From gritty anti-heroes to cosmic sagas, Image Comics is a goldmine of bold storytelling, subversive themes, and unforgettable art. This curated list spans decades of powerhouse creators redefining genre norms, showcasing everything from superheroes and horror to twisted satire and sweeping sci-fi drama.
Whether you're diving into the visceral world of Invincible, the dark wit of Bomb Queen, or the breathtaking scope of Saga, each of these titles delivers unique, creator-owned brilliance. These 20 volumes highlight just how fearless, diverse, and boundary-breaking Image Comics continues to be in the ever-evolving world of graphic storytelling.
1. Invincible, Volume 12: Still Standing
Writer: Robert Kirkman | Artist: Ryan Ottley
Release Year: 2009
Summary:
Mark Grayson faces the Viltrumite War's aftermath and the emotional toll it takes on family and allies as Earth prepares for the next inevitable attack.
Why It’s Awesome:
A pivotal turning point that balances grounded emotion and large-scale conflict. Kirkman deepens the emotional core while Ottley’s brutal visuals underscore the stakes. This volume shows Invincible truly evolving into a mature hero.
2. Hit-Girl (2018), Volume 1: Colombia
Writer: Mark Millar | Artist: Ricardo López Ortiz
Release Year: 2018
Summary:
Hit-Girl brings her violent justice to Colombia, dismantling drug cartels with relentless vengeance in her first globe-trotting solo mission.
Why It’s Awesome:
Millar’s brutal writing is amplified by Ortiz’s energetic, kinetic art. Hit-Girl’s unapologetic blood-soaked justice makes this a pulpy, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining read. It’s Kill Bill meets superhero carnage.
3. Saga, Volume 1
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan | Artist: Fiona Staples
Release Year: 2012
Summary:
A forbidden romance between two soldiers from opposite sides of a galactic war leads to a family on the run with their newborn daughter, Hazel.
Why It’s Awesome:
The perfect introduction to a space opera masterpiece. Vaughan and Staples weave love, politics, war, and parenting into a raw, poetic adventure. Bold, funny, emotional, and totally original.
4. Saga, Volume 3
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan | Artist: Fiona Staples
Release Year: 2014
Summary:
The family finds temporary refuge with Hazel’s grandparents, but the past catches up, bringing emotional revelations and danger to their doorstep.
Why It’s Awesome:
Expands the heart of the series with generational depth and character growth. The dialogue crackles, and Staples’ visuals make every emotional beat hit harder. It’s tender, thrilling, and unpredictable.
5. Black Science, Volume 1: How to Fall Forever
Writer: Rick Remender | Artist: Matteo Scalera
Release Year: 2013
Summary:
A rogue scientist and his team are lost in the Eververse, dimension-hopping through dangerous worlds and dealing with the consequences of selfish discovery.
Why It’s Awesome:
Sci-fi storytelling at its most chaotic and philosophical. Remender’s dark introspection collides with Scalera’s frenetic, explosive art. It’s thrilling, smart, and filled with existential dread.
6. Invincible, Volume 14: The Viltrumite War
Writer: Robert Kirkman | Artist: Ryan Ottley
Release Year: 2010
Summary:
The long-teased Viltrumite War erupts as Mark and allies clash with the empire in a violent interstellar conflict with Earth’s fate hanging in the balance.
Why It’s Awesome:
A brutal, high-stakes arc with blockbuster intensity. Ottley’s fight choreography is jaw-dropping, and Kirkman’s pacing never lets up. This is Invincible’s Infinity War—epic, emotional, and game-changing.
7. Bomb Queen, Volume 1: Woman of Mass Destruction
Writer/Artist: Jimmie Robinson
Release Year: 2006
Summary:
Bomb Queen rules New Port City with an iron fist and no morals, relishing chaos, carnage, and control in this wild, NSFW satire of superhero tropes.
Why It’s Awesome:
Outrageous, hilarious, and unapologetically raunchy. Robinson crafts a gleeful middle finger to cape comics. It's more than shock value—it’s biting social commentary with a dynamite anti-heroine.
8. Happy!
Writer: Grant Morrison | Artist: Darick Robertson
Release Year: 2012
Summary:
A disgraced hitman survives a hit and starts seeing an imaginary flying blue horse who urges him to save a kidnapped girl on Christmas Eve.
Why It’s Awesome:
Morrison’s twisted noir meets Robertson’s gritty art in a weird holiday tale blending dark comedy, redemption, and ultraviolence. It's absurd, heartfelt, and completely original.
9. Invincible, Volume 5: The Facts of Life
Writer: Robert Kirkman | Artist: Ryan Ottley
Release Year: 2005
Summary:
Mark juggles relationships, school, and the truth about his father while trying to stay sane and super. Growth comes with heavy emotional weight.
Why It’s Awesome:
This volume elevates the human drama. The fallout of Nolan’s betrayal hits hard, and Mark’s development takes center stage. Ottley’s expressive style captures every gut punch.
