Meilleurs comics 2025 : best of rédaction par genre

This best of comics 2025 responds to a recurring request from the FR community: a classification by genre and by publisher, readable, sourced, and which does not simply repeat the dollar sales rankings of the American direct market. Our methodology crosses three grids: narrative and visual quality confirmed over at least six published issues, commercial traction in eBay unit and secondary figures, medium-term impact on the collection (archive value more than immediate spec value). We deliberately exclude event one-shots with no follow-up and corporate relaunches without a clear creative vision, even if their initial sales are strong.

The reason for a best of 2025 is threefold. First, the year saw the consolidation of the lineAbsoluteat DC, launching in October 2024, which changes the way DC publishes its flagship titles. Then, Marvel stabilized its “creator-driven” strategy around confirmed stars: Jonathan Hickman, Al Ewing, Saladin Ahmed, Jed MacKay. Finally, Image and Boom! continue to capture secondary value from indies, with #1 first print ratings climbing despite the general slowdown in the spec market. For a French collector who structures his orders Panini, Urban Comics, or directly in original version, this best of serves as a priority filter.

The methodology is based on Comichron / ICv2 cross-data for unit sales, GoCollect and eBay closed sales for secondary value, and a panel of editorial journals (Multiversity Comics, Comicsverse, ComicBookResources, AIPT Comics) for critical quality. We only retained titles with at least six issues published in 2025 or ongoing, discarded reissue volumes, and excluded titles whose quality plummeted after the departure of a key creator. Each entry specifies the main creator, launch date, publisher, and collector interest angle 2025-2026.

2025 selection methodology: quality, sales, impact, longevity criteria

Our 2025 selection methodology is based on four weighted criteria, each rated from 0 to 25, for a total score out of 100. The goal is to avoid the usual bias of best ofs which mix editorial buzz and lasting quality. A title that sells well at #1 but collapses at #3 has no archival value. Conversely, a confidential but artistically major title retains long-term collector's value.

First criterion: thenarrative and visual quality(25 points). Evaluated on consistency of arc, solidity of drawing and inking, quality of lettering, and ability to deliver on the creative promise announced in #1. Rating by cross-referencing five critical sources (Multiversity Comics, Comicsverse, ComicBookResources, AIPT Comics, and the editorial staff). A title that receives less than 18 on this criterion is automatically eliminated from the best of.

Second criterion: thecommercial traction(25 points). Measured by Diamond/Penguin Random House Direct unit sales over the first six issues, reorder ratio, and performance on the eBay secondary market. A stock may have modest traction at launch but generate strong secondary momentum several months later (typical case ofSomething is Killing the Children #1which gained value well after its 2019 release).

Third criterion:medium-term impact(25 points). Evaluated on the title's ability to influence its publisher, its genre, or comics culture at large.Sagaby Brian K. Vaughan remains the absolute benchmark for medium-term impact in the indie sphere. In 2025, we evaluate the impact over a minimum of 18 months, by comparing announcements of spin-offs, announced adaptations, and editorial takeovers.

Fourth criterion: theeditorial longevity(25 points). A title that lasts more than twelve issues without qualitative drift is worth more than a mini-marketing event with strong initial buzz. We value narrative arcs mastered over time rather than one-off fireworks. To anticipate 2026 purchases, seecomics spec 2026 key issues to mount.

Minimum score to appear in the best of: 75 out of 100. Average score of selected entries: 82 out of 100. Three titles exceed 90 out of 100 this year:Ultimate Spider-Man,Absolute Batman, AndImmortal Thor. Details of the ratings by title are included in the genre sections below.

Best of Marvel 2025: Ultimate Spider-Man, Immortal Thor, Wolverine

The year 2025 confirms Marvel's qualitative return after the 2018-2022 period deemed uneven by critics. Three titles stand out and achieve a score above 85 out of 100 in our grid. All three benefit from proven writers, stable artistic teams, and a coherent editorial strategy.

Ultimate Spider-Man(Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson). Launched in January 2024, the series reached number 18 in 2025 and remains one of Marvel's biggest commercial successes over the period. The first issue sold more than 200,000 copies in first print and continues to generate significant secondary traffic: the NM raw rating is around $35-50, the CGC 9.8 between $95 and $140. The central concept, a Peter Parker married to Mary Jane who discovers his identity at 35, breaks the usual mold and allowed Hickman to build a coherent Ultimate Universe over 18 months. Editorial rating: 94/100. For the economic context of this recovery, seeSpider-Man tier list key issues 2026.

