Not sure where to start in the vast world of comics? Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned reader looking for fresh picks, drop a comment below-our expert guides and passionate community are here to help you discover your next favorite read!
That’s why we have this semi-regular open thread dedicated to helping you, our dear readers, find the perfect comic to read right now. Looking for the current best superhero ongoing to get hooked on? We’ve got you. Want a new manga to deep dive on? We’ve got you there, too. Want the most anticipated indie doorstop graphic novel of the summer? Do you even have to ask?
From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT, I will be in the comments section down below answering your questions and fielding requests for what you should read. We previously programmed this as a weekly movie column but will be moving that version to a monthly schedule with more, non-movie recommendation threads coming your way week over week, from games to TV to today’s subject, comics!
I should add that this is also a great place to share what you’ve been reading, if you want to talk about that with your fellow AELGAMES readers! Participation is very welcome, even without questions.
A little bit about me, your curator for this go-round: I’m Susana Polo, AELGAMES’s entertainment editor – but I used to be known as our comics editor, and comics will always be the media love of my life. While I’m a truly voracious devourer of all things sequential art, superheroes are my soul and center. If you’ve always wanted to know where to start with a character, a team, or even a whole continuity, I can definitely steer you in the right direction. And probably make you fall in love with Elongated Man in the process.
Lately, on top of keeping up with my favorite cape comics every week, I hotly anticipate new issues of the monster hunter horror book Something is Killing the Children, the adventure fantasy epic Kaya, and the space marine opera The Forged. And I’ve undertaken the long project of broadening my manga horizons by reading along with the Mangasplaining podcast, which has me picking up some incredible works, like A Journal of My Father, Phoenix, and A Bride’s Story.
Now it’s time to turn it around to you. What would you like to read this weekend (or what are you planning to read)? Leave a request in the comments and I’ll get to it between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT (your lovely comics expert has a hard out, so we’ll be shifting the usual window earlier this week). Details help – let me know what you’re looking for, some idea of your taste as a comics reader, and any other relevant info you feel like sharing (like the subscription services you have access to, whether you want something finished or ongoing, or what it was about the last comic you read you’re looking to emulate, if anything).
Struggling to pick your next comic? Let us guide you to the perfect read
Struggling to pick your next comic? Don’t worry-our expert recommendations and personalized guides will lead you straight to the perfect story that’s just waiting to be devoured!
What are the top comic genres I should consider for my next read
For your next comic read, consider exploring these top genres that cater to a wide range of tastes and moods:
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Superhero: The classic and most popular genre, featuring iconic characters like Batman, Ms. Marvel, and Hawkeye. Great for action, heroism, and complex character arcs without heavy continuity in some series.
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Science Fiction & Space Opera: Stories like Saga offer romantic comedy mixed with innovative world-building and mature themes, perfect for readers seeking fresh and imaginative adventures.
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Fantasy: From sword and sorcery with a modern twist (Rat Queens) to all-ages epic adventures like Bone, fantasy comics range from lighthearted to dark and mature.
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Horror: For readers looking for thrills and scares, horror comics provide easily digestible yet diverting stories.
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Literary & Biographical: Comics like Maus and Sandman delve into deep, cerebral, or autobiographical storytelling, appealing to those interested in sophisticated narratives and real-world themes.
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Spy/Secret Organization: Innovative and gripping, such as Mind MGMT, offering a mix of mystery and action with a PG-13 rating.
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Deconstruction & Mature Themes: Titles like Watchmen and Doom Patrol challenge superhero tropes with darker, intellectual, and often surreal storytelling for mature readers.
These genres provide a broad spectrum from light and fun to serious and thought-provoking, helping you find the perfect comic to match your interests and mood.
