Due to spending countless hours during my childhood devouring comic books of the sci-fi persuasion under the covers with a flashlight (and later, embarrassingly, on my tablet while pretending to work), I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the intersection of sequential art and speculative fiction. So today, I’ll be looking at what I consider the absolute cream of the crop – the science fiction comics that didn’t just entertain us but fundamentally changed how we think about both sequential art and sci-fi.
Why Science Fiction Comics Matter
Before we jump into the list, let me geek out for a moment about why sci-fi comics are so special. Unlike prose or even film, comics have this unique ability to visualize the impossible without budget constraints. When Jack Kirby wanted to draw a planet-eating cosmic entity, he just… did it. No CGI required. This freedom has given comic creators the power to push boundaries in ways other media simply couldn’t match.
The All-Time Greatest Science Fiction Comics
1. Transmetropolitan (1997-2002)
Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson’s masterpiece isn’t just a great science fiction comic – it’s prophecy in sequential art form. Following the gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem in a cyberpunk future that feels increasingly like our present, this series predicted everything from viral news to political polarization. The fact that I still get chills reading Transmetropolitan today speaks volumes about its staying power.
2. Saga (2012-Present)
Look, I know putting something relatively recent this high on the list might ruffle some feathers, but Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ space opera is everything great science fiction should be. It’s intimate yet epic, using its sci-fi elements to tell a deeply human story about family, war, and love. The art is breathtaking, and the worldbuilding? Chef’s kiss. If you haven’t, read Saga. You won’t regret it.
3. 2000 AD (1977-Present)
Not just a comic but an institution. While most know it as Judge Dredd’s home, 2000 AD has consistently been science fiction’s testing ground for over four decades. From the satirical violence of Dredd to the mind-bending narratives of Nemesis the Warlock, it’s been pushing boundaries since before I was born.
4. Silver Surfer Comics by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and a host of other writers and artists (1966-1970)
The philosophical heavyweight of Marvel’s cosmic comics, Silver Surfer transcended typical superhero fare to explore existential themes through the lens of a lonely alien forced to witness humanity’s foibles. Kirby’s art here is at its most majestic.
5. Metal Hurlant/Heavy Metal (1974-1987)
This Franco-Belgian magazine revolutionized sci-fi storytelling with its adult themes and European artistic sensibilities. Moebius’ work here alone would earn it a spot on this list, but add in Philippe Druillet and Enki Bilal? Legendary.
6. Y: The Last Man (2002-2008)
Another Vaughan entry (sorry not sorry), this series explores gender, society, and survival through the lens of a world where every male mammal except one man and his monkey suddenly dies. It’s high-concept sci-fi that never loses sight of its humanity.
7. The Incal (1980-1988)
Alejandro Jodorowsky and Moebius created something truly unique here – a spiritual sci-fi epic that feels like what would happen if Salvador Dalí wrote Star Wars. Its influence on science fiction, from The Fifth Element to countless others, cannot be overstated.
8. Akira (1982-1990)
Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk masterpiece is more than just the movie (which is itself incredible). The manga’s sprawling narrative about power, corruption, and evolution set new standards for sequential storytelling and scientific speculation.
9. The Eternals by Jack Kirby (1976-1978)
Before it was a somewhat divisive MCU film, The Eternals was Kirby’s ambitious attempt to merge ancient astronaut theory with superhero comics. The scope and imagination on display here still boggle the mind decades later.
10. Paper Girls (2015-2019)
Brian K. Vaughan (yes, him again) and Cliff Chiang created something special here, mixing time travel, coming-of-age drama, and ’80s nostalgia in a way that feels fresh rather than derivative. Think Stranger Things meets Doctor Who, but better.
11. All You Need Is Kill (2014)
The manga adaptation of the novel that inspired Edge of Tomorrow perfectly captures the psychological toll of living the same day repeatedly while fighting aliens. It’s tighter and more impactful than both the film and novel versions.
12. On a Sunbeam (2016)
Tillie Walden’s webcomic-turned-graphic-novel is a masterclass in using science fiction settings to tell deeply personal stories. Its queer space opera narrative proves that sci-fi comics can be both intimate and epic.
13. Prophet (Brandon Graham’s Run, 2012-2016)
Graham’s revival of this Rob Liefeld character is what happens when you let someone with genuine science fiction vision loose on a forgotten property. It’s weird, wild, and wonderful in ways mainstream comics rarely dare to be.
14. Black Science (2013-2019)
Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera’s dimension-hopping epic is what would happen if you crossed Sliders with Breaking Bad. It’s a morality tale about scientific hubris wrapped in gorgeous, psychedelic artwork.
15. We3 (2004)
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s three-issue masterpiece about cybernetically enhanced pets escaping a government facility hits harder than most 300-page novels. It’s proof that science fiction comics can break your heart in just a few pages.
16. East of West (2013-2019)
Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta’s apocalyptic western set in a scientifically advanced alternate America is dense with ideas yet never loses its emotional core. It’s like nothing else in comics.
17. The Manhattan Projects (2012-2015)
Another Hickman joint, this alternate history series asks “What if the atomic bomb was the least weird thing the Manhattan Project created?” The answer is disturbing, hilarious, and utterly compelling.
18. Fear Agent (2005-2011)
Remender’s love letter to pulp sci-fi follows a Texas space exterminator through increasingly outrageous adventures. It’s like if Han Solo was written by Robert E. Howard, and it works better than it has any right to.
19. Descender (2015-2018)
Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen’s story about a robot boy in a universe that fears artificial intelligence manages to be both timely and timeless. The watercolor art alone makes it worth reading.
20. Universal War One (1998-2006)
Denis Bajram’s French space opera about time travel and solar system-wide warfare is criminally underknown in the English-speaking world. It’s hard sci-fi with heart, featuring some of the most realistic space combat ever depicted in comics.
21. Habitat (2016)
Simon Roy’s tale of a derelict space station society surviving by cannibalizing ancient spacecraft is both inventive and haunting. What gets me every time is how it takes hard sci-fi concepts and wraps them in a visceral story about class warfare and survival. The artwork has this raw, sketchy quality that perfectly captures the desperation of its setting.
22. Letter 44 (2013-2017)
Charles Soule and Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque created something special here – a political thriller meets first contact story that begins with a newly elected president learning his predecessor secretly spent trillions on a space program because they discovered aliens in our solar system. What follows is a masterclass in balancing Earth-bound political intrigue with space exploration adventure. I particularly love how it tackles the real-world implications of keeping such a massive secret.
23. Planetes (1999-2004)
Makoto Yukimura’s hard sci-fi manga about space debris collectors might sound boring, but trust me – it’s anything but. This is quite possibly the most realistic depiction of near-future space work ever put to paper. The attention to detail in both the science and the human relationships makes every chapter feel authentic. It’s like The Right Stuff meets Workplace Drama, in space, and it’s absolutely brilliant.
24. Invisible Republic (2015-2019)
Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko’s gritty sci-fi political thriller reads like a cross between All the President’s Men and Blade Runner. Following a journalist uncovering the secret history of a fallen regime on a distant colony world, it’s one of those rare comics that respects its readers’ intelligence while delivering gut-punch plot twists. The art style shifts between time periods in subtle but meaningful ways that reward close reading.
25. Pluto (2003-2009)
Pluto is a masterful reimagining of Osamu Tezuka’s legendary manga Astro Boy