Best Graphic Novels: January 2025
The Best Graphic Novels I read in January
Starting this year, I’m going to post the best graphic novels I’ve read each month; as the year goes on, this will also turn into the top 10-15 I’ve read for the year, depending on how technical I want to get later on.
The month of January saw me read 5 new graphic novels.
In
W: Will McPhail
A: Will McPhail
Publisher: Mariner Books
Amazon
Matt recommend In a few weeks back on the podcast, and it was a very good read.
The story follows Nick, an illustrator that struggles to connect with people; and not just random people he meets, but family, friends, and colleagues. He eventually discovers that surface conversations will only lead to surface relationships. And then he meets Wren. Wren is complicated and challenging. And Nick starts to dig deeper. We gradually learn why Nick doesn’t connect with people.
Most people hear comic books/graphic novels and assume shallow superhero stories; this is a great example of real world graphic novels. You can feel and relate to the characters; there were aspects of Nick I found in myself. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol 17: Kraven’s Last Hunt
W: Various
A: Various
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Amazon
I got this for the Kraven’s Last Hunt story, but there was more to the book since it was Epic Collection; we got the end of the Ned Leeds Hobgoblin story, a Spider-Slayer arc, and the Peter/MJ wedding issue before hitting Kraven. Overall, that was good and bad.
The good was both Kraven and the Hobgoblin stuff. I knew I’d enjoy Kraven, but the Ned Leeds stuff was really fascinating; we get to see the fallout if his death, some good Kingpin and The Rose stories, and the effect of balancing Peter and Spider-Man in everyday life.
The bad was the other 2 parts. The Spider-Slayer story was just hokey; it felt very ’80s and that really hurt the story. The wedding stuff was just fluff for an annual; while I get why they added it, I could have very easily skipped it.
Kraven was the featured attraction and it landed as expected. It felt like an early outline for Bane and Knightfall in the Batman books that would come later on. Kraven was one step ahead of Spider-Man throughout the book, but Spidey’s perseverance saves the day. It’s a dark tale and feels like the time of Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen; only this ends much more positively than the DC counterparts.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5; Kraven’s Last Hunt is a 5 out of 5 for a story arc.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
W: Tom King
A: Bilquis Evely
Publisher: DC Comics
Amazon
I’m not a huge Supergirl fan, but knowing this was the source material for the Supergirl movie, it’s written by Tom King, and it’s been highly recommended, I decided to give it a shot.
Supergirl is far away from Earth where she can tie one on for her birthday and meets Ruthye, an alien that’s trying to avenge her fathers murder. The 2 travel across the cosmos chasing Krem and the crew he’s joined up with, showing the core of Supergirl’s character: doing the right thing and being a good example. No matter the odds, Supergirl believes in what’s she’s doing.
They eventually catch up to Krem and he gets what’s coming to him, but Ruthye allows him to live after seeing everything Supergirl has done on their adventure.
King thrives in these kind of weird, one off stories (think Vision and Mr. Miracle). He nails the character and makes the story intriguing. Evely’s art is different; not good or bad different, but not what I’m used to seeing in mainstream comics. It does fit with my image of Milly Alcock, who is playing Supergirl.
Rating: 5 out of 5 – A worthy shelf book
Space-Mullet Vol 1: One Gamble at a Time
W: Daniel Warren Johnson
A: Daniel Warren Johnson
Publisher: Image Comics
Amazon
I’m at the point where I’m buying anything DWJ is writing; this is one of his early books, and unfortunately, it left me wanting more.
Ex-Marine Jonah is just trying to make ends meet as a smuggler in the outer reaches of the galaxy; he’s traveling with the alien Alphius, who serves as co-pilot, cook, and muscle. They are recruited by one of Jonah’s former-soldier buddies to help rescue some slaves; instead, they are roped into a guaranteed slaughter that will eliminate all the witness of the event that caused Jonah to leave the Marines.
There are hints of Firefly and Cowboy Beebop to the story, but it’s pretty flat compared to DWJ’s later works. The story is pretty predictable and reads too quickly. That said, you can see the hints of what DWJ is going to be as a creator (and it’s worth noting that he’s been critical of this book too, noting his evolution as a writer).
Rating: 3 out of 5 – I wanted so much more from this book, but maybe he comes back to it some day to give us more.
We Called Them Giants
W: Kieron Gillen
A: Stephanie Hans
Publisher: Image Comics
Amazon
Gillen’s pretty hit or miss for me; most of the time, he starts strong, lags in the middle, and the ending seems rushed but enjoyable. It’s the reason I’ve put this book off a few times.
I was mistaken.
Teenaged Lori awakens to find most of civilization has disappeared; after latching on to another teenaged neighbor (Annette), the 2 scavenge to survive. Eventually they find Beatrice, an adult they can live with, but they also find the Giants.
There are 2 giants and we don’t know much about them. Eventually, the girls end up being taken in by one of the giants, but Lori feels like they are more prisoners than guests. She sneaks away and causes the eventual death of both giants. It’s a beautiful book with a solid story; I enjoyed the entirety of this story, even if it lacked a little bit of substance. Hans art is breathtaking; every aspect of the art hits and brings the story up quite a bit.
Rating: 4 out of 5
2025 Rankings:
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
- In
- We Called Them Giants
- Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol 17: Kraven’s Last Hunt
- Space-Mullet Vol 1: One Gamble at a Time
I’ll be back at the beginning of March with all the graphic novels I read in February and a new rankings off all the books I’ve read this year. Until then, check out our other comic book posts.
