Saga, by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples
Saga is the heartbreaking/hilarious tale of two (literally) star crossed lovers from warring worlds who have a child and are running from nearly everyone in the galaxy, who want to make an example out of their treachery. Beautiful illustrations and wonderfully flawed characters make this series hard to miss.
Marvel’s Young Avengers, by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie with Mike Norton
Young Avengers follows the tale of six superpower teens with an uncanny likeness to their classic counterparts. Another beautifully illustrated rendition of unlikely relationships and (un)happy endings. Bright colors and cartoonish charm bring the misadventures of these heroes to a new level.
The Percy Jackson Graphic Novel Series, by Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti with Attila Futaki
As someone who has Percy’s Poseidon claiming sigil tattooed on her arm, I can say I was a little bit disappointed on the adaptive side of the series. However, as a standalone series, Rick Riordan’s work shines in an entirely new light. The art is beautifully strange, and the story spins a new thread on the “coming of age” genre’s spectrum. The characters are also easy to love as well.
Pandemonium, by Chris Wooding and Cassandra Diaz
Pandemonium follows a young “Darkling” in a case of uncanny resemblance, who falls into the throes and woes of the royal family’s internal combustion. Talon is a commoner thrust into royalty, and his agonizingly slow adaptation to his new lifestyle makes for a hilariously macabre misadventure. Cassandra Diaz’s artwork shows incredibly promise in this debut novel.
Marvel’s Runaways, by Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona
This series follows 6 childhood best friends and their reaction to the realization that their parents are cultish villains with powerful abilities. The teens embark on a fear-fueled journey of self discovery as they frantically plan, trying to right their parents’ wrongs before anyone else gets hurt. Another example of stylistic, beautifully colored illustration which adds to the whimsy of the characters’ adventures.