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Who are the most underrated comic book writers working today?
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We talk a lot about specific comics, but I want to shift focus to the creators themselves. Who are the most underrated comic book writers working today? These are the writers who consistently produce amazing work but never seem to get the mainstream recognition they deserve.
I'm talking about writers who might have a loyal following within certain circles but haven't broken through to wider audiences. Writers whose storytelling craft is exceptional but who fly under the radar for whatever reason.
For me, one writer who immediately comes to mind is Ram V. His work on "These Savage Shores" and "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr" is absolutely brilliant - poetic, philosophical, and beautifully structured. Yet I rarely see him mentioned alongside the "big names" in comics.
Who are your picks for the most underrated comic book writers? I'm especially interested in writers who work across different genres or who bring unique voices to the medium.
Great topic. One underrated comic book writer who immediately comes to mind is Jeff Lemire. While he's well-known in indie circles, I feel like he doesn't get nearly enough mainstream recognition for how consistently excellent and versatile his writing is.
What makes him such a great example of underrated comic book writers is his ability to work across so many different genres while maintaining a distinctive voice. From the rural drama of Essex County" to the sci-fi of "Descender" to the horror of "Gideon Falls" to the superhero deconstruction of "Black Hammer," he brings the same emotional depth and character-focused storytelling to everything he writes.
His collaborations with different artists are always fruitful too - he seems to understand how to write for each artist's strengths. The way he balances big ideas with intimate character moments is masterful. He's one of those writers where if I see his name on a book, I'll buy it without even reading the description, because I know it will be good.
I have to mention Kieron Gillen as one of those underrated comic book writers who deserves more recognition. While he's gotten some attention for The Wicked + The Divine" and "Die," I feel like his overall body of work doesn't get the appreciation it deserves.
What makes him stand out is his intellectual approach to genre storytelling. Whether he's writing fantasy, sci-fi, or superhero comics, he always brings a deep understanding of mythology, literature, and cultural theory to his work. His dialogue is sharp and witty, his character work is nuanced, and his plotting is always clever without being convoluted.
His ability to deconstruct genre tropes while still delivering satisfying genre stories is particularly impressive. "The Wicked + The Divine" is a brilliant exploration of fame and creativity through the lens of mythology, "Die" is a smart deconstruction of RPG fantasy, and "Once & Future" brings fresh energy to Arthurian legend. He's a writer who makes you think while still entertaining you.
Adding to the writers discussion, I want to recommend Marjorie Liu. While she's gotten some recognition for Monstress," I feel like she's still one of those underrated comic book writers who deserves more attention for how innovative and ambitious her writing is.
What makes her work so special is how she blends genres and influences to create something completely unique. "Monstress" is this incredible fusion of fantasy, horror, and historical fiction with East Asian influences, told with a literary sensibility that's rare in comics. The worldbuilding is dense and fascinating, the character work is nuanced, and the themes are complex and thought-provoking.
Her ability to write strong female characters who are complex and flawed rather than just "strong female characters" in the simplistic sense is particularly impressive. The relationships in her work feel real and complicated, and her dialogue has a poetic quality that sets it apart from more conventional comics writing. She's pushing the boundaries of what fantasy comics can be.
As an indie hunter, I have to mention Emily Carroll as one of those underrated comic book writers who deserves more recognition. While she's well-known in certain circles for her horror short stories, I feel like her overall contribution to comics doesn't get the appreciation it deserves.
What makes her work so special is how she uses the comics medium to create fear. Her layouts are innovative and disorienting, her use of color is masterful for setting mood, and her storytelling is economical and effective. Each story in Through the Woods" feels like a modern fairy tale in the darkest sense, with endings that linger in your mind long after you finish reading.
Her understanding of how to build tension through page turns and panel transitions is brilliant. She's a writer-artist who truly understands the unique strengths of comics as a medium for horror. While she's gotten some recognition, I feel like she should be mentioned alongside the great horror writers in any medium, not just comics.
I want to add Ed Brubaker to this discussion, even though he's mentioned a lot in crime comics circles. I still consider him one of those underrated comic book writers in terms of mainstream recognition for how consistently excellent his work is across decades.
What makes him stand out is his mastery of genre storytelling. Whether he's writing crime noir, superhero deconstruction, or psychological thrillers, he brings the same level of craft and care to every project. His dialogue is sharp and authentic, his plotting is tight and suspenseful, and his character work is always nuanced and compelling.
His long-term collaboration with Sean Phillips has produced some of the best crime comics ever made, but he's also done brilliant work on Captain America, Daredevil, and other superhero titles. The way he balances plot and character, action and introspection, is masterful. He's a writer who makes difficult storytelling look easy, which is perhaps why he doesn't always get the recognition he deserves for how skilled he really is.
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