This is going to be a list of six comics I would recommend to someone if I didn't know anything about them and my life depended on them liking at least one of them. Thus, it's not a list of my favorites but of the ones I think will be liked by the largest number of people. Because of this, each pick belongs to a specific genre or subset of science fiction (more or less). You can check the previous list I've done with this format by clicking here.
I also try to avoid repeating titles when I do lists like these, which is the reason behind the absence of fantastic comics like On a Sunbeam, Nausicaä of the valley of the wind or The Eternaut (all three of which I highly recommend).
Finally, I’d like to note that I have read every comic that is featured, at least to its current publication.
First, some honorable mentions:
Soft City by Hariton Pushwagner.
Almost wordless and spanning some 150 pages, Soft City tells the story of a world that is controlled by a huge mega-corporation and the lives of everyone are mapped to the second, leaving no free will, no real characters within its pages. It’s, at its core, a classic science fiction dystopia much like Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 or Orwell’s 1984.
Saga by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples.
One of, if not the, most popular comic series of the past decades, Vaughn and Staples’ sci-fantasy epic follows Marko and Alana, a star-crossed couple a la Romeo and Juliet and their daughter Hazel as they try to survive the dangers and misfortunes the universe throws at them. With lots of sex and plenty of violence, it’s an emotional and engaging read. That said, the art is not that impressive and the story is only halfway done (on hiatus since 2018), so keep that in mind.
Patience by Daniel Clowes.
Weird AF would be one way to put it. Clowes’ take on the science fiction genre is definitely more Clowes than it is sci-fi, but, nevertheless, a comic worth experiencing. The basic setup is a man going back in time to find his wife’s murderer and, as you might have guessed, things get real weird. It also makes excellent use of the authors trademark art style with really vibrant colors. A great pick for anyone looking for something different.
My picks:
The Ballad of Halo Jones by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson.
Regarded by many as one of the author’s greats and a fantastic tale of feminism and space exploration, it took me a lot to really get into the story, mainly due to Gibson’s art being quite outside my taste. I did, as I read further in, got to appreciate his style, though I was never fully convinced. Still, I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a different science fiction story, with a larger focus on character and with an everyday-person at its center.
Pluto by Naoki Urasawa, based on a story by Tezuka.
Pluto mixes an almost-Disney-like atmosphere of techno-positivism with great horror twists and a fantastically-executed sense of dread. This is mainly due to the attitude of our main character, detective Gesicht, whose melancholic attitude lead me to expect the worst. Despite its minor flaws, mainly the mystery and the rather generic artwork, I still think the story was quite good and the handling of characters and emotions was particularly impressive.
Top 10 by Alan Moore, Gene Ha and Zander Cannon.
Another great story by Alan Moore, Top 10 follows the super-powered cops of the Top 10 district in a world where even your average Joe has special abilities. It has great characters and dialogue (as per usual for the author) and nice art by Ha and Cannon, though I don’t think it’ll blow anyone’s socks off. If you’re looking for crazy worldbuilding and a large cast of characters to feel invested in, then do give this one a look.
Upgrade Soul by Ezra Clayton Daniels.
Revolving around the relationship between technological and scientific advancements with humanity and moral values, the conflict put forth by the author, fictional and futuristic though it might seem, is deeply rooted in the constant clash between advancements in the sciences (and most specifically biology) and the moral standards of most countries and peoples. With very original, scratchy art and a big focus on themes, I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for harder, more idea-based science fiction.
World of Edena by Moebius.
These stories, set in a futuristic time brimming with technology, follow two characters; Stel and Atan who are ageless and sexless as a result of multiple implants and hormones that are common for those in their world. When they arrive in Edena, a supposedly idyllic planet at the center of the universe, the characters rediscover nature and wildlife as well as their more “primal” instincts. Definitely a great comic for anyone looking for spectacular artwork.
Domu by Katsuhiro Otomo.
The main premise is that people die in mysterious circumstances after having lost some small personal item; they climb to the top of a building, and jump off. With Otomo's spectacular art, the precursor to his much more popular Akira is a great supernatural story with impressive visuals and a very engaging narrative. While character isn’t this story’s strong suit, the art and plot more than make up for it and deliver a thrilling read.
Comments