Check out these top comic books for kids!
Here at Epic, we’re huge comics and graphic novel fans. Not only are they a hit with adults and kids alike, they offer so many benefits to young readers. Educators everywhere use these visually driven children’s books in the classroom to build reading skills and get students excited to read. The illustrations make them extra immersive and interactive, and appeal to even the most reluctant readers.
Fans of this type of storytelling will find much to explore on Epic. From kids’ comics for early readers to more advanced volumes for 10-12-year-olds, we’ve got something for kids of every age group and reading level.
Check out some of our favorite comic books for kids below!
Comic Books for Kids on Epic
Batman Is Trustworthy
Written by: Christopher Harbo
Illustrated by: Otis Frampton
Ages: 3-7
Little fans of the Avengers, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Superman and others will love this book featuring DC Comics favorite, Batman.
Batman is reliable and loyal to his friends like his sidekick Robin. He courageously fights villains like the Joker to protect Gotham City. But best of all, in this character-building take on the classic comic book hero, Batman is trustworthy. This is a great way to teach little ones about the importance of trustworthiness while getting them stoked to read.
Little Mouse Gets Ready
By: Jeff Smith
Ages: 3-7
From Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Jeff Smith comes this adorable toon book following Little Mouse as he gets ready to visit the barn. With simple text and cute illustrations, young children can learn from Little Mouse the joys and challenges of getting dressed, from snaps and buttons to Velcro and even tail holes!
Noodlehead Nightmares
By: Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss
Ages: 6-9
This hilarious, easy-to-read graphic novel is all about brothers Mac and Mac, a pair of macaroni noodles (yes, really) who love to eat pie and hate making their beds. But because their noodle-heads are hollow, they’re easy to fool! And their friend Meatball isn’t afraid to use that to his advantage when the situation demands.
Filled with clever wordplay and jokes this graphic novel picture book is perfect for comic fans, reluctant readers or even for bedtime. Your kid can learn from the silly adventures, which will challenge them to use their “noodles” to spot holes and anticipate the brothers’ mishaps along the way.
Bright Family Book 1: Versus the Multiverse
Written by: Matthew Cody
Illustrated by: Derick Brooks, Warren Wucinich
Ages: 6-12
This Epic Originals Read-To-Me book kicks off a series of thrilling adventures through the multiverse. It all starts when a portal sends Via and Jayden’s parents to an unknown dimension. It’s up to the siblings, with the help of their robot nanny, Dusty to save them.
If your kid loves this series, you can also check out the Boredom Busters companion activity book, filled with out-of-this-world crafts, games, and more based on the Bright Family’s adventures.
Hilda and the Troll
By: Luke Pearson
Ages: 8-12
In Hilda’s enchanted world, she can’t sit still and can never say no to an adventure. And in a land of talking crows, moving mountains and more, who can blame her?
This book is all about a young girl’s magical quest through the windswept North as she braves a snowstorm and befriends creatures like trolls, a lonely wooden man and even a giant as she tries to find her way home.
Written by: Cece Bell
Illustrated by: David Lasky
Ages: 8-12
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? For Cece, her new magic ability is bionic hearing!
As a deaf student, Cece is afraid that the other kids in her class will stare at her and her hearing aid, AKA “Phonic Ear.” But her anxiety melts away as something miraculous begins to happen. Cece can not only hear her teacher in class, but in the hallway, from the restroom and in the teacher’s lounge!
Your kid will love this semi-autobiographical #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel about Cece’s wacky adventures navigating middle school, friendships and the experience of being different.
Finding Nemo
By: Ryuichi Hoshino
Age: 8-12
Fans of the Disney Pixar classic animated film, “Finding Nemo,” will love this manga-style comic about Marlin, a clown fish on his search for his son.
When Nemo gets caught by a diver and ends up in a dentist’s fish tank, Marlin sets out across the ocean to find him. With the help of a lovable but memory-challenged blue reef fish named Dory, he faces sharks, jellyfish and other dangers. Meanwhile, Nemo plots his escape from the dentist’s tank.
