The best science fiction comics are, at the top,Saga,Y: The Last Man,East of WestetTransmetropolitan. This tier list classifies SF comic stories according to their ambition, their universe and their quality of writing. Facts (authors, dates) verified, no invented odds.
Science fiction in comics is not limited to space opera: it encompasses dystopia, political anticipation, time travel, post-apocalyptic. This tier list brings together the series which build therichest universes and strongest ideas. Criterion: SF ambition combined with narrative mastery.
Editorial Ranks, Factsverified. It is a reading guide.
Tier S: the heights of SF
Sagais the family space opera that reconciled the general public with independent comics.Y: The Last Manimagine a world where all males die except one — masterful social anticipation.East of Westunfolds an apocalyptic SF western of crazy ambition. AndTransmetropolitanis a cyberpunk satire about a journalist in a twisted future.
Tier A: the great universes
Paper Girlsmixes 80s nostalgia and time travel.Go downby Jeff Lemire follows a child robot in a hostile galaxy.The Manhattan Projectsrewrites the scientific history of the 20th century, andWe Stand on Guardimagine a war between the United States and Canada.
Tier B: inventive anticipation
Ex Machinaintersects superheroes and municipal politics.Lowplunges humanity to the bottom of the oceans,Treesimagine a passive alien invasion, andBlack Sciencelaunches a mad escape across dimensions.
Tier C: the gems of the genre
Injectionmixes SF and folklore,Prophetreinvents an old character in a psychedelic space opera, andCoprais a jubilant indie homage to supervillain team-ups. Three demanding and rewarding SF reads, a notch below the peaks.
To remember
- Brian K. Vaughan dominates the genre:Saga, Y, Paper Girls, Ex Machina, it's him.
- SF is a stronghold of indie(Head image), far from superheroes.
- Gender covers everything:dystopia, time travel, post-apo, cyberpunk.
- Each entry refers to a key file or number on the site.
Frequently asked questions
Sagais unanimously recognized as the best modern SF series. For social anticipation,Y: The Last Manis a reference, both signed Brian K. Vaughan.
No. The genre covers dystopia (Transmetropolitan), time travel (Paper Girls), post-apocalyptic (East of West) and political anticipation (Y: The Last Man).
BySaga, accessible and immediately endearing, thenPaper GirlsouY: The Last Man. All can be read in collections.
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