10. Saga, Volume 6
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan | Artist: Fiona Staples
Release Year: 2016
Summary:
Years pass as Hazel narrates her coming-of-age, and the fractured family navigates loss, survival, and rebuilding in a cruel galaxy.
Why It’s Awesome:
This is Saga at its most reflective and painful. Vaughan balances despair and humor while Staples’ evolving visuals deepen the world’s texture. A tearjerker and turning point.
11. The Walking Dead, Volume 1: Days Gone Bye
Writer: Robert Kirkman | Artist: Tony Moore
Release Year: 2004
Summary:
Sheriff Rick Grimes wakes from a coma to a world overrun by the dead and sets out to find his family.
Why It’s Awesome:
The start of a zombie empire. Kirkman’s focus on human survival dynamics and moral dilemmas makes it more than a horror book—it’s a human drama with undead flair.
12. Wytches, Volume 1
Writer: Scott Snyder | Artist: Jock
Release Year: 2014
Summary:
A family is hunted by ancient, tree-dwelling witches tied to a dark ritual system, where pledging means death.
Why It’s Awesome:
Terrifying and deeply emotional. Snyder channels parental anxiety into visceral horror, while Jock’s moody, textured art bleeds dread. One of the most original modern horror comics.
13. Bomb Queen, Volume 2: Queen of Hearts
Writer/Artist: Jimmie Robinson
Release Year: 2006
Summary:
Bomb Queen faces a rival hero while navigating political schemes and dirty secrets that threaten her wicked empire.
Why It’s Awesome:
Even more irreverent and satirical. Robinson turns up the political heat with clever jabs at media and morality. It’s still raunchy, but smarter than it seems.
14. Invincible, Volume 11: Happy Days
Writer: Robert Kirkman | Artist: Ryan Ottley
Release Year: 2008
Summary:
With Omni-Man back in the picture and life momentarily calm, Mark grapples with change, legacy, and what happiness really means.
Why It’s Awesome:
A brief breath before chaos. This volume explores family, hope, and second chances. It's heartfelt, funny, and reminds you why Invincible works beyond the bloodshed.
15. Saga, Volume 8
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan | Artist: Fiona Staples
Release Year: 2018
Summary:
Hazel’s world faces tragedy as beloved characters fall, betrayal cuts deep, and the war catches up in heartbreaking ways.
Why It’s Awesome:
One of Saga’s most devastating arcs. Vaughan doesn’t pull punches, and Staples crafts beauty in every brutal panel. A defining volume that changes everything.
16. Witchblade: Obakemono
Writer: Ron Marz | Artist: Mike Choi
Release Year: 2006
Summary:
Sara Pezzini, bearer of the Witchblade, travels to feudal Japan, discovering ancient versions of the artifact in a supernatural war.
Why It’s Awesome:
A historical twist on Witchblade lore with lush art and an exotic, mystical tone. Marz blends East and West mythology beautifully, adding richness to the series’ legacy.
17. The Old Guard, Volume 1: Opening Fire
Writer: Greg Rucka | Artist: Leandro Fernández
Release Year: 2017
Summary:
A group of immortal mercenaries hiding from the world is exposed—forcing them into a modern war for secrecy and survival.
Why It’s Awesome:
A smart, gritty take on immortality and war. Rucka’s writing is sharp and character-focused, while Fernández’s stylized art gives the book an edgy tone. A sleek, brutal page-turner.
18. Saga, Volume 9
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan | Artist: Fiona Staples
Release Year: 2018
Summary:
Loss shatters the family again as Hazel and her loved ones confront deep trauma and forge forward, broken but still standing.
Why It’s Awesome:
An emotionally raw, introspective volume. It closes a major chapter of Saga with quiet devastation and poetic power. Staples’ illustrations ache with sorrow and resolve.
19. Invincible, Volume 6: A Different World
Writer: Robert Kirkman | Artist: Ryan Ottley
Release Year: 2006
Summary:
Mark visits an alien world and learns shocking truths about Viltrumite history and his own destiny, shaking his worldview to its core.
Why It’s Awesome:
This arc blends sci-fi exploration with personal stakes. Kirkman expands the mythos, while Ottley’s alien designs dazzle. It’s Invincible’s first true “cosmic” chapter—and a game-changer.
20. Bomb Queen, Volume 3: The Good, the Bad, and the Lovely
Writer/Artist: Jimmie Robinson
Release Year: 2007
Summary:
Bomb Queen’s villainous empire is challenged by a new rival, forcing her into unexpected alliances and PR nightmares.
Why It’s Awesome:
Satirical escalation at its best. This volume skewers politics, pop culture, and superhero tropes with devious flair. Robinson’s social commentary is sharper, wrapped in chaos and camp.
Thanks for checking out the post and in the comments let us know what your picks are.
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