The son of a librarian, Chris M. Arnone's love of books was as inevitable as gravity. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. His cyberpunk series, The Jayu City Chronicles, is available everywhere books are sold. His work can also be found in Adelaide Literary Magazine and FEED Lit Mag. You can find him writing more books, poetry, and acting in Kansas City. You can also follow him on social media (Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, website).
Vault Comics - the best in science fiction, fantasy, and horror comics and graphic novels!
Life on Mars …
No man is an island entire of itself, but Dr. Michael Fisher, a disgraced planetary geologist living on Mars, has never felt more isolated. The situation worsens when both he and Dr. Bex Egunsola, the station's newest biologist, accidentally break through the floor of an unstable lava tube into an ancient subterranean world... and they are not alone. Is this a prison or a sanctuary? Explore the abyss between life and death. From Eisner-nominated author/artist Der-shing Helmer. Journey to the Center of the Earth meets Ghosts of Mars in this otherworldly sci-fi adventure.
By all the gods new and old, do I love science fiction. I love how the genre goes after fundamental truths at an angle, softening the blow while still examining our world so critically. And as much as I love a good sci-fi prose novel, there are some really amazing sci-fi graphic novels that exemplify the genre.
When thinking about the best sci-fi graphic novels of all time, I had a lot to consider, decades of great books, in fact. I looked at those published in the West as well as manga. I looked at both original graphic novels and comics collected into graphic novels. I wanted to include those books that are both foundational to the genre and newer books that stand out. From the depths of space to very Earthly stories, I think all eight of these really are the best sci-fi graphic novels of all time.
Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo
I was first introduced to Akira through the brilliant anime movie before reading the books. And let me tell you, this manga is just as important to the cyberpunk genre as Neuromancer. Set in a post-apocalyptic future Tokyo, the leader of a biker gang is trying to prevent his childhood friend from awakening an ancient entity called Akira. Who’s standing in the way? Corrupt politicians and towering corporations, of course.
Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna, Sarah Vaughn
The scale of this sci-fi graphic novel is so small, but that intimacy is part of what makes it so great. Alex is a lonely, introverted guy. The last thing he wants is an android companion, but he’s gifted one anyway. While the topic of android personhood storms around the world at large, Alex struggles to deal with his new android named Ada. But contempt soon turns to companionship, friendship, and so much more.
Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro
This brilliant political satire hit hard and inspired so many, though it didn’t run nearly long enough. In this near-future, women who break the law or disobey are sent to an orbital prison colony nicknamed “Bitch Planet.” There, they’re set up to compete in futuristic gladiatorial games, but they all have their own ways of pushing back against the authority making them compete.
Descender by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen
This space opera is both cosmic in scale and deeply emotional, centered on an android and the old sci-fi question: What does it mean to be human? TIM-21 is a robot in a universe where all androids are illegal. Bounty hunters scour the skies for them, and TIM-21 and his crew are constantly on the run for their survival. But this chase is just the beginning of a larger adventure that will reshape the galaxy.
The Incal by Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jean Giraud
This French classic can be divisive, but its influence on science fiction is undeniable. John Difool is a detective, though not a very good one. But when he discovers an ancient artifact called The Incal, he’ll find himself in the crosshairs of the Metabaron, the Technopope, and every other dangerous faction in the universe.
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
This graphic novel is more recent, and it’s one of the best in its own quiet and beautiful way. Mia has recently joined a crew that rebuilds broken-down structures on distant planets. But she didn’t join for that simple and altruistic purpose, but to find her long-lost love.
Saga by Brian K. Vaughn, Fiona Staples
This comic might be the greatest sci-fi graphic novel of all time, and it’s not even done yet. It’s space opera, family drama, and pretty much everything you could want wrapped up in one long story. Two people on opposite sides of a galactic war aren’t just in love, but they have a baby. Now, a whole galaxy is after them, and they just want to survive.
The Spire by Simon Spurrier, Jeff Stokely
This last one has probably flown under the radar for far too long, and it’s absolutely one of the best sci-fi graphic novels of all time. The spire is a mountain of metal and machinery, the last bastion of humans and non-humans in a radioactive wasteland. Sha is the last of her kind and responsible for keeping The Spire running, but a series of murders right before the coronation of the next Baroness threatens the entire Spire, and only Sha can keep it all running.
Are these the all-time greats for you? I know I’ve left off some of my favorites. What are your favorite sci-fi graphic novels?
English (US) · 