The Best Graphic Novels And Comics Books of 2020 (A Year-End List Aggregation)
“What are the best Graphic Novels And Comics books released in 2020?” We looked at 93 of the top Graphic Novels And Comics books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!
The top 16 books, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Graphic Novels And Comics” book lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 75+ titles, as well as the sources we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.
Our other Best Of 2020 Articles:
- The Best Art, Photography, And Coffee Table Books
- The Best AudioBooks
- The Best Biography And Memoir Books
- The Best Graphic Novels And Comics
- The Best Cookbooks
- The Best Fiction Books
- The Best Books (All Catergories)
- The Best History Books
- The Best Kids, Children, and Youth Books
- The Best Mystery, Horror, and Thriller Books
- The Best Nonfiction Books
- The Best Poetry Books
- The Best Science And Nature Books
- The Best Science Fiction And Fantasy Books
- The Best Young Adult Books
Previous Years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
All titles have been added to a Bookshop list as well!
Happy Scrolling!
Top 16 Best Graphic Novels And Comics Books From 2020
16.) A Map to the Sun written bySloane Leong
Lists It Appears On:
- Washington Post
- Chicago Public Library
A Map to the Sun is a gripping YA graphic novel about five principle players in a struggling girls’ basketball team. One summer day, Ren meets Luna at a beachside basketball court and a friendship is born. But when Luna moves to back to Oahu, Ren’s messages to her friend go unanswered. Years go by.
15.) Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir written byRobin Ha
Lists It Appears On:
- Washington Post
- NPR
Harvey Award Nominee, Best Children or Young Adult Book A powerful and moving teen graphic novel memoir about immigration, belonging, and how arts can save a life–perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and Hey, Kiddo. For as long as she can remember, it’s been Robin and her mom against the world
14.) Apsara Engine written byBishakh Som. Illus. by the author
Lists It Appears On:
- NPR
- Booklist
By turns fantastical and familiar, this graphic short story collection is immersed in questions of gender, the body, and existential conformity. The eight delightfully eerie stories in Apsara Engine are a subtle intervention into everyday reality. A woman drowns herself in a past affair, a tourist c
13.) Check, Please: Sticks & Scones written byNgozi Ukazu
Lists It Appears On:
- Book Riot
- Goodreads
A collection of the second half of the mega-popular webcomic series of the same name, Check, Please!: Sticks and Scones is the last in Ngozi Ukazu’s hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life.Eric Bitt
12.) Dancing After TEN written byVivian Chong and Georgia Webber
Lists It Appears On:
- NPR
- Library Journal
11.) Dragon Hoops written byGene Luen Yang
Lists It Appears On:
- Washington Post
- Chicago Public Library
In his latest graphic novel, Dragon Hoops, New York Times bestselling author Gene Luen Yang turns the spotlight on his life, his family, and the high school where he teaches. Gene understands stories–comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins. But Gene d
10.) Flamer written byMike Curato
Lists It Appears On:
- NPR
- Chicago Public Library
Award-winning author and artist Mike Curato draws on his own experiences in Flamer, his debut graphic novel, telling a difficult story with humor, compassion, and love. This book will save lives. –Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of National Book Award Finalist Hey, Kiddo I know I’m not gay. Gay boys l
9.) Heartstopper: Volume Three (Heartstopper, #3) written byAlice Oseman
Lists It Appears On:
- Chicago Public Library
- Goodreads
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. A sweet and charming coming-of-age story that explores friendship, love, and coming out. This edition features beautiful two-color artwork. Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and
8.) Paying the Land written byJoe Sacco
Lists It Appears On:
- Publishers Weekly
- The Guardian
From the “heir to R. Crumb and Art Spiegelman” (Economist), a masterful work of comics journalism about indigenous North America, resource extraction, and our debt to the natural world The Dene have lived in the vast Mackenzie River Valley since time immemorial, by their account. To the Dene, the la
7.) The Times I Knew I Was Gay written byEleanor Crewes
Lists It Appears On:
- Goodreads
- Washington Post
A charming, highly relatable graphic memoir that follows one young woman’s adventures in coming out and coming of age. Ellie always had questions about who she was and how she fit in. As a girl, she wore black, obsessed over Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and found dating boys much more confusi
6.) When Stars Are Scattered written byVictoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Lists It Appears On:
- NPR
- Washington Post
Heartbreak and hope exist together in this remarkable graphic novel about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl. Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is ha
5.) You Brought Me the Ocean written byAlex Sanchez Julie Maroh (Illustrator)
Lists It Appears On:
- Washington Post
- Chicago Public Library
The voices that shaped LGBTQ Young Adult literature, Lambda Award-Winning author Alex Sanchez (Rainbow Boys) and New York Times bestselling illustrator Julie Maroh (Blue Is the Warmest Color), present a new coming-out romance and origin story for Aqualad. Jake Hyde doesn’t swim–not since his father
4.) Sports Is Hell written byBen Passmore
Lists It Appears On:
- NYPL
- NPR
- Library Journal
After her city wins the Super Bowl for the first time, Tea is separated from her friend during a riot and joins a small clique fighting its way through armed groups of football fanatics to met a star receiver that just might end the civil war or become the city’s new oppressive leader.
