The Best Comics and Graphic Novels About Friendship
Warm, funny, and moving stories about found family, for every age.
By Web Admin
Some of the most re-readable comics have nothing to do with superpowers. They’re about people learning how to show up for each other: the friend who stays, the friend who drifts, the group that turns into family. Comics are unusually good at this, because a glance, a slumped shoulder or a shared silence in one panel can say more than a page of dialogue. This guide covers the best comics about friendship across every age, from a fantasy epic kids and adults can share to a sharp, bittersweet portrait of two best friends coming apart after high school.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How we chose: we started from our own reading of these books and checked them against the editions currently listed on Amazon, favoring publisher editions that are in stock and easy to find. We note reader ages and content where it matters. Prices and availability change, so the buttons show Amazon’s current price.
| Pick | Best for | Why | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone: One Volume Edition | Best overall |
| $33.89as of Nov 5, 2026 7:09 pm UTC | View on Amazon |
| New Kid | Middle-grade readers |
| $7.54as of Nov 6, 2026 12:04 am UTC | View on Amazon |
| Real Friends | Friend-group drama |
| $7.14as of Nov 6, 2026 7:20 am UTC | View on Amazon |
| Roller Girl | When best friends drift |
| $7.47as of Nov 6, 2026 12:04 am UTC | View on Amazon |
| Lumberjanes Vol. 1 | Found-family adventure |
| $7.06as of Nov 6, 2026 12:04 am UTC | View on Amazon |
| Giant Days Vol. 1 | University-age friendships |
| $9.31as of Nov 6, 2026 7:20 am UTC | View on Amazon |
| Ghost World | Adult readers |
| $10.22as of Nov 5, 2026 7:09 pm UTC | View on Amazon |
Prices and availability change; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume — Best overall
Three cousins, one valley and a friendship that holds through a full fantasy epic.
Check price on Amazon$33.89as of Nov 5, 2026 7:09 pm UTCWhy we like it
- Works for kids and adults at the same time
- Funny first, then genuinely epic
- The whole story in a single book
- Loyalty between the cousins drives everything
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Creator | Jeff Smith |
| Publisher | Cartoon Books |
| Collects | The complete Bone story |
| Pages | 1,360 |
| Format | Paperback, black and white |
| Reader age | Not stated in listing; all ages, with some fantasy peril |
Bone: One Volume Edition — Jeff Smith, Cartoon Books, complete story, 1,360 pages
Jeff Smith's Bone follows three cousins run out of their hometown, Fone Bone, the scheming Phoney Bone and the easygoing Smiley Bone, who end up stranded in a valley full of dragons, rat creatures and a girl named Thorn with a secret past. It starts as a Pogo-flavored comedy and grows, over thirteen years of self-publishing, into a full fantasy war story. Through all of it, the thing that never changes is that the cousins keep coming back for each other, however badly Phoney behaves.
That's why it sits at the top of a friendship list rather than a fantasy one. Fone Bone's steady decency, Smiley's cheerful loyalty and the bond that forms with Thorn and her grandmother are the emotional core. It's also the rare book a parent and a nine-year-old can both read and both love, which makes it a natural shared read.
This one-volume edition is the black-and-white original in a single brick of a paperback. Younger readers who prefer color can find Scholastic's nine-volume color edition; our Bone review covers the differences.
Pros
- Complete story, no waiting for volumes
- Genuinely all-ages
- Comedy and adventure in balance
Cons
- Heavy and awkward for small hands
- Black and white only
- Middle stretch slows down
Get Bone: One Volume Edition on Amazon
2. New Kid — Best for middle-grade readers
A seventh grader finds his people at a new private school where he's one of few Black students.
Check price on Amazon$7.54as of Nov 6, 2026 12:04 am UTCWhy we like it
- First graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal
- Funny, specific school-day detail
- Friendships form naturally, not on cue
- Opens real conversations about fitting in
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Creator | Jerry Craft |
| Publisher | Quill Tree Books |
| Collects | Original graphic novel |
| Pages | 256 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age | Not stated in listing; middle grade, roughly 8 to 12 |
New Kid — Jerry Craft, Quill Tree Books, original graphic novel, 256 pages
Jordan Banks wants to go to art school. Instead, his parents send him to Riverdale Academy Day, a wealthy private school where he's one of the few students of color, and where teachers keep calling him by the wrong name. New Kid is about how he gets through that year, and a lot of it comes down to friends: Drew, who arrives with his own wariness, and Liam, the rich kid who turns out to be a real friend.
Jerry Craft handles microaggressions and class with a light, funny touch, and Jordan's sketchbook pages give the book a second voice. It won the 2020 Newbery Medal, the first graphic novel to do so, and it reads fast enough for reluctant readers. The sequel, Class Act, shifts focus to Drew.
Pros
- Warm, funny and sharp at once
- Great for classroom discussion
- Strong sequel if they want more
Cons
- Episodic structure, light on plot
- Adults may find the lessons a bit direct
- Some jokes aim squarely at kids
3. Real Friends — Best for friend-group drama
Shannon Hale's memoir of an elementary-school clique and the anxiety of not knowing where you stand.
