The Best Comic Anthologies and Anthology Series
Many voices, one book. The best comic anthologies and anthology series for discovering new creators.
By Web Admin
An anthology is the best way to discover comics you would never have picked up otherwise. Instead of one story by one team, you get a dozen — short pieces by different creators, packed into a single book or magazine. Historically, anthologies are where the medium’s biggest names got their start and where its wildest experiments happened. If you want to broaden your taste fast, this is the format to explore.
This guide covers the best comic anthologies and anthology series, from legendary magazines to modern curated collections. Prices are approximate US figures. Because anthologies often gather horror, satire, and mature underground work, we have flagged content warnings throughout. If you love discovering new voices, our best indie graphic novels guide is the perfect companion.
What is a comic anthology, exactly?
Two things share the name. An anthology series is an ongoing publication — often a weekly or monthly magazine — that runs multiple short strips per issue, like Britain’s 2000 AD or Japan’s Shonen Jump. A curated anthology is a one-off book gathering short stories around a theme or from an editor’s roster, like the Flight collections. Both are goldmines for finding new creators, and both reward readers who like variety over a single long narrative. Many creators featured in our best comic book runs guide first appeared in anthologies.
The legendary anthology magazines
These long-running magazines defined what the format could do and served as launchpads for the medium’s biggest talents.
- 2000 AD (1977 to present) — the British weekly that gave the world Judge Dredd and launched Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman, and more. Collected trades run US$20 to US$30. Content warning: violence and dark satire.
- Heavy Metal (1977 to recent) — the illustrated sci-fi and fantasy magazine famous for lush European art and adult content. Content warning: explicit sex, nudity, and violence — strictly for adults.
- EC Comics (1950s) — the horror, crime, and sci-fi line behind Tales from the Crypt and Weird Science, now beautifully reprinted in the EC Archives hardcovers (~US$25 to US$50). Foundational and endlessly imitated. Content warning: horror and grisly imagery.
- MAD Magazine — the satirical institution that shaped American comedy for generations. Best sampled through its many collected editions.
The best modern curated anthologies
These themed collections are perfect for discovering contemporary talent in a single sitting.
- Flight (2004 to 2011) — Kazu Kibuishi’s beautifully edited series of all-ages art comics, a launchpad for many acclaimed cartoonists. Around US$25 per volume.
- Now (Fantagraphics, 2017 to present) — Eric Reynolds’s ongoing showcase of cutting-edge alternative cartoonists, roughly US$13 per issue.
- The Best American Comics — an annual, prestige survey of the year’s finest short comics, guest-edited each volume. A reliable ~US$25 primer on the alternative scene.
- Kramers Ergot — the ambitious, boundary-pushing art-comics anthology that helped define modern alt-comics. Content warning: some mature and experimental content.
Anthology series disguised as ongoing titles
Some of the greatest comics are technically anthology series, running loosely connected stories under one banner over decades.
- Love and Rockets (1982 to present) — Los Bros Hernandez’s landmark series, alternating Jaime’s “Locas” and Gilbert’s “Palomar” stories. One of the finest bodies of work in comics. Content warning: sex, violence, and mature themes.
- Eightball — Daniel Clowes’s solo anthology that serialized Ghost World and other classics.
- Dark Horse Presents — the long-running showcase that debuted characters like Sin City and Hellboy.
- Island (Image, 2015) — Brandon Graham and Emma Rios’s ambitious modern anthology of longer serialized sci-fi and fantasy pieces, prized by fans of adventurous alt-genre work.
These serialized anthologies are especially valuable because they let creators experiment without committing to a full ongoing series. A short strip in Dark Horse Presents or a chapter in Island can test an idea that later grows into a beloved standalone book, which is exactly how many of the medium’s most famous characters and stories first reached readers. Following an anthology series over time is like having a scout constantly bringing you the most interesting new work in the field.
Picks at a glance
| Anthology | Type | Focus | Approx. price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 AD | Weekly series | Sci-fi & action | ~US$25/trade | Action and satire fans |
| Flight | Curated books | All-ages art comics | ~US$25/vol | Younger and new readers |
| EC Archives | Reprint hardcovers | Horror & sci-fi | ~US$25 to US$50 | Horror history buffs |
| Love and Rockets | Ongoing series | Literary slice-of-life | ~US$18/vol | Literary readers |
| Now | Ongoing issues | Alt-comics showcase | ~US$13/issue | New-talent hunters |
Why read anthologies at all?
Pros
- Discover many new creators in one affordable book
- Short stories are easy to dip into between longer reads
- Historic anthologies show where famous creators started
- Great value per page of variety
Cons
- Quality varies story to story by nature
- Some legendary anthologies contain explicit adult content
- Older magazine runs can be hard to find complete
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How to start collecting anthologies
- Pick by taste. Love horror? Start with the EC Archives. Want all-ages art? Try Flight. Our best horror comics guide pairs well with the EC line.
- Use anthologies as a discovery tool. Note the creators whose short pieces you love, then seek out their solo books.
- Mind the content ratings. Magazines like Heavy Metal are adults-only.
- Try the annuals. The Best American Comics is a low-risk yearly sampler of the alternative scene.
Where to go next
Anthologies are the front door to the independent scene, so the natural next stops are our best indie graphic novels guide and our full indie comics hub. If the short-format bug bit you, our best short manga guide covers the Japanese equivalent, and the best graphic novels of all time list rounds out the essentials.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best comic anthology to start with?
For discovering classic creators, 2000 AD collected editions are ideal. For contemporary art comics, Flight or The Best American Comics are welcoming and beautifully produced. Choose based on the tone you prefer.
What is the difference between an anthology series and a curated anthology?
An anthology series is an ongoing publication like 2000 AD that runs multiple strips per issue over time. A curated anthology is a standalone book, like a Flight volume, gathering short stories from various creators around a theme or editor.
Are comic anthologies good value?
Yes. You get many creators and stories in a single volume, which makes anthologies an efficient, affordable way to sample the medium’s range and find new favorites to follow.
Which anthologies are appropriate for all ages?
Flight is genuinely all-ages, and many Best American Comics selections are fine for teens. Magazines like Heavy Metal and 2000 AD, and lines like the EC horror titles, contain adult content and are best for older readers.