3.) Year of the Rabbit written byTian Veasna. Illus. by the author. Tr. by Helge Dascher
Lists It Appears On:
- NPR
- NYPL
- Booklist
One family’s quest to survive the devastation of the Khmer Rouge Striking and moving… The comics form allows readers to] understand through chronological progression and a close view how horror can become the stuff of the everyday.–The New York Times Year of the Rabbit tells the true story of one
2.) Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio written byDerf Backderf
Lists It Appears On:
- Publishers Weekly
- Washington Post
- NYPL
- NPR
- Library Journal
From Derf Backderf, the bestselling author of My Friend Dahmer, comes the tragic and unforgettable story of the Kent State shootings On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard gunned down unarmed college students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University. In a deadly barrage of 67 shots, 4 s
1.) The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist written byAdrian Tomine
Lists It Appears On:
- Publishers Weekly
- Washington Post
- NYPL
- The Guardian
- Library Journal
A comedic memoir about fandom, fame, and other embarrassments from the life of a New York Times bestseller What happens when a childhood hobby grows into a lifelong career? The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist, Adrian Tomine’s funniest and most revealing foray into autobiography, offers an
The 75+ Additional Best Graphic Novels And Comics Books Released In 2020
# | Book | Author | Lists |
17 | A Man & His Cat | Umi Sakurai | Chicago Public Library |
18 | Altitude | Oliver Bocquet Jean-Marc Rochette | The Guardian |
19 | Banned Book Club | Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada | NPR |
20 | Basketful of Heads | Joe Hill | Goodreads |
21 | Becoming Brianna | Terri Libenson | Washington Post |
22 | Big Black: Stand at Attica | Jared Reinmuth Frank Big Black Smith Ameziane (Illustrator) & 1 more | NYPL |
23 | Bix | Scott Chantler. Illus. by the author | Booklist |
24 | BL Metamorphosis | Kaori Tsurutani | Chicago Public Library |
25 | Black Heroes Of The Wild West | James Otis Smith | NPR |
26 | Blackwood | Michael Farris Smith | The Guardian |
27 | Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns & Moonage Dreams | Michael Allred Laura Allred (Illustrator) Neil Gaiman (Foreword by) & 1 more | Washington Post |
28 | Cat Kid | Dav Pilkey | Washington Post |
29 | Chasin’ the Bird: Charlie Parker in California | Dave Chisholm | Washington Post |
30 | Class Act | Jerry Craft | Washington Post |
31 | Come Home, Indio: A Memoir | Jim Terry | Publishers Weekly |
32 | Constitution Illustrated | R. Sikoryak | Washington Post |
33 | Dancing at the Pity Party | Tyler Feder | Chicago Public Library |
34 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End | Jeff Kinney Ramon de Campo (Narrated by) | Washington Post |
35 | Displacement | Kiku Hughes | Chicago Public Library |
36 | Dog Man | Dav Pilkey | Washington Post |
37 | Dragman | Steven Appleby | The Guardian |
38 | Drawing the Vote | Tommy Jenkins Kati Lacker (Illustrator) Martha Jones (Introduction by) & 1 more | Washington Post |
39 | Familiar Face | Michael DeForge | Book Riot |
40 | Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga | Sam Maggs | Goodreads |
41 | Fangs | Sarah Andersen | Goodreads |
42 | Fantastic Four: Grand Design | Tom Scioli | NPR |
43 | Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Graphic Novel | Cynthia Levinson Sanford Levinson Ally Shwed (Illustrator) & 1 more | Washington Post |
44 | Flake | Matthew Dooley | The Guardian |
45 | Glass Town: The Imaginary World Of The Brontës | Isabel Greenberg | NPR |
46 | Go With The Flow | Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann | NPR |