Check price on Amazon$7.14as of Nov 6, 2026 7:20 am UTCWhy we like it
- Honest about how cliques actually work
- Takes childhood anxiety seriously
- LeUyen Pham's art is warm and expressive
- Two sequels follow her into middle school
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Writer / Artist | Shannon Hale / LeUyen Pham |
| Publisher | First Second |
| Collects | Original graphic memoir (book 1 of 3) |
| Pages | 224 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age | Not stated in listing; middle grade; bullying and anxiety |
Real Friends — Hale and Pham, First Second, book 1 of 3, 224 pages
Novelist Shannon Hale's memoir of her own elementary years is about a best friend, Adrienne, who joins the popular group, and about how hard Shannon works to stay inside it. Anyone who remembers the shifting rules of a school clique will recognize the queen-bee politics, the sudden freeze-outs and the relief of finding one person who just likes you.
What lifts it above a standard school story is its honesty about Shannon's anxiety and about bullying at home from an older sister. It's the most emotionally specific of the middle-grade picks here. Best Friends and Friends Forever continue the story, and First Second also sells all three as a boxed set.
Pros
- True story, told without sugarcoating
- Validating for anxious kids
- Easy to continue with the sequels
Cons
- Some family scenes are upsetting
- Ending is quiet rather than triumphant
- Aimed at younger readers than Giant Days
4. Roller Girl — Best for when best friends drift apart
A twelve-year-old discovers roller derby the same summer her best friend picks dance camp instead.
Check price on Amazon$7.47as of Nov 6, 2026 12:04 am UTCWhy we like it
- Captures the ache of an outgrown friendship
- Newbery Honor book
- Roller derby makes a great backdrop
- New friendships replace, not erase, the old
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Creator | Victoria Jamieson |
| Publisher | Dial |
| Collects | Original graphic novel |
| Pages | 256 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age | Not stated in listing; middle grade |
Roller Girl — Victoria Jamieson, Dial, original graphic novel, 256 pages
Astrid assumes her best friend Nicole will join her at junior roller derby camp. Nicole chooses dance camp instead, and Astrid spends the summer bruised, lonely and furious before slowly finding a new crowd at the rink. Victoria Jamieson, who skated derby herself, gets the sport right, but the book's real subject is that first experience of a friendship ending without anyone doing anything terribly wrong.
It pairs well with Real Friends: Hale's book is about trying to hold on, Jamieson's about learning to let go. Roller Girl was a 2016 Newbery Honor book and is a dependable pick for readers around ten to thirteen.
Pros
- Relatable, low-drama realism
- Energetic sports scenes
- Encourages kids to try new things
Cons
- Astrid can be hard to like early on
- Predictable story beats
- Older teens may find it young
5. Lumberjanes Vol. 1 — Best found-family adventure
Five campers, one cabin and a forest full of monsters, held together by friendship to the max.
Check price on Amazon$7.06as of Nov 6, 2026 12:04 am UTCWhy we like it
- Friendship is literally the camp motto
- Funny, fast and inclusive
- Mystery hooks pull you into later volumes
- Eisner winner for teen readers
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Writers / Artist | Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, ND Stevenson / Brooke Allen |
| Publisher | BOOM! Box |
| Collects | The opening issues; exact range not stated in listing |
| Pages | 128 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age | Not stated in listing; roughly 9 and up |
Lumberjanes Vol. 1 — Watters, Ellis, Stevenson and Allen, BOOM! Box, 128 pages
Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley share a cabin at a summer camp for "hardcore lady-types," where the woods are full of three-eyed foxes, river monsters and secrets the camp director seems to know about. Lumberjanes is a supernatural adventure on the surface, but every episode is resolved by the five girls trusting each other, and the camp's rallying cry, "friendship to the max," is played sincerely.
The series won Eisner Awards in 2015 for Best New Series and Best Publication for Teens, and its quick humor makes it a strong bridge between middle-grade books and the older picks below. Volume 1 is a short, cheap way in; BOOM! has since started reissuing the run in thicker "Book" collections if you want more per volume.
Pros
- Big ensemble, everyone gets a moment
- Inclusive cast handled naturally
- Easy to continue the series
Cons
- Volume 1 is short and setup-heavy
- Art team changes across the run
- Rapid-fire jokes don't land for everyone
Get Lumberjanes Vol. 1 on Amazon
6. Giant Days Vol. 1 — Best for university-age friendships
Three mismatched first-year students become the sort of friends you keep for life.
Check price on Amazon$9.31as of Nov 6, 2026 7:20 am UTCWhy we like it
- Genuinely funny, line after line
- Three distinct, flawed, lovable leads
- Feels like real university life
- Complete series with a proper ending
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Writer / Artist | John Allison / Lissa Treiman on the opening issues; Max Sarin for most of the run |
| Publisher | BOOM! Box |
| Collects | The opening issues; exact range not stated in listing |
| Pages | 112 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age | Not stated in listing; older teens and adults |
Giant Days Vol. 1 — John Allison, BOOM! Box, 112 pages
Susan, Esther and Daisy are thrown together in their first year at a university in Sheffield: a sardonic medical student, a dramatic goth magnet for trouble and a sheltered, endlessly kind home-schooler. John Allison's Giant Days follows them through bad dates, exams, illness, flatshares and graduation, and the comedy always serves the friendship rather than the other way round.
