Graphic Novels You Should Absolutely Read

April 7th, 2026
Kenji · Staff Recommendations

Over the past 2 years, DC and Marvel comics have both released contemporary restarts for their familiar characters with their Absolute and Ultimate lines. Any of DC’s Absolute comics are titles you can dive into without any prior reading or familiarity with the characters (although long-time readers will appreciate the twists).

“Absolute Wonder Woman” has done an incredible job of incorporating mythology more deeply into Diana’s story and putting her optimism in conflict with a deeply pessimistic world. “Absolute Martian Manhunter” completely reinvents the character with colorful, surreal storytelling that will appeal to fans of Severance or Twin Peaks. “Absolute Batman” has been the most popular title in the Absolute line, reimagining Bruce Wayne as a working man instead of a billionaire. Marvel’s “Ultimate X-Men” is a standout for being written and painted by Peach Momoko for the entire 24 issue run. While the story can be a bit non-linear and ethereal, I thought Momoko’s take on the X-Men through the lens of Japanese culture was deeply moving and personal. Just be sure not to confuse this 2024 comic with the “Ultimate X-Men” from 2001 (same goes for the other Ultimate titles). And, lastly, if you want an emotional beating, Deniz Camp’s Assorted Crisis Events delivers a series of episodic sci-fi stories where time and reality may be different, but ubiquitous human struggles are at the forefront.