Creators' Year in Review Part 1: Comics We Loved in 2025
Come for the comics, stay for the, uh, comics.
Welcome folks to the second Creators' Year in Review here at House of Ideas, Powers of Secrets, keeping the Multiversity tradition alive and well. The gist for anyone new is I send out five questions to comics creators from all the around the comics world. They come back with a list of answers that is every bit as eclectic as they all are and I compile them into articles. Part of the fun is: you never know what comics or other creators will be reified en masse and which ones will bubble up from the underground, catching you completely off guard.
For anyone who would like to see what 2024 held in store before diving into 2025, check out last year's lists!
So. Five Questions. Five Posts. Let's get this started.
Thank you to everyone who responded! It was a tough year for the world (and fuck if the next one isn't going to be tougher.) I had a not insignificant number of people let me know they couldn't participate because the year just kicked their comics reading free-time in the butts. Whether you could participate or not, y'all are great!
What were some of the comics - print, digital, web, etc. - you loved in 2025?
Meredith McClaren (“Black Cloak,” “Hinges”): “Goodbye, Eri” by Tatsuki Fujimoto.
Blue Delliquanti (“O Human Star”, “Across a Field of Starlight”): I got to read a few graphic novels by friends of mine this year: Simplicity by Mattie Lubchansky, Low Orbit by Kazimir Lee, Flip by Ngozi Ukazu and Meat Eaters by Meredith McClaren. These are all comic artists at the top of their game!
Series I started this year that I’m looking forward to continuing: Satoru Noda’s high school hockey manga Dogsred and Sarah Airriess’s adaptation of The Worst Journey in the World, Apsley Cherry-Garrand’s account of an Antarctic expedition at the dawn of the first World War.
There are also lots of great translated titles that stuck with me: Shubeik Lubeik (Deena Mohamed)’s tongue-in-cheek vision of a global wish-granting economy, Frontier (Guillaume Singelin)’s elaborate lineart detailing working life (and conflict) in space, and Cornelius (Marc Torices)’s ambitious showcase of art styles depicting a hapless dog janitor’s procession of increasingly poor decisions.
Jose Pimienta (“Halfway to Somewhere,” “Suncatcher”): "Speak up Santiago" by Julio Anta, "Angelica and the Bear Prince" by Trung Le Nguyen, "The Lord of the Flies" illustrated by Aimee De Jongh, AND "Sea Legs" by Jules Bakes and Nikki Smith.
Michael Grover (“Deeply Dave,” “Jake Spooky and the Wolves Within”): Precinct X99 is an exquisitely designed comic by Wren McDonald, about robot cops. I picked up a copy of the "AngelNet" episode at TCAF, and I couldn't believe how much storytelling Wren packed into those nicely risographed pages.
I also started reading Third Voice by Evan Dahm for the first time this year, and I am really fascinated by Evan's unique approach to world building and story.
Rodrigo Vargas (“The Do-Over,” “Walking to Do”): As usual I mostly read books a bit late. So most recent comics I've read and liked have been online at Instagram the Mind Killer. One of my favorites has been Luca Debus’ “Wannabe,” it’s a fun and charming daily comic strip, no easy feat. The other comic I’ve been enjoying is Ari Castleton’s “Sweet Pea.” It has, what geniuses like us would call, “the funnies.”
Reed Hinckley-Barnes (“Hero of Legend,” “Countless Little Deaths”): Technically came out at the end of 2024, but my favorite book that I read in 2025 was “World Heist” by Linnea Sterte, a weird, awesome fantasy comic. Coming in right behind “World Heist” is “The Fables of Erlking Wood” by Juni Ba, which is a gorgeous and tightly crafted series of fantasy stories that all tie together. This is also a book that, just as a physical object, is absolutely gorgeous. I read most of my comics digitally, but this one is worth getting your hands on a physical copy.
Jade Armstrong (“Scout is Not a Band Kid,” “Food School”): “Cannon” by Lee Lai was my favourite comic this year. Such incredible storytelling around relationships, labour, and also the nature of writing! and omigosh, the beautiful ink wash drawings. Lee Lai is one of the best.
Joe Corallo (“Dahlia in the Dark,” “The Never-Ending Party”): “Drome” by Jesse Lonergan was a real standout graphic novel this year. I’m sure it’s going to get a lot of talk coming up and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets some nominations next year. “Good As Dead” by David and Maria Lapham has been fantastic so far. I’ve been a fan of David’s for a long time now and this comic is yet another reminder as to why. “Orphan and the Five Beasts: Bath of Blood” by James Stokoe coming out to directly continue the original mini-series has been fantastic as well. It’s a gorgeous comic to look at. And I continue to look forward to new four panel “Haus of Decline” strips.