Immortal Thor(Al Ewing, rotary cartoonists Martín Cóccolo, Salvador Larroca, Jan Bazaldua). Launched in August 2023 and concluded in mid-2025 after its final arc, the series marked the Thor decade. Al Ewing, already author ofImmortal Hulkwhich was a reference in 2018-2021, uses a similar grammar: dense mythology, layered narration, homages to the original Nordic myths. The series revived some of the classic Thor back-issue odds, includingThor #337(1983, first appearance of Beta Ray Bill). Editorial rating: 91/100. The successor,Thor: Hammer of Godannounced for 2026, is expected.

Wolverine(Saladin Ahmed, rotating designers). Taken over by Saladin Ahmed in 2024 after the end of the Benjamin Percy run, the title stabilized Wolverine in a changing period of X-Men From the Ashes. The 2025 arcs highlight a less berserker and more introspective Logan, continuing the Ahmed voice already experienced onMagnificent Ms. Marvel. The raw NM rating of the first issues is progressing moderately, partly driven by the post-Deadpool & Wolverineat the cinema in 2024. Editorial rating: 86/100. For Wolverine spec context, seemodern comics invest 2020-2026.

Other Marvel 2025 titles that are close to the top without entering:X-Men From the Ashes(Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman),Daredevil(Saladin Ahmed, Aaron Kuder) with perfect timing on the return of Born Again Disney+,Avengers(Jed MacKay), andFantastic Four(Ryan North, Ivan Fiorelli) still carried by the MCU First Steps release in July 2025.Fantastic Fourby Ryan North reached 80/100 in our grid and remains recommended but below the top three.

For a French Marvel collector who is structuring his 2025-2026 purchases, the priority remains the 1:25 and 1:50 ratio variants of the Hickman, Ewing and Ahmed series, in first print only. Second prints have no significant secondary value except in marginal cases. ThereX-Men From the Ashes #1first print cover A standard remains excellent value for money raw NM around $8-12.

Best of DC 2025: Absolute Batman, Action Comics, Birds of Prey

DC took advantage of 2025 to consolidate two parallel lines: its main universe and itsAbsolute Universelaunched in October 2024. The best of editorial features three titles which cover both lines and illustrate the current creative quality of the publisher.

Absolute Batman(Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta). First issue October 2024, the title has a first print run of more than 270,000 copies, an unprecedented figure for DC sinceBatman: Year Onein 1987 in the inflation-adjusted grid. The Absolute Universe concept reinvents Batman as a penniless orphan Wayne, more crude, more violent, in a dystopian Gotham. The raw NM cover A first print rating has stabilized around $25-35 in 2025, the CGC 9.8 between $110 and $165. Editorial rating: 93/100. For context of the Absolute line, seeBatman tier list key issues 2026.

Action Comics(Mark Waid, rotating artists including Skylar Patridge, Mike Perkins). Taken over by Mark Waid in 2023 and masterfully held in 2025, the series returns to a classic Superman without unnecessary cosmic escalation, structured around the chronicle of Metropolis and the Clark / Lois / extended family relationships. Mark Waid signs here one of the best Superman runs of the decade, following the Tomasi-Gleason and Bendis eras. Editorial rating: 87/100. The price of the first Waid issues remains moderate but is increasing, indicating a loyal rather than spec collector public.

Birds of Prey(Kelly Thompson, Leonardo Romero, Jordie Bellaire). Relaunched in September 2023, the series will reach a confirmed editorial pace in 2025. Kelly Thompson, already praised for her runsCaptain MarveletJessica Jones, offers a Black Canary - Cassandra Cain - Big Barda - Harley Quinn - Zealot team that works better than expected on paper. Leonardo Romero brings a clear and dynamic line very different from the usual team comics. Editorial rating: 84/100.

Out of top three but worth noting:Absolute Superman(Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval) launched November 2024,Absolute Wonder Woman(Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman),Detective Comics(Tom Taylor) who picks up the rhythm, andWonder Woman(Tom King, Daniel Sampere) still in her Wonder Woman 800+ arc. THEPoison Ivyby G. Willow Wilson remains an appreciated B+ title but without headliner ambition.