It's the best pick here for readers who've aged out of camp adventures but still want something warm. The series ran for just over four years and ends properly, so you can commit knowing there's a finish line. The larger Library Editions are the better value once you know you're hooked. Volume 1 listings show limited stock, so check availability before gifting.
Pros
- Sharp, very British humor
- Characters grow over the series
- Complete and satisfying
Cons
- Volume 1 is slim
- Some UK references may puzzle US readers
- Mild adult themes and language
Get Giant Days Vol. 1 on Amazon
7. Ghost World — Best for adult readers
Two cynical best friends drift apart the summer after high school. Funny, bleak and painfully true.
Check price on Amazon$10.22as of Nov 5, 2026 7:09 pm UTCWhy we like it
- The definitive comic about outgrowing a friend
- Dialogue that still bites decades later
- Short enough for one evening
- Inspired a much-loved 2001 film
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Creator | Daniel Clowes |
| Publisher | Fantagraphics Books |
| Collects | The Ghost World serial from Eightball |
| Pages | 80 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age | Not stated in listing; adults; language and sexual references |
Ghost World — Daniel Clowes, Fantagraphics, collected serial, 80 pages
Enid and Rebecca have been best friends for years and spend the summer after graduation mocking everyone in their nameless town. Daniel Clowes's Ghost World, first serialized in his comic Eightball, is quietly about the moment that routine stops working: one of them is ready to move on and the other isn't. The ending is one of the most melancholy in comics, and it lands because the friendship felt so real.
This is the one pick on the list for adults only, with sexual references and plenty of profanity. If you loved Terry Zwigoff's film, the book is sparer and sadder. Our Ghost World review goes deeper.
Pros
- A true classic of alternative comics
- Precise, unsentimental writing
- Rewards rereading
Cons
- Very short for a standalone book
- Leads are often unpleasant on purpose
- Not for younger readers
More friendship comics worth knowing
- Smile and Drama — Raina Telgemeier's middle-school books are as much about shifting friendships as anything else, and nearly every young reader already knows them.
- Paper Girls — Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang's time-travel series is held together by four 1988 newspaper delivery girls; our Paper Girls review explains why it works for adults too.
- Scott Pilgrim — Bryan Lee O'Malley's six volumes are about a twenty-something friend group as much as video-game fights.
- A Silent Voice — a manga about a former bully trying to befriend the deaf girl he tormented. Content note: bullying and suicidal ideation.
- Yotsuba&! — a gentle all-ages manga about a curious little girl and the neighbors who become her friends.
How to choose the right friendship comic
| Reader | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Younger kids and families | Bone | Comedy, adventure and loyalty for every age |
| Ages 8 to 12 | New Kid, Real Friends, Roller Girl | Realistic school and summer friendships |
| Young teens | Lumberjanes | Group adventure with a big heart |
| Older teens and students | Giant Days | Flatmates, chaos and loyalty |
| Adults | Ghost World | The bittersweet end of a friendship |
Think about which side of friendship the reader needs. Kids starting at a new school often respond to New Kid, which shows friends forming slowly. Kids losing a friend are better served by Roller Girl or Real Friends, which say plainly that it hurts and that it passes. Adults usually want the opposite of a lesson, and Ghost World or Giant Days deliver recognition rather than advice.
For more books across ages, our best all-ages comics and best graphic novels for teens guides overlap heavily with this one, and the best slice-of-life manga list covers the gentle Japanese equivalent.
Friendship comics for a book club
Friendship stories make easy discussion books because everyone brings their own history to them. New Kid and Real Friends are short enough for a school group to finish in a week, while Ghost World splits adult groups in interesting ways: some readers side with Enid, some with Rebecca. Flag the content notes above before assigning anything to a mixed-age group. Our best comics for book clubs guide has more discussion-friendly picks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best comic about friendship for a child?
Bone works for almost any age and is a great shared read. For a school-age reader dealing with friend drama, New Kid, Real Friends and Roller Girl are relatable and gentle.
Are there good friendship comics for adults?
Yes. Giant Days nails the university friend group with real comedy, and Ghost World is the classic about two best friends growing apart. Both read well with no prior comics experience.
Which of these should I avoid giving to a young kid?
Ghost World is for adults, and Giant Days suits older teens and up. Everything else on the main list is appropriate for middle-grade readers, though Real Friends includes some upsetting family scenes.
Is Bone better in color or black and white?
It's the same story either way. The one-volume black-and-white edition is the best value for older readers and collectors; Scholastic's nine color volumes are easier for young kids to hold and read.
What should I read after Lumberjanes?
Kat Leyh, who later co-wrote Lumberjanes, made Snapdragon, a warm standalone about a kid befriending her town's "witch." Giant Days is the natural next step for older readers.