Zach Weinersmith (“Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal,” “A City on Mars”): I'm afraid I barely had time for comics! I read a few old favorites: Fun House and Logicomix, and little else.
Clayton Cowles (“Die: Loaded,” “Wonder Woman Historia”): The comic I loved the most this year was Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson. It is DENSE, both in its writing and artwork. Every page is immaculate, and it’s been a while since I last read a graphic novel where I could spend a full hour taking in a single page.
Bowling With Corpses, The Fables of Erlking Wood and This Beautiful, Ridiculous City were also quite good, and I’d be surprised if they didn’t make every major outlets' Best of 2025 lists. I got into Hirayasumi and Search and Destroy after seeing them on all of the Best of 2024 lists, and I followed the rest of the comics reading herd into Assorted Crisis Events (no regrets).
Other beloved stuff from the year included Absolute Flash, Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman, Beneath The Trees: Rite of Spring, Department of Truth, Escape, Fantastic Four, The Sacrificers, The Seasons, Underpants & Overbites, Voyeur, and You’ll Do Bad Things.
Zack Quaintance (“Death of Comics Bookcase,” “Macabre Valley”): My absolute favorite comic of 2025 was Jesse Lonergan's new graphic novel “Drome.” I think it's a masterpiece.
Brian Gonsar (“Dracula’s Brunch Club,” “Twisted Tales of Scary Stories: Werewolves”): I spent a chunk of my year finishing and promoting “Dracula’s Brunch Club,” so my “to be read” pile is pretty large (top of the pile is “How to Talk to Your Succulent”). But I did enjoy the concept of “Flip” by Ngozi Ukase and the art of “Ash’s Cabin” by Jen Wang this year.
Kyle Starks (“Rick and Morty,” “Assassin Nation”): The best comic I read this year and the best comic I've read in awhile was Jesse Lonergan's “Drome.” Just a masterwork of comic formulism and a stellar piece of visceral storytelling. I adored it. A treatise on existing and on creating all wrapped up in a barbarians gods elementals. Incredible. I feel like any minute now the comic world is going to finally figure out that Jesse is one of the very best artists in the industry.
I am also REALLY enjoying Kieron Gillian and Caspar Wijngaard's “Power Fantasy.” Another great cerebral but fun work from two top creators in the field. A lot of fun. A really, really fresh take on superheroes.
We all love “Absolute Wonder Woman” and the Geoff Johns Ghost machine stuff, right? Both are wild, great, classic superhero fun told with a modern feel.
I discovered Daniel Freedman and Crom's “Birdking” series this year and that is a real fun thing, for sure.
OH, and I don't want to brag but I got to read Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips “Peril Of The Brutal Dark” (an Ezra Cain Mystery) #1 which is going to be part of the Vertigo return next year (along with me! Check out “End Of Life!”) and it's so much fun. What if Indiana Jones was Sam Spade? It does all the things you love from classic Jones with some hard drinking, fist throwing noir detective brilliance. You GOTTA check it out next year.
Caroline Cash (“PeePee PooPoo,” “Adventure Time: The Bubbline Special”): The manga series “How Do We Relationship” by Tamifull. So excellent. Highly recommend. Also loved “Valley Valley” by Audra Stang. Her work has always been incredible but she’s really been hitting her stride recently.
Michael Conrad (“Plague House,” “Wonder Woman”): I’ll forego naming particular pieces to simply say that I really LOVE the vitality that comics have shown in the past year. If you listen to some you may have been led to believe that this is a dying medium, or that the industry is on its last legs… and yet we persist. Comics and the people that make them have proven (yet again) that we're sticking around. The future will certainly bring changes, but sequential storytelling isn't going anywhere… Just don't listen to what they're saying about 2026!
Derek Charm (“Toxic Summer,” “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl”): Waid/Mora’s “World’s Finest,” Ryan North’s “Fantastic Four,” Ram V and Evan Cagle’s “New Gods” “Frankenstein” by Michael Walsh.
Ben Kahn (“Mr. Muffins: Defender Of The Stars,” “Heavenly Blues”): There were a lot of great comics I loved in superheroes, manga, and indie comics. In no particular order, some absolute must reads this year have been: “Be Not Afraid,” “We're Taking Everyone Down With Us,” “Akanae-Banashi,” “Absolute Wonder Woman,” “Chainsaw Man,” “The Immortal Thor,” “Power Fantasy,” and “Star Trek: Lore War.”