The DC 2025-2026 collector strategy remains clear:Absolute Batman #1first print andAbsolute Superman #1first print are priority purchases, ideally in CGC 9.8 for comfortable budgets or raw NM sleeves for constrained budgets. The high initial print run (more than 200,000 copies for Batman and 180,000 for Superman) limits the short-term spec potential but consolidates the long-term archival value. For arbitrations, seebeginner collector priorities 2024-2026.

Best of Image 2025: Public Domain, Geiger, Phantom Road

Image Comics remains the leading independent publisher in the market in 2025. Three titles stand out in our grid, with an “autonomous creator” profile and strong secondary value. Image maintains 9.1% unit market share, its highest since 2018.

Public Domain(Chip Zdarsky). Launched in 2022, the series published its fifth arc in 2025 and remains one of the editorial team's most popular Image titles. Zdarsky, already known forSex Criminalsand his runDaredevilMarvel, offers a comedy on the intellectual property of comics: an elderly designer tries to recover the rights to the superhero he created in the 1970s. The tone oscillates between satire of the comics industry and family drama, with economical and expressive drawing which serves the purpose. Editorial rating: 88/100. The raw NM #1 first print rating is around $15-22 in 2025, the CGC 9.8 between $75 and $110.

Geiger(Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Brad Anderson). Launched in 2021 in the Ghost Machine Universe, the series reaches its consolidated post-apocalyptic arc in 2025. Geoff Johns, former Chief Creative Officer of DC who left for Image in 2020, signs here one of his most personal works: an irradiated man emerging from a bunker in radioactive Nevada. Gary Frank brings precise realistic drawing which distinguishes the title from the mass of post-apocalyptic indies. The series generated a spin-off (Junkyard Joe) and is part of the Ghost Machine shared universe. Editorial rating: 86/100. The raw NM #1 first print rating is around $18-25 in 2025.

Phantom Road(Jeff Lemire, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Jordie Bellaire). Launching in 2023, the series revolves around a trucker who discovers a ghost highway connecting parallel dimensions. Jeff Lemire, prolific at Image (Black Hammer,Sweet Tooth), reunites with Gabriel Hernández Walta after their collaboration onThe Visionat Marvel. Walta's atmospheric drawing serves a horrific-existential narrative that is in line with theBlack Hammerwithout the redundancy. Editorial rating: 85/100. The #1 raw NM rating is around $12-18 in 2025.

Out of top three Image but worth mentioning:The Power Fantasyby Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard (launched 2024),Plastic: Death & Dollsby Doug Wagner (continuation ofPlastic2017),The Department of Truthby James Tynion IV (still in progress as of 2020), andLocal Manby Tony Fleecs and Tim Seeley which deserves development in the indie section below. For the Image calendar context, seecalendar Image independent comics.

The Image 2025-2026 collector strategy favors #1 first print covers with well-protected creative titles (Zdarsky, Johns, Lemire, Tynion, Gillen) in CGC 9.8 or raw NM. The 1:10 and 1:25 Image ratio variants have a variable secondary value depending on the cover artist: Frank Quitely, Stanley Lau, and Cliff Chiang stand out, the random cover variants revolve around the nominal price.

Best of indie 2025: Boom!, Skybound, Local Man (Image)

Beyond Image, the 2025 indie ecosystem is supported by Boom! Studios, Skybound (Image label with hybrid status), and a few peripheral Image titles which deserve their own indie category.

Something is Killing the Children(James Tynion IV, Werther Dell'Edera, Miquel Muerto). Boom! Studios. Launched in 2019 and still running in 2025, the series has crossed the 80 issue mark. The concept (a monster hunter who protects the children of a small American town from creatures invisible to adults) generated an extended universe (House of Slaughter,The Order of St. George). The #1 first print first cover Werther Dell'Edera, originally sold in 4,000 copies in 2019, trades in 2025 at $240 raw NM and $1,800-2,400 in CGC 9.8. Netflix adaptation announced for 2026-2027. Editorial rating: 90/100. It's the biggest indie horror success of the 2020 decade.

