Best Adventure Comics and Graphic Novels
Sweeping quests and journeys into the unknown — the adventure comics worth your shelf.
By Web Admin
Adventure is the oldest engine in comics. Before capes, before continuity, the medium was built on quests, treasure maps, jungle expeditions, and the simple, irresistible pull of “what’s over the next ridge?” A great adventure comic gives you momentum — a hero (or a whole ragtag crew) who wants something badly enough to cross an ocean, a desert, or a galaxy to get it. The best of them pair that forward drive with real heart, so the journey costs the characters something.
Below are the adventure comics and graphic novels we actually press into people’s hands, grouped by the kind of journey they offer. Prices are approximate US new-copy figures; most turn up cheaper secondhand or free at a library. A few of these are all-ages classics; a couple are firmly for adults, and we flag those where it matters. Let’s pack a bag.
How we picked these adventures
Three things earned a book its place. First, momentum: the story has to move, with a goal that keeps pulling you forward. Second, a sense of place: the world should feel worth exploring, whether that’s a haunted valley or a dying star. Third, a payoff: the destination has to justify the miles. If you want a broader on-ramp to the medium first, our best comics for beginners guide narrows the whole field, and the best graphic novels of all time list is the natural companion to this one.
All-ages quests the whole family can read
The purest adventure comics are often the ones written to be read at any age. These carry zero content warnings and endless charm.
- Bone (1991–2004) — Jeff Smith’s masterpiece follows three cousins lost in a mysterious valley, sliding from slapstick comedy into a sweeping fantasy war. The one-volume edition is ~1,300 pages, ~US$40. See our Bone review for the full breakdown.
- Amulet (2008–2024) — Kazu Kibuishi’s nine-volume saga about siblings drawn into an underground world of robots and magic. Beautifully painted, ~US$13 per volume.
- The Adventures of Tintin (1929–1976) — Herge’s globe-trotting reporter set the template for the whole genre. The three-in-one collections run ~US$25 and hold up remarkably well.
For more titles that work across generations, our best all-ages comics guide goes deeper.
Fantasy journeys and epic quests
When the adventure crosses into swords, sorcery, and impossible landscapes, these are the books that deliver.
- Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1982–1994) — Hayao Miyazaki’s ecological epic follows a young princess navigating a poisoned world. Seven volumes, ~US$25 for the two-volume box set format. A quest with a conscience.
- Delicious in Dungeon (2014–2023) — Ryoko Kui’s dungeon-crawl comedy about a party who cook and eat the monsters they fight. Complete at 14 volumes, ~US$14 each. Smarter than its premise.
- Rat Queens, Vol. 1 (2014) — Kurtis Wiebe and Roc Upchurch’s foul-mouthed fantasy party of mercenaries. Very much for adults (violence, drug use, strong language). ~US$10.
If sword-and-sorcery is your lane, the wider best fantasy comics list has a dozen more.
Treasure hunts and high-seas adventure
Nothing says adventure like a map with an X on it. These lean into exploration, danger, and the lure of the score.
- One Piece (1997–ongoing) — Eiichiro Oda’s pirate epic is the best-selling comic series in history for a reason: it is pure, relentless adventure. Start with the East Blue box set (Vol. 1–12, ~US$85). Ongoing, so treat it as a lifelong voyage.
- Usagi Yojimbo (1984–ongoing) — Stan Sakai’s wandering rabbit ronin, drifting through a beautifully researched feudal Japan. Nearly every volume stands alone; ~US$16 each. Mild violence.
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire tie-ins aside, try Kingdom (2019) — for a grounded historical war-and-honor adventure, though newcomers may prefer the pirate route above.
Science-fiction expeditions
Sometimes the frontier is a planet, not a coastline. These trade the map for a star chart.
- Saga, Vol. 1 (2012) — Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ galaxy-spanning family on the run. The gold standard of modern adventure comics, though firmly for adults (sex, violence). ~US$10.
- Descender, Vol. 1 (2015) — Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen’s watercolor space opera about a boy robot hunted across the galaxy. ~US$10.
- Low, Vol. 1 (2014) — Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini’s undersea sci-fi about humanity’s last city beneath a dying sun. Gorgeous and melancholy. For adults. ~US$10.
Picks at a glance
If the full list is a lot, this table narrows it to the widest range of tastes for the lowest total spend.
| Book | Type of adventure | Length | Approx. price | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone | Fantasy quest | 1,300 pp | ~US$40 | All ages |
| Amulet, Vol. 1 | Portal fantasy | 192 pp | ~US$13 | All ages |
| One Piece: East Blue | Pirate epic | 12 vols | ~US$85 | Teen+ |
| Nausicaa | Eco-fantasy | 7 vols | ~US$25/box | Teen+ |
| Saga, Vol. 1 | Space opera | 160 pp | ~US$10 | Adult |
Print or digital for adventure comics?
Pros
- Print shows off the sweeping landscape art these books trade on
- Big omnibus editions (Bone, Amulet) are excellent per-page value
- Physical volumes are easy to lend to the next reader in the family
Cons
- Long series eat shelf space fast
- Digital first volumes routinely drop to a few dollars for sampling
- Right-to-left manga takes a page or two to adjust to on a small screen
Our honest take: buy the art-forward all-ages epics in print, and sample the ongoing sagas digitally before you commit to a long voyage.
AmazonCheck price on AmazonContent warnings, briefly
Adventure spans the whole age range. Bone, Amulet, and Tintin are genuinely all-ages. One Piece and Nausicaa are teen-friendly with cartoon violence. Saga, Low, and Rat Queens are for adults, with sex, graphic violence, and strong language. Check an individual review before gifting to a younger reader.
Where to go next
Loved the fantasy side? The best fantasy comics guide is your next stop. Want more journeys that anyone can read? Try best all-ages comics. And if you are still building a first shelf, the best graphic novels of all time list and our beginners guide will keep you stocked for months.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best adventure comic to start with?
For most readers, Bone — it is all-ages, complete, tremendous value at ~US$40 for the whole story, and it swings from comedy to genuine epic. If you want something for adults, Saga, Vol. 1 is the modern benchmark.
What is a good adventure comic for kids?
Amulet and Bone are the two we recommend most often. Both are fast-moving, beautifully drawn, and carry no content warnings, which makes them ideal gateway books for younger readers.
Are manga good for adventure fans?
Absolutely — the genre is a manga specialty. One Piece is the definitive pirate epic, and Nausicaa is a self-contained masterpiece. Just start with a first box set rather than trying to buy an ongoing series all at once.
Do I need to read these in order?
No. Every book here can be picked up on its own. Ongoing sagas like One Piece and Saga should be read in volume order once you start them, but there is no outside homework required to jump in.
