise. D. Morris opined, "It is a book that knows great comedy comes from putting well defined characters into absurd situations." Timothy Callahan wrote, "None of these three- to eight-pagers would feature in a Best American Comics anthology. But as a whole, the accumulation of details and comedic elements and relentlessness work to make this a highly entertaining comic." 

Santos Sisters was published by Fantagraphics, and they offer a preview and more about it here. This book is not for kids. 

Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre

If I were writing an elevator pitch for this book, it'd be "American literature + kaiju +Universal monsters." It 's sort of like a US version of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, only more fun and slightly less horrific. The central conceit is that Godzilla attacked West Egg, and Jay Gatsby amasses all his resources to both repel the beast and impress his lost love Daisy Buchanan. 

The drama!

His G-Force pulls out all the stops to defeat the massive beast and going to the ends of the Earth to bring the fight. Along the way, a number of other prominent literary figures, including Sherlock Holmes, Captain Nemo, Dracula, and Frankenstein's monster join in the fray, some as friends others as foes. The result is some inspired madness. 

What I love about this book is that it portrays so much action and also sets up excellent cliffhangers. Certainly there are a good number of clever scenes and funny moments, but thrilling action is what drives the narrative. Most impressively it does so while also honoring the literary histories of the characters involved, so that the whole enterprise comes off organically. That is no mean trick to pull off, especially toward the end when a myriad number of characters have to be coordinated in an epic final battle royale. This book is a page-turner and the worst thing I can say about it is that it ends too abruptly for my liking. But they say to always leave the audience wanting more, yes?

Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre was the product of Tom Scioli. He is a prolific comics creator who has made his own series such as  Gødland and American Barbarian as well as work-for-hire ones, including Fantastic Four: Grand Design. He has also drawn a number of licensed properties, including Transformers Vs. G.I. Joe and delved into nonfiction with graphic biographies of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. He speaks about his work on Monsterpiece Theatre in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been glowing. Frank Plowright wrote, "A gleeful absurdity prevails throughout yet the strength is evident via a story that would work if given an entirely straight treatment." Kara Dennison called it "a great deal of fun." Zack Quaintance wrote that it "is, simply put, one of the best comics of the year."

Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre was published by IDW, and there is more information about it here.

Grommets

Grommets is a series I read via the Global Comix app on my phone, and it is an engaging and moving coming-of-age story. It was definitely a blast from the past for me, taking me back to the 1980s, skateboarding, and punk rock. Although I only really dipped my toe into the world of skateboarding, because my sense of balance was lacking, I was a big fan of the music in this book and had not a few friends who resembled characters in Grommets. The two main characters, Rick and Brian, live in Sacramento, California in 1984 and are loners who find common bonds in skating and music. Together, they navigate a great number of things, including being latchkey kids, dealing with disappointed parents, dating, getting hassled by jocks, dodging security guards, having illegal parties, and finding places to hang out.

As a person who lived through this era, I felt that the creators got so much of the feel and tone of the time period correct. It does not just throw out token references for the sake of nostalgia but weaves all the technologies, musicians, and politics of the 1980s into an organic whole. The artwork in particular is very well researched and portrays a very 1980s world, full of denim, run-down buildings, skate ramps, convenient stores, and other locales. It meshes realism with a cartoon style, a sort of hybrid of classic MAD artists Mort Drucker or Jack Davis and Tank Girl co-creater Jamie Hewlett. It works very well at capturing characters' emotional states as well as bringing energy and dynamism to the action sequences, especially with the vibrant coloring. 

The artwork well suits the funny, honest, and often brutal aspects of the plot, which does not sugar coat any of the rough stuff that come with being a social outlier, physical and emotional violence from peers, and fallout from family who might not see things the same way you do. I read the book as a series, and the wait for the final issue was a struggle because of the cliffhanger, I am not going to lie. It was a very gripping and emotional read for me, with very strong character work, and I found myself very concerned for Rick and Brian's well being. 

Grommets was created by writers Brian Posehn and Rick Remender, artist Brett Parson, and colorist Moreno Dinisio. Posehn is a stand-up comedian and actor who also has a bunch of writer credits for the Marvel character Deadpool. Remender is a comic book writer and television producer known for his work at Marvel as well as his original series Fear Agent, Black Science, and Deadly Class. Parson has drawn a number of Tank Girl comics as well as worked for a number of publishers. Dinisio is an artist and colorist for a wide range of comic books. 

I have read a number of online reviews about this series, and they were all celebratory. Javier Reyes called it "a love letter to 80s skater culture and punk rock." Publishers Weekly wrote, "This sweet and raunchy slice of life spikes its 1980s California skate-punk nostalgia with brutal face-plants, hard-won lessons, and bursts of violence."

Grommets was published by Image Comics, and they offer a preview and more information about it here. I recommend this book for readers mature enough to handle the drinking, language, and mature situations that these kids deal with. The first issue/chapter is available to read for free here. 

Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia

When I was a kid, I could buy comic books at lots of places, including supermarkets, pharmacies, flea markets, department stores, and convenient stores. One memorable acquisition for me was Ambush Bug #3 that I got at the Cumberland Farms by my house. I was 12, and it contained a comedic mini-history of the DC Comics universe, including lots of Silver Age madness and strange things like Glop, Egg Fu, Itty, Mopee, and Julius Schwartz. A lot of what I read was unfamiliar but it fired me up to learn more about these fantastical and arcane cast of characters. 