Energon Universe(Robert Kirkman, Daniel Warren Johnson, several teams). Skybound Image. Launched in 2023 withVoid Rivals, the franchise relaunches the Transformers and G.I. Joe licenses under the Skybound house after the departure of IDW in 2023. The main 2025 titles areTransformers(Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer),Joe(Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly),Cobra Commander,Duke,Scarlett. The visual quality of Daniel Warren Johnson onTransformersis widely acclaimed: its dynamic trait redefined the Transformers aesthetic in comics. Editorial rating: 88/100 for the entire franchise, 92/100 forTransformersalone.

Local Man(Tony Fleecs, Tim Seeley). Picture. Launched in 2023, the series is part of a deliberate “1990s image revisited” aesthetic, with a fallen superhero returning to his hometown and confronted with a murder. Tony Fleecs' drawing knowingly plays on the codes of the golden age of Image (Liefeld, McFarlane, Lee) while telling a solid contemporary thriller plot. The series is a critical love letter to the Golden Age of Image that works for nostalgic veterans and new readers alike. Editorial rating: 84/100.

Other 2025 indie titles worth mentioning:Nice House by the Seaby James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno (Image, continuation ofNice House on the Lake),The Holy Rollerby Rick Remender and Andy Samberg (Image),Plushby Doug Wagner (Image),Briarby Christopher Cantwell (Boom!),Hexagon Bridgeat Image, andFishfliesby Jeff Lemire (Image). On the Mad Cave side, let’s point outBattlecatswhose sales increased by 38% in 2024-2025 on the direct market.

For a French indie collector, the 2025-2026 priority remains #1 first print Boom! and Image in standard cover A. Indie ratio variants have a more volatile secondary value than Marvel/DC, except for the Tynion, Lemire, and Johnson titles. Direct VO import logistics via TFAW, Midtown or Discount Comic Book Service remain more economical than waiting for Panini/Urban translations if you are an English reader. SeeSubstack and Indie Creators 2025for the economic context.

Best of US manga and hybrid formats 2025: Boyfriend, Stripe

The year 2025 saw the strengthening of a still confidential but growing segment: "US manga" titles published by American publishers with an assumed manga aesthetic and a young adult target audience. These titles are not translated Japanese manga, but American comics which borrow the format, rhythm, and sometimes the visual grammar of shōjo or seinen manga.

Boyfriend(Sarah Andersen, Oni Press). Released in 2025 in a hybrid single issue/volume format, the series offers a contemporary romance with an assumed shōjo manga influence. Sarah Andersen, already known forSarah's Scribbles, here broadens its audience towards an adult audience with a denser story than its usual strips. Editorial rating: 81/100. The hybrid format and the web-native author (strong Instagram audience) make it an interesting case study for the 2025-2026 market.

stripe(author collective, BOOM! Studios). An anthology mini-series which brings together several short stories drawn in an aesthetic inspired by manga magazines (thick cover, interior newsprint, two-page rhythm). Editorial rating: 78/100. It is more of an editorial object than a best of narrative quality, but worth mentioning to understand the formal developments of US indie.

The US manga segment remains marginal in terms of turnover (less than 2% of the US single issue market) but it indicates an editorial direction that other publishers will undoubtedly take over in 2026-2027. For a French collector who wants to follow this niche, the purchase remains opportunistic: 1 to 3 #1 first print per year of critically validated titles, without any attempt at completeness.

As for Japanese manga translated into French, note that the editorial staff does not cover this category in the best of comics 2025, which remains focused on American comics and American hybrid formats. Japanese manga (Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, Solo Leveling) falls under another editorial grid and represents 51% of the French comics-manga-comics market in 2025 according to GfK, but this is not the subject of this classification. L'Generative AI impact on the market 2025has, however, begun to affect US indie illustration, a subject to watch in 2026.

Quick tier list top 10 all sources combined 2025

For collectors who want a quick read, here is our synthetic tier list top 10 from all sources, by decreasing score on our 100-point grid. Tiers: S (90+), A (85-89), B (80-84). No B- title is included in this top 10.

Tier S — absolute top 2025

1.Ultimate Spider-Man(Hickman / Checchetto, Marvel, January 2024) — 94/100. Best of the year for all publishers, maximum narrative and commercial quality.

2.Absolute Batman(Snyder / Dragotta, DC, October 2024 Absolute Universe) — 93/100. Most successful Absolute Universe launch, exceptional visual quality, record sales.

3.Immortal Thor(Al Ewing, rotating artists, Marvel, August 2023 - mid-2025) — 91/100. Run Thor major of the decade, conclusion 2025 acclaimed by critics.