Adventure Time: Volume 1
Written by: Ryan North
Illustrated by: Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb
Ages: 8-12
In this comic book adaptation of the popular animated series, Finn the Human, Jake the Dog, and Princess Bubblegum must take on the Lich, a “super-lame, SUPER-SCARY skeleton dude,” in the Land of Ooo.
Featuring fan-favorite characters Marceline the Vampire Queen, Lumpy Space Princess and the Ice King, can they best this destructive foe?
The Complete Big Nate #1
By: Lincoln Peirce
Ages: 8-12
11-year-old “Big Nate” tops the troublemaker list. In fact, he holds the school record in detentions, but that doesn’t stop this self-described genius from dreaming big. In this popular comic book series, your middle-grader can join Big Nate and best buddies, Francis and Teddy as they navigate overzealous teachers, wimpy cafeteria food and all things ordinary.
The Tea Dragon Society
By: Katie O’Neill
Ages: 9-12
This gentle fantasy story follows a blacksmith apprentice, Greta, after she finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. She discovers the dying art of caring for tea dragons from kindly tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. Then she befriends the pair, as well as the timid Minette as she learns more and more about how this enchanting craft enriches lives, including her own.
Lumberjanes
Written by: Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis
Illustrated by: Brooke Allen
Ages: 11-12
This charming, laugh-out-loud comic series featured five best friends, determined to have the best summer ever, even if it means having to fight some supernatural bad guys along the way.
Set at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, besties Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley embark on magical quests and go head to head with creatures like three-eyed foxes. secret caves, anagrams and more. This is the perfect summer read for tweens who enjoy action, adventure and stories about friendship.
Other Recommendations
Want more? Check out these picks for our favorite comic books for kids off our platform, all available on Amazon.
Marvel Storybook Collection
By: Brian T. Snider, Shoshana Stopek
The most epic Marvel superheroes unite to keep the galaxy safe! Captain Marvel and Gamora face their fears, the Guardians of the Galaxy capture a slippery space dragon, and more in this fun, action-packed compilation of short action stories.
New Kid
By: Jerry Craft
Winner of the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award and Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature! This timely graphic novel gives an honest depiction of what it’s like to start a new school with low diversity, and how tough it can be for kids of color to fit in. When 7th-grade Jordan Banks moves to a prestigious private school, he struggles to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself.
Amulet: The Stonekeeper
By Kazu Kibuishi
After the death of their father, Emily, Navin and their mother move into the home of their late great grandfather. In this strange house, they discover a frightening underground world filled with demons, robots, talking animals and other creatures. They enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit to help save her mother. Fans of the popular Harry Potter will love this exhilarating, otherworldly fantasy tale.
Tiny Titans
By Art Baltazar
Introducing even more superhuman fun for young readers who are fans of the DC Universe. “Tiny titans” Raven and Beast Boy go on all sorts of awesome adventures in this adorable book. This adorable book is a great introduction to superhero comics.
Smile
By: Raina Telgemeier
This #1 New York Times bestseller and Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir depicts the author’s struggle after injuring her two front teeth after a bad fall in the 6th grade. Wanting nothing more than to live a normal life, she faces a long journey of surgeries, braces, embarrassing headgear and fake teeth—not to mention the normal struggles with friends and other coming of age themes.
The Shadow Hero
By: Gene Luen Yang
In the 1940s, a legendary hero was born: the Green Turtle. Like other comic characters, he solved crimes and fought injustice. But behind this crusader’s mask was something that wasn’t so common: he was the first Asian American superhero. In “The Shadow Hero,” Gene Luen Yang creates an origin story for the Green Turtle in a beautifully illustrated comic adventure for today’s audience.
Dog Man
By: Dav Pilkey
From the creators of the Captain Underpants graphic novel series, meet Dog Man! Part dog, part man, this crime-biting creation from George and Harold have created a new hero. Greg the police dog, along with his new abilities following a life-changing surgery, has a real nose for justice. But can he resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?
That’s our list of best comic books for kids, but there’s so much more! If your little comic-strip crusader likes these, explore our collections of graphic novels and comics on Epic, like this one.
To learn more about the advantages of visual reading mediums like comics and graphic novels, check out our post: “Do Graphic Novels Count as ‘Real’ Reading?” Audiobooks are another great option for kids who prefer nontraditional books.