Murewa Ayodele (“Akogun: Brutalizer Of Gods”, “Storm” (2024)): 2025 has been a year of big feelings for me. As a result, some of the comics that I gravitated to the most have bold emotions or evoke them. For example, I’m currently enjoying “Escape” by Rick Remender and Daniel Acuña – a story that features a lone soldier in enemy territory. He is alone with his resolve, emotions, and physical hurts as he tries to stay alive long enough to complete his mission.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the “Absolute Batman 2025 Annual” #1 story by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer. An intensely violent story about Batman unleashing his rage on societal decay, yet the rage remains unquenched. “Captain America” by Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti has been an emotional rollercoaster ride of what it feels like to be betrayed by an institution you love wholeheartedly and believe in.
The continuation of “Celestial Eyes” by John Uche and Francis Goodluck and the beginning of the new event series “Dc Ko” by Scott Snyder and Javi Fernández & Xermánico evoke so much creative excitement within me. The fun and ambition in these stories are extremely contagious. I love it.
Adedotun Akande (“Akogun: Brutalizer Of Gods,” “I Am Iron Man”): One of the main lessons I learned from reading comics in 2025 is this: even while you’re being scientific about the process of crafting stories, you should still be having fun. Some of these books mentioned here nailed that beautiful balance.
“Storm” by Murewa Ayodele, and Lukas Werneck, Mario Santoro. Storm is an epic, high-stakes, cosmic thriller that centers the character squarely in the blinding spotlight of solo heroism. It’s visually stunning and masterfully plotted. A ten for me!
“Escape” by Rick Remender, and Daniel Acuña.
“Escape” parachutes you smack dab in the middle of a thrilling behind enemy-lines, high-stakes, war-time story with gripping urgency from the very beginning. As the story unfolds, it gradually morphs into an examination of ethics, and quickly highlights the need for humaneness made even more interesting by its allegorical, anthropomorphic cast. Daniel Acuña’s art is a feast for the eyes, and a skillful driver in a murky minefield of moral complexities.
My honorable mentions:
“Aliens Vs Avengers” by Jonathan Hickman, and Esad Ribic. Hickman does it again! Though a short story set in an alternate future timeline, “AvA” is a bold, epic and ambitious crossover with astronomical world-building so much so that it stays with you and reminds you that it actually matters; when a character dies, for instance, it hits hard and truly feels final. It’s harder these days to evoke that feeling, especially with miniseries!
“FML” by Kelly Sue DeConnick, and David López.
Kelly Sue is a gift! “FML” utilizes the visual storytelling tools like a true veteran. Kelly, for me, is one of the few writers who can pull me EASILY into stories I wouldn’t normally have on my radar. So good! Thanks, Kelly!
“Absolute Batman” by Scott Snyder, and Nick Dragotta. One word: INSANE!
“Battle Beast” by Robert Kirkman, and Ryan Ottley. “Battle Beast” is both the unstoppable force and the immovable object. I haven’t caught up yet, but my goodness, where I’m at right now? It seems Robert and Ryan have truly created an absolute monster! “Absolute Batman” best be grateful this mad cosmic nomad isn’t in his universe. I promise you, Batsy, there isn’t enough prep time in the world.
Matt Hotson (“Wild West C.O.W.-Boys Of Moo Mesa”, “MMPR: The Return”): “Partisan” by Garth Ennis & Steve Epting from TKO. Read this, and then go read its predecessor “Sara,” which is one of the best graphic novels in recent years. “Absolute Martian Manhunter” by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez from DC. For not just being a fun story, but for physically engaging readers and utilizing the form of a comic book in new and exciting ways (that final page of issue 1!!) “Absolute Wonder Woman” by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman from DC for being the most consistently well-made superhero comic out there each and every month.
Rye Hickman (“Hey Mary!”, “Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story”): “You Belong Here” was really tender and felt super authentic to the end-of-high-school experience. But specifically, the way Morgan Beem handled crowds was brilliant. High school is a lot of getting packed into large buildings with thousands of your peers, and Morgan called forth the power of a crowd watching you, the feeling of being invisible in a group, and being overwhelmed by noise and drama in such deft and insightful ways. The masses as character!
I also devoured “Death Fight Forever” and oh my goodness it is just FUN. This is a book to make you remember why you love comics.
Cullen Bunn (“Autumn Kingdom”, “Harrow County): If you haven’t checked out “Roots Of Madness” by Stephanie Williams and Leitizia Cadonici, you’re really missing out! It blends historical fiction with creeping dread. The setting and characters are pitch-perfect. It’s smart, emotional, and unsettling in the very best ways.
I also continued to enjoy “True Believers: A Horror Cosply Comic” by Stephen Graham Jones and Joshua Viola. It’s pure horror and convention fandom fun!
“Barstow” by Rebekah McKendry, David Ian McKendry, and Tyler Jenkins hits like a demonic fever dream. It’s clever, charming, and it gets under your skin real fast.
