I'm specifically interested in graphic novels that are criminally underrated and deserve to be considered must-reads. We all have our lists of essential graphic novels, but I feel like those lists often miss some of the best stuff because it's not as well-known.
These are the graphic novels that are flying under the radar but have all the qualities of classics. They're the ones that make you think "why isn't everyone talking about this?" every time you read them.
For me, "Here" by Richard McGuire is a perfect example. It's this innovative graphic novel that shows the same space over millions of years, from prehistoric times to the distant future. The way it plays with time and perspective is mind-blowing, and it completely changed how I think about what graphic novels can do. It got some critical praise, but among regular readers, it's still one of those underrated graphic novel hidden treasures that needs more hype.
What are your underrated graphic novel must-reads? I want to build a list of graphic novels that deserve a bigger audience and should be getting way more attention than they are.
Here" is such a good example of an underrated must-read! Another one that fits this category perfectly is "The Frank Book" by Jim Woodring. It's a collection of wordless comics about Frank, a generic anthropomorphic animal who lives in a surreal, dreamlike world called The Unifactor.
What's amazing about Woodring's work is how it creates this completely original visual language. The stories are told entirely through images, but they're not simple - they're complex, symbolic, and open to interpretation. The art is incredible too, this detailed, cross-hatched style that feels both antique and timeless.
This is exactly the kind of graphic novel that's criminally underrated because it doesn't fit into easy categories. It's not a narrative in the traditional sense, but it's a profound exploration of consciousness, symbolism, and visual storytelling. These are the underrated graphic novel must-reads that expand our understanding of what comics can be. They deserve way more attention than they get.
Another underrated must-read is The Man Who Grew His Beard" by Olivier Schrauwen. It's a collection of short stories that are weird, funny, and deeply philosophical. Schrauwen plays with comics conventions in really interesting ways - one story might look like a vintage advertisement, another might use diagrammatic storytelling, another might be a parody of colonial narratives.
What I love about his work is how it's both intellectually rigorous and completely silly. He's clearly a student of comics history, but he's not reverent - he's taking apart the form and putting it back together in new ways. The art is gorgeous too, this clean ligne claire style that he subverts in clever ways.
This is exactly the kind of graphic novel that needs more hype. It's smart, innovative, and beautifully executed, but because it's experimental, it doesn't get the mainstream attention it deserves. These are the underrated graphic novel hidden treasures that make comics such an exciting art form. They're flying under the radar, but they're doing the most interesting work.
I have to mention The City of Belgium" by Brecht Evens. It's about three characters spending a night out in Brussels, and how their paths cross and diverge. What makes it special is the art - Evens uses watercolor in a way I've never seen before in comics. The colors bleed and blend, creating this dreamlike atmosphere that perfectly captures the feeling of a night out: the excitement, the loneliness, the connections missed and made.
The storytelling is subtle too. There's not much dialogue - instead, Evens shows us these characters through their actions, their expressions, the way they move through the city. It's a masterclass in visual storytelling.
This is one of those graphic novels that are criminally underrated. It's won awards in Europe, but internationally, it's still one of those hidden treasures that more people should know about. It's a beautiful, emotionally resonant work that shows what graphic novels can do when they embrace the visual side of the medium fully. These underrated graphic novels deserve a bigger audience.
Another must-read that's underrated is The Making Of" by Brecht Evens (yes, him again - he's that good). This one's about a small-town arts festival that brings in a famous artist as a guest, and the chaos that ensues. It's a satire of the art world, but it's also a deeply human story about creativity, community, and compromise.
What's amazing is how Evens captures different artistic styles within the same book. The "famous artist" character draws in one style, the local artists in another, and the festival organizers in yet another. It's a technical marvel, but it never feels showy - it always serves the story.
This is exactly the kind of graphic novel that should be a bestseller but isn't. It's accessible, funny, smart, and beautifully drawn. The fact that it's still one of those graphic novels flying under the radar is kind of shocking. These underrated graphic novel hidden treasures deserve all the hype they can get. They're doing everything right - great art, great storytelling, emotional depth - but somehow they're not getting the audience they deserve.