47 | Grass | Keum Suk Gendry-Kim. Illus. by the author. Tr. by Janet Hong | Booklist |
48 | Harleen | Stjepan Šejić | Goodreads |
49 | How Do We Relationship? | Tamifull | Chicago Public Library |
50 | I Had That Same Dream Again | Yoru Sumino | Chicago Public Library |
51 | I Know You Rider: A Memoir | Leslie Stein | Publishers Weekly |
52 | I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf | Grant Snider | Goodreads |
53 | Inappropriate | VI Keeland | Library Journal |
54 | Into the Trumpverse | Ruben Bolling | Washington Post |
55 | J + K | John Pham | The Guardian |
56 | Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics | Tom Scioli | Library Journal |
57 | Leaving Richard’s Valley | Michael DeForge. Illus. by the author | Booklist |
58 | Lewser! | G. B. Trudeau | Washington Post |
59 | Life in the Stupidverse | Tom Tomorrow | Washington Post |
60 | Little Lulu: Working Girl | John Stanley. Illus. by the author | Booklist |
61 | Long Way Down | Jason Reynolds | Washington Post |
62 | Making Comics | Lynda Barry. Illus. by the author | Booklist |
63 | Moms | Yeong-shin Ma | NPR |
64 | Moonbound: Apollo 11 and the Dream of Spaceflight | Jonathan Fetter-Vorm. Illus. by the author | Booklist |
65 | My Friend Dahmer | Derf Backderf | Washington Post |
66 | Nat Enough | Maria Scrivan | Washington Post |
67 | New Kid | Jerry Craft | Washington Post |
68 | Notes On A Case Of Melancholia: Or, A Little Death | Nicholas Gurewitch | NPR |
69 | Pulp | Ed Brubaker Sean Phillips (Artist) Jacob Phillips (Artist) & 1 more | Library Journal |
70 | Saint Young Men Vol. 2 | Hikaru Nakamura | Book Riot |
71 | Sapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind (Vol. 1) | Yuval Noah Harari | Goodreads |
72 | Slaughter House-Five | Ryan North & Kurt Vonnegut | Library Journal |
73 | Snapdragon | Kat Leyh | Book Riot |
74 | Solutions And Other Problems | Allie Brosh | NPR |
75 | Spy X Family | Tatsuya Endo | Chicago Public Library |
76 | Summer Spirit | Elizabeth Holleville | The Guardian |
77 | Superman Smashes the Klan | Gene Luen Yang Gurihiru (Illustrator) | Washington Post |
78 | Teen Titans: Beast Boy | Kami Garcia | Goodreads |
79 | The Dark Matter of Mona Starr | Laura Lee Gulledge | Chicago Public Library |
80 | The Daughters Of Ys | M.T. Anderson | NPR |
81 | The Fire Never Goes Out | Noelle Stevenson | Washington Post |
82 | The Low, Low Woods | Carmen Maria Machado | NYPL |
83 | The Magic Fish | Trung Le Nguyen | Washington Post |
84 | The Phantom Twin | Lisa Brown | Washington Post |
85 | The Plain Janes | Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg | NPR |
86 | The Sacrifice of Darkness | Roxane Gay & Tracy Lynne Oliver | NYPL |
87 | The Wolf of Baghdad | The Guardian | |
88 | They Called Us Enemy | George Takei and others. Illus. by Harmony Becker | Booklist |
89 | Twins | Varian Johnson | NPR |
90 | Two Dead | Van Jensen and Nate Powell. Illus. by Nate Powell | Booklist |
91 | Welcome to the New World | Jake Halpern Michael Sloan (Illustrator) | The Guardian |
92 | Wendy, Master of Art | Walter Scott | The Guardian |
93 | Wonder Woman: Dead Earth | Daniel Warren Johnson with Mike Spicer | NPR |
10 Best Graphic Novels And Comics Book Sources/Lists
Source | Article |
Book Riot | Best Books of 2020 (So Far) |
Booklist | Top 10 Graphic Novels: 2020 |
Chicago Public Library | Best Teen Graphic Novels and Manga of 2020 |
Goodreads | Best Graphic Novels & Comics |
Library Journal | Best Graphic Novels of 2020 |
NPR | NPR’s Book Concierge |
NYPL | Best Books for Adults 2020 |
Publishers Weekly | Best Comics |
The Guardian | Graphic novels |
Washington Post | 2020 graphic novels and comic books: Five trends that defined the year |