Zac Thompson (“Cemetery Kids Don’t Die”, “Come Into Me”): I hate to state the obvious but “Absolute Batman” and “Absolute Wonder Woman” really captured my attention this year. Beyond those two books, I adored Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadzki’s “Assorted Crisis Events,” Rick Quinn and Dave Chisholm’s “Spectrum,” Wes Craig’s “Kaya,” Jesse Lonnegan’s “Drome,” Lee Lai’s “Cannon,” and Paige Hender’s “The Confessional.”
Andrew Wheeler (“Hey Mary!”, “Cat Fight”): This is the year I discovered “The Summer Hikaru Died” by Mokumokuren, a very smart, very creepy exploration of adolescent queer desire, and the sort of book that shows how bold and imaginative comics can be.
Triple Dream Comics (Lauren Davis, Mel Hilario, Katie Longua) (“Agent Cupcake”, “Debian Perl, Digital Detective”):
LD: I love everything Jen Wang makes, but Ash’s Cabin might be my favorite book of hers. It’s such a strong character study and captures the intensity and conviction of adolescence so well. And the nature scenes are incredibly immersive.
“Bring Me the Head of Susan Lomond” by Connor B. was such a wonderfully macabre surprise! The premise is silly enough: a teenage mad scientist gets so jealous that her popular jock rival got the highest academic test scores that she decides to murder her. But it just keeps getting kookier, with a giant remotely deployed axe, a serial killer’s brain transplanted into a giant yellow, uh, giraffe thing? And, of course, prom. It brought back memories of watching weird (sometimes unsettling) cartoons on Nickelodeon when I was a kid.
MH: I loved Aubrey Hirsch’s “Graphic Rage: Comics on Gender Justice and Life as a Woman in America.” I read it in what felt like a single breath. Because of some of the work we do as Triple Dream, I feel drawn to nonfiction comics and their ability to inform, entertain, and elicit emotion through the medium.
KL: I voraciously read webcomics as a teen, but I’ve kind of fallen off. “Electric Bones” pulled me back in last year and kept me hooked all of 2025 too. I was excited to check out “Espada: The Will of the Blade” and it was just as cool and stylish as I’d hoped. I’m trying to loosen up my own drawings and Anabel Colanzo brought me a lot of inspiration.
Jorge Corona (“Transformers” (2024,) “Middlewest”): “Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone” was a new book that I absolutely LOVED. I kept reading “DanDaDan,” which continues to be an insane read. The Absolute line also added a lot of great reads this year.
Taylor Robin (“Never Satisfied,” “Hunger's Bite”): “Time Will Devour His Children” is a new dark fantasy series Otava Hekilla's been working on that had its second chapter come out recently. I love Otava's work in general, all hits no misses, but this one really appeals to me as a big Ursula LeGuin fan. It's very much an “Earthsea” for adults and explores trans masculinity in a fantasy space that's deeply compelling.
Colleen AF Venable (“Junie B. Jones,” “Kiss Number 8”): My three favorite comics that came out this year were “On Guard” by Cassidy Wasserman (awkward teen finds fencing), “Sea Legs” by Jules Blake and Niki Smith (living on a boat and attempting to make friends), and “Gaysians” by Mike Curato (queer coming of age with all the wit and humor and heart of the best Golden Girls episodes. That is HIGH praise from me.)
Der-shing Helmer (“Mare Internum,” “Quail Party”): My favorite print comic I read this year is Jonas Goonface's “The Unsinkable Ship of Fools.” Incredible storytelling, a cast that feels like family, and lots of lovingly-rendered NSFW shenanigans. If you weren't already a fan of Jonas' work, you're super missing out, but this is a really great book to introduce you to it.
My favorite webcomics at the moment are “What Happens Next” by Max Graves and “The Golden Shrike” by Doeprince. Both are gorgeous, compelling, incredibly well-written, and completely fucked up in their own way, as all webcomics should be. Both of these artists make my heart race; the comics-reading internet is blessed to have these giants.
And, I have to give a shoutout to “Big Rig,” which I colored on alongside writers Post Malone (yeah, really, haha), Adrian Wassel, artist Nathan Gooden, and letterer Jim Campbell for Vault Comics. A completely batshit concept and production timeline and I'm glad that everyone I know who has read it has been pleasantly surprised by how good it is.
Violet Kitchen (“Allodynia,” “Crawlspace”): I haven’t been nearly as much on top of new releases this year since I left Instagram, alas! That being said, some definite highlights have been Sanika Phawde’s “Wedding Juice,” Kit Anderson’s “Second Shift,” Luke Kruger-Howard’s “Football America Dream,” Lee Lai’s “Cannon,” and Ben Passmore’s “Black Arms to Hold You Up.” And while it’s only just arrived from the Kickstarter, and thus still sitting on my nightstand, I’m also very excited to read J. Marshall Smith’s "Testament."
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Elias Rosner
Elias Rosner
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