4.Transformers(Daniel Warren Johnson, Skybound Image, 2023) — 92/100. The most relevant licensed series for 10 years, unique aesthetic.

Tier A — confirmed excellence

5.Something is Killing the Children(Tynion / Dell'Edera, Boom! 2019 ongoing) — 90/100. Indie horror reference 2020 decade.

6.Public Domain(Chip Zdarsky, Image, 2022) — 88/100. Satirical comedy about the comics industry, author's perspective.

7.Action Comics(Mark Waid, DC, 2023-2025) — 87/100. Classic Superman run mastered.

8.Wolverine(Saladin Ahmed, Marvel, 2024-2025) — 86/100. Strong post-Percy recovery.

9.Geiger(Geoff Johns / Gary Frank, Image Ghost Machine, 2021) — 86/100. Premium author post-apocalyptic.

10.Phantom Road(Lemire / Walta, Image, 2023) — 85/100. Atmospheric existential horror.

Tier B mentions (80-84) outside top 10:Birds of Prey(Kelly Thompson, DC) 84/100,Local Man(Fleecs / Seeley, Image) 84/100,X-Men From the Ashes(MacKay / Stegman, Marvel) 83/100,Daredevil(Ahmed / Kuder, Marvel) 82/100,Absolute Superman(Aaron / Sandoval, DC) 82/100,The Power Fantasy(Gillen / Wijngaard, Image) 82/100,Fantastic Four(Ryan North, Marvel) 80/100.

Collector recommendations 2025-2026: what to prioritize

For a French collector who structures his purchases over the next 12 months, here are three strategy profiles according to budget and objective. The profiles are designed to be cumulative if the budget allows, but can also serve as a priority filter.

“Quality curious reader” profile(budget 200 to 500 euros over 12 months). The goal is to read the most relevant 2025 titles without full collection logic. Purchase in trade paperback or hardcover of concluded arcs:Immortal Thor Omnibus(announced at the end of 2026 at Marvel),Public Domainvolumes 1-3,Geigervolume 1-2,Something is Killing the Childrenvolumes 1-7,Phantom Roadfull volume. Total around 280-380 euros excluding tax. For beginner collectors, the pillarbeginner collector's guidedetails the method.

“Quality single issue collector” profile(budget 800 to 1,800 euros over 12 months). Purchase of #1 first print first cover A in CGC 9.8 or raw NM well protected for top tier S and A titles. Absolute priority:Ultimate Spider-Man #1CGC 9.8 (rating $95-140),Absolute Batman #1CGC 9.8 (rating $110-165),Immortal Thor #1CGC 9.8 (rating $80-120),Transformers #1Skybound CGC 9.8 (price $65-95). Supplements in raw NM of other top 10 titles. Total approximately 1,100-1,600 euros excluding tax, excluding shipping costs and possible grading. For catalog management, seeComics Manager complete guide.

“Long-term archive investor” profile(budget 3,000 euros and more). The lens combines archival quality and mid-term spec potential. Priority to first prints ratio 1:25 and 1:50 from the Hickman, Snyder, and Ewing series:Ultimate Spider-Man #1variant 1:50 Cheung CGC 9.8,Absolute Batman #1variant 1:25 Quitely CGC 9.8,Immortal Thor #1variant 1:50 Ross. Mid-grade CGC 9.6 supplements on tier A titles to optimize the cost/grade ratio. Purchase strategy spread over 6-12 months to smooth out market peaks. Seeinvestment comics strategy update 2027for the complete method.

For collectors who want to enhance or estimate an existing collection before structuring their 2026 purchases, ourfree estimategives a range of values ​​within 48 hours. For multi-format catalog management (single issue VO, trade paperback Panini, manga, Franco-Belgian comics), ourcomics managertreats everything in a single database. The pillarcomics France collector guide pillarserves as a general reference for the French context.

In terms of the purchasing calendar, the January-March 2026 window remains the one where the 2025 prices stabilize after the holiday-convention window, and where raw NM good deals appear on eBay and Catawiki. The May-July 2026 window is traditionally that of pre-San Diego Comic-Con (July) increases, therefore less favorable for buying unless there is a targeted opportunity. For collectors in the process of building their mainstream collection, going through theImage and indie calendarsallows you to identify opportune windows month by month.

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