Best LGBTQ+ Comics & Graphic Novels
Moving, funny and essential queer stories across the medium.
By Web Admin
Comics have always been a home for queer stories — often coded, sometimes buried, but there from the start. Over the past two decades that undercurrent has become one of the medium’s great strengths, and today some of the most acclaimed, best-selling, and most beloved graphic novels on the shelf are unapologetically LGBTQ+. From a Pulitzer-finalist memoir to a webcomic phenomenon that became a Netflix hit, these books span every tone: heartbreaking, hilarious, cosy, epic. This guide gathers the ones we recommend most.
We have tried to cover the range deliberately: memoir and fantasy, all-ages and adult, romance and adventure. Whether you want a gentle comfort read, a formally daring literary work, or a swords-and-shapeshifters romp, there is a queer comic below that will land. Prices are approximate and every title is easy to find in print.
The literary landmark: Fun Home
Start with Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home (2006, ~US$17). This dense, allusive graphic memoir traces Bechdel’s relationship with her father — a closeted gay man who ran the family funeral home — alongside her own coming out at college. It is structured like a literary essay, weaving in Proust, Joyce, and Camus, and it rewards slow reading. Widely taught in universities and adapted into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, it is the book that cemented queer comics as serious literature. It sits comfortably in our best standalone graphic novels guide.
The comfort-read phenomenon: Heartstopper
At the opposite emotional end is Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper (2018–, ~US$13 per volume). What began as a webcomic became a global publishing sensation and a hit Netflix series. It follows Charlie and Nick, two British schoolboys whose friendship slowly becomes first love, and it is gentle, warm, and reassuring in a way few coming-of-age stories manage. It handles anxiety, coming out, and eating disorders with real care while never losing its cosy heart. It is the book we hand to teens and to anyone who needs something kind. See our best graphic novels for teens for more in this vein.
Fantasy and adventure with queer hearts
Queer stories are not confined to memoir and romance. ND Stevenson’s Nimona (2015, ~US$15) is a funny, genre-bending fantasy about a shapeshifting girl and the villain she befriends, with a tender romance between two knights at its core — now an Oscar-nominated film. We love it so much it has its own full review. Tillie Walden’s On a Sunbeam (2018, ~US$22) is a gorgeous, dreamlike space epic about love and second chances, told across two timelines. And Jen Wang’s The Prince and the Dressmaker (2018, ~US$17) is a joyful fairy tale about a prince who secretly loves to wear dresses and the seamstress who designs them.
Romance and slice-of-life
For contemporary queer romance, three books stand out. Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell’s Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me (2019, ~US$18) is a beautifully drawn story about a toxic relationship and learning to leave it. Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau’s Bloom (2019, ~US$17) is a summer romance set in a family bakery. And Ngozi Ukazu’s Check, Please! (2018, ~US$20) is a wildly charming webcomic-turned-book about a former figure skater who joins a college hockey team and falls for the captain. For more, see our best romance comics guide.
The frequently challenged: Gender Queer
Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir (2019, ~US$12) deserves special mention. This frank, thoughtful account of Kobabe’s journey to identifying as nonbinary and asexual is one of the most-banned books in the United States — a distinction that says far more about the current moment than about the book, which is a gentle and genuinely educational read. If you want to understand what the fights over library shelves are actually about, this is essential.
Comparison: which LGBTQ+ comic should you read first?
| Book | Creator | Tone | Best for | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fun Home | Alison Bechdel | Literary, sombre | Serious memoir readers | ~US$17 |
| Heartstopper Vol. 1 | Alice Oseman | Cosy, warm | A comforting first read | ~US$13 |
| Nimona | ND Stevenson | Funny, adventurous | Fantasy fans | ~US$15 |
| The Prince and the Dressmaker | Jen Wang | Joyful fairy tale | All ages | ~US$17 |
| Laura Dean… | Tamaki & Valero-O’Connell | Bittersweet | Teen romance | ~US$18 |
| Gender Queer | Maia Kobabe | Frank memoir | Understanding identity | ~US$12 |
By reader: finding your entry point
- Want to cry (in a good way)? Start with Fun Home or Laura Dean.
- Want something cosy and hopeful? Heartstopper or Bloom.
- Prefer fantasy and adventure? Nimona or On a Sunbeam.
- Reading with a younger teen? The Prince and the Dressmaker or Check, Please!
- Want to understand the book bans? Gender Queer.
Pros and cons of this corner of comics
Pros
- Enormous tonal range — from cosy romance to literary memoir
- Several genuine crossover hits and award winners
- Many titles are all-ages and perfect for younger readers
- A fast-growing category with new standouts every year
Cons
- A few titles (Gender Queer, Fun Home) contain adult content
- Frequently targeted by library challenges, so availability varies
- The sheer volume can make choosing a starting point hard
Where to buy and how to start
Most of these are inexpensive paperbacks, and buying them in print supports creators directly — especially independent cartoonists like Tillie Walden and Ngozi Ukazu. If you are new to the category, we would start with Heartstopper for warmth or Fun Home for depth, then follow your taste from there.
AmazonCheck price on AmazonThe verdict
Queer comics are no longer a niche — they are some of the most acclaimed and best-loved books in the medium, full stop. Whether you come for the literary heft of Fun Home, the fuzzy comfort of Heartstopper, or the swashbuckling heart of Nimona, there is a queer story here that will stay with you. For more standouts, see our best standalone graphic novels and best graphic novels for teens.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best LGBTQ+ comic for a first-time reader?
Heartstopper is the easiest and warmest entry point, while Nimona is perfect if you prefer fantasy and humour. Both are accessible and hard not to love.
Are these comics appropriate for teenagers?
Many are — Heartstopper, Nimona, The Prince and the Dressmaker, and Check, Please! are all great for teens. Fun Home and Gender Queer contain adult content and suit older readers.
Why is Gender Queer so often banned?
It is one of the most-challenged books in US libraries because it includes frank discussion of sexuality and identity. Read on its own terms, it is a thoughtful, gentle memoir rather than anything sensational.
Are there LGBTQ+ superhero comics too?
Increasingly, yes — characters across Marvel and DC are openly queer. But the standout LGBTQ+ works tend to be creator-owned graphic novels like the ones above, alongside titles in our best romance comics guide.
