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Comics in Western culture are almost always connected to superheroes, or at least that is how many people perceive them. However, this medium, like any other, has a lot of variety, and there is a genre that has been getting a lot of great material for many decades: fantasy.
While fantasy is a very broad concept and covers many different types of stories, there is no denying that there are a lot of fantasy series worth reading. Therefore, here are some of the best fantasy comics of all time in no particular order. Let’s begin!
From DC Comics’ now-legendary Vertigo imprint, The Sandman was started and written for the most part by author Neil Gailman, who has become known for his work as a fantasy writer in literature. The Sandman was the series where it all began for Neil.
Morpheus, also known as Dream, is one of the Seven Endless of the DC Universe, and the story begins with him being set free after decades in a prison of sorts. The series has a lot of events, plots, and subplots, but it is a journey of self-discovery for Morpheus and learning how most things cannot be changed.
The story is somber, minimalistic, and with a lot of heart. If you haven’t read it, there is much to like about The Sandman.
The fact that author Jeff Smith has managed to do so much with the Bone series is a testament to his qualities as a creator and how he has kept it viable over the years. It is one of those underrated series that only gets better with repeated reads.
The plot is quite simple: the three Bone cousins want to get back home, but many different challenges are coming their way, and a lot of colorful characters are also going to show up, making this a borderline epic at some points of the story.
Many Literature fans will be familiar with the Elric of Melnibone franchise: it is a book series created by author Michael Moorcock, and it tells the story of the cursed albino prince Elric and his sword, the evil Stormbringer. And while it has been adapted into comics in the 80s, Titan Comics’ version in recent years is simply the best.
The first volume tells the beginnings of Elric’s story, his idealistic self, and the many challenges he has to face with his people to execute his plans to prosper. The story is cynical, has a lot of twists, and maintains Moorcok’s philosophical views while being highly entertaining. Add to that the amazing art, and you have a fantasy series that should have gotten much more attention.
DC got the rights for the D&D franchise during the 80s, and part of that included Dragonlance, which is why it came up with its own comic book series. It is one of the company’s best-kept secrets and is a very refreshing read, mainly because it hasn’t ever been overly exposed, so things like spoilers or plot twists are unknown.
The best part is that every arc introduces many new characters and settings, thus expanding the worldbuilding and adding a lot of variety to the series, keeping things fresh. A series that is perfect for the Sword and Sorcery fan out there.
Okay, there is an argument to be made that Saga by writer Brian K. Vaughan, and artist Fiona Staples is a sci-fi series, but it also has a healthy amount of fantasy, so it’s fair game. Regardless, any excuse to promote this masterpiece is worth the technicality.
The story is about a married couple that wants to take care of their child, but there is a minor issue: they are being persecuted by their respective planets because these two races are at war with one another. In return, they have to deal with many prejudice and threats to have the quiet and peaceful life they crave.
Exciting, with a lot of worldbuilding, and with a strong message of love and unity, Saga is one of those series that needs all the attention it can get.
Fables is a series that had to be on this list. Fables manages to do something timeless: inject new life into characters that most people already know.
The premise is that a lot of folklore and fairy tale characters were kicked out of their homes and had to start life in this modern world, with the series showing the lives of all of them. It is fascinating to explore who these characters are and what they represent.
Author Bill Willingham pushes the envelope with this series with personality and creativity, always maintaining the core values that made these characters famous. Definitely a story worth checking out.
Starting in 1970 and going all the way to 1993, the legendary book series by author Robert Howard was adapted into a comic by Marvel, and it proved to be a big success for this. There are a lot of experts that claim that fantasy comics started because of this series.
In that regard, there are over two-hundred issues in this run, but the first hundred were done by the same writer, the legendary Roy Thomas, which are worth checking out. While it doesn’t have the sheer violence of Howard’s books due to the nature of mainstream comics, it is still delightful and keeps the franchise’s main themes.
