Here are our recommendations for the 20 best black and white graphic novels of all times! There are children’s books, sequential art novels and comic books included here.
20 Best Black And White Graphic Novels of All Time:
Ten Birds by Cybele Young
This is an illustrated fable that explores the stories of ten birds who are finding a way to cross a river. Each of the birds comes up with his or her own ingenious plan, except one, who is labelled as dumb by the others. But this bird comes up with a common sense solution that shocks everyone. This is a book about labels, wit and common sense.
The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore
This black and white comic has a tv adaptation, and follows a horror post epidemic world where the dead turn up to eat the living. Society as we know it ceases and the world is taken over by the walking dead.
Love and Rockets by Gilbert and Jamie Hernandez
This series of comics have several stories within them. Palomar tells the story of a Latin American village and its inhabitants and Hoppers 13 talks about a group of chicano characters.
Blankets by Craig Thompson
Steeped in the snow of Wisconsin winters is this poignant tale of two brothers and their sibling rivalry and two beautiful romances that bud. Thomson is as expressive through his brushstroke as he is through his pen. Incorporating elements from his own story such as faith, love and its abandonment, Thomson crafts a masterpiece of delicacy and love.
Black Holes by Charles Burns
This is a science fiction sequential art novel that explores 1970s Seattle plagued by a sexually transmitted disease that runs rampant among teens.
The Collector by Sergio Toppi
With stunning ink art, this historical fiction graphic novel tells the story of a connoisseur of rare and beautiful objects in colonial Paris.
Sin City by Frank Miller
This is a crime comic that introduces us to the world of Marv. The first volume delves into the murder of a beautiful woman called Goldie. This one’s a treat to the eyes and the mind.
Bone by Jeff Smith
This is a collection of fantasy comics that involves a group of cousins living in a pre technology world getting separated in a vast desert and encountering fantastical creatures.
Corto Maltese by Hugo Pratt
This is a French comic that draws on the traditions and myths from all parts of the world and crafts stories of adventure and humour. However these are also imbued with very real political scenarios, adding a dimension of veracity to them.
Buddha by Osamu Tezuka
In this comic, Osamu re-creates the life and times of Buddha in eight volumes. Delving into the roots of his aristocratic life in India and renunciation of the world, he crafts a masterful illustrated epic.
Essex County by Jeff Lemire
Set in Essex Country of Ontario in Canada, this graphic novel examines the changing life of a community. Haunting meditations on family – estrangement of brothers and reconciliation, community – a caring nurse, and memory make this one a masterpiece.
The Eyes of the Cat by Alejandro Jodorowsky
This whimsical and slim graphic novel that alludes to a post apocalyptic world involving conversation between a man, a bird and a cat,
The Crow by James O’Barr
This horror graphic novel tells the story of Eric, who returns from the dead to avenge his killers and the rapists of his lover, Shelley.
Rachel Rising by Terry Moore
This is another horror graphic novel that begins with Rachel rising from her shallow grave and hunting her killer. But she discovers something even more ghastly as she does so.
Wolves by Becky Cloonan
This book follows a hunter chasing an elusive beast in snow ridden woods, and reflecting upon his own life in the process. This book is hauntingly beautiful.
Stray Bullets by David Lapham
This crime graphic novel tells the story of multiple people. There’s an innocent girl who witnesses murders and is shaken, there’s an adolescent who falls for a clingy woman, there’s gangsters and girls who talk to God and low rent hoods.
Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore
This graphic novel is essentially a love triangle, with beautiful illustrations and themes that touch on homosexuality.
Batman: Black and White by Mark Chiarello
This collection of short stories puts Batman in a variety of roles – detective, crime fighter, vampire and more.
Round Trip by Ann Jonas
This is a children’s book that explores a day in the life of a country dwelling girl who visits the city for the first time. It’s cute and astonishing but also informative.
Shadow by Suzy Lee
This picture book begins and ends with the click of a lightbulb. A young girl goes to the attic and discovers the play of shadows, performing in her own shadow show until the light comes on.
Also Read: Good Novels With a Mysterious Protagonist