This slice of history is a prologue to why I think Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia might also be a sort of gateway book. My first impression after reading it was to question its audience. I loved the book, but it's full of references that I get because I've read comic books for a very long time. I am all in for a dance battle between the Legion of Superheroes and the Legion of Substitute Heroes. I grin at appearances of Space Cabbie, Blue Devil, Mr. Mind, and Ultra the Ultra-Alien. I know the rules about engaging with Mister Mxyzptlk. And I think it's clever that Toyboy's robot minions have heads shaped like the Hall of Doom. And I feel these things might be lost on younger readers in ordinary circumstances, but the structure of this book has a layer of informational assistance in the form of mini-encyclopedia entries like this one:

Many of the obscure references get explained in quick fashion in a way that does not detract from the story. This book is as much an updated version of Who's Who for a new generation as it is its own adventure. The result is a fun romp through the DC Universe with a wonderful mix of the familiar and new. 

The main narrative is a sort of version of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, with Jimmy Olsen playing the Ford Prefect role. His presence is in a different appearance, as a black teen and not the original freckled faced, red-headed white boy, but the bones of his existence are still based on his many Silver Age shenanigans. When he is tasked with creating and propagating the Supercyclopedia by the New Gods, he gets some unwanted attention from the villainous Toyboy, who steals it and corrupts it into evil. And Jimmy is well suited to solving the problem by relying on his teen pals Rip Hunter and Linda Park and not simply calling in the Big Blue Boy Scout. 

The artwork conveys action as well as many fun moments, and it is jam-packed with Easter eggs for attentive readers. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I hope that it might attract some newer, younger attention to this vibrant cast of characters. From its cover paying homage to Flash #163 to its conclusion, this book is a love letter to the weird and wonderful DC Multiverse.

The Supercyclopedia is a collaboration between writer Gabe Soria and artist Sandy Jarrell. Soria writes all sorts of things, including books, comics, role-playing games, and album liner notes. He is the creator of the Sword & Backpack RPG, the Midnight Arcade series, and has also co-written the graphic novel Life Sucks. Jarrell has drawn lots of comics, including Meteor Men, Batman 66, and The Legendary Lynx.

I was not able to find many reviews of it online, but the one I did read was a rave: J. Caleb Mozzocco liked the book so much, he actually bought a physical copy (He works in a library so that is a big deal!). He also wrote, "If you're a DC Comics fan, or are just curious about the publisher, it's a real love letter to the company, its creators and its universe, filled with appearances of many less-seen characters (Warlord, Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew, Angel and The Ape) and intriguing reinventions of a handful of characters (Cain and Abel as TV horror hosts, Doc Magnus as a kid with action figure-sized Metal Men)."

Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia was published by DC Comics, and they offer more info about it here.

The Toxic Avenger

When I was growing up, there was a theater right next door to my dad's pizzeria, and I saw many a movie there. One of my formative experiences was watching the original Toxic Avenger movie, which warped my prepubescent brain with all its gore, violence, and "special effects." It led me to other films from Troma, and probably deranged me (in what I feel are mostly positive ways). I was not as big a fan of the 1990s cartoon revival of the franchise, though I was glad for the popularity and profits for the upstart parent company. A re-imagined version of the monster hero starring Peter Dinklage will debut in theaters this year, but before it arrived there was this five-issue comic book series collected here. 

This version of the Toxic Avenger operates independently of any of the movies, and new readers really do not need to know anything about them. Here, Tromaville, NJ is beset by a huge environmental disaster, and aliens and/or a shady corporation may or not be involved (I'm not going to spoil it). The entire area is quarantined, and a good number of the populace are exposed to something that radically transforms them into monstrous beings. Furthermore, there is a huge amount of misinformation coming from the government over both traditional and social media that obscures what is really happening. 

As you can see from this excerpt, this book follows the exploits of Melvin, once a scrawny weakling but now a strapping, grotesque hulk. Over the course of the narrative, he has to deal with physical battles from his former bullies who are also now monstrous, as well as the ethical dilemma of possibly becoming the public face of the huge cover-up fabricated to lie to the public about what happened in Tromaville. Among all of this action, horror, and intrigue, there is also a good dose of ridicule aimed at public and business institutions as well as some good old fashioned physical humor. I found this book highly entertaining, and luckily for those reading this trade paperback, they don't have to wait a month to see what happens in each subsequent chapter.

This book is the product of writer Matt Bors and artists Fred Harper and Lee Loughridge. Bors is a long time political cartoonist who also founded and edited The Nib. He has won multiple Eisner Awards and also writes the Justice Warriors series. Harper has a huge list of past clients, both comics and corporate. Loughridge is one of the most in-demand colorists in contemporary comic books. You can read more about these Toxic Avenger comics in this interview.

The reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Steven W. Alloway called it " weird, funny, sarcastic, satirical, sometimes violent, often gross, extremely campy, but ultimately good-hearted." Chris Coplan, who is a long-time Toxie fan like me, wrote that it "isn’t just a damn good comic, but it very much exceeds my kooky, totally awkward expectations."

The Toxic Avenger was published by Ahoy Comics, and they provide more information about it here. This book features body horror, gore, violence, and profanity, so I suggest it for readers mature enough to deal with those things.

And for those are enjoy this book, good news: there is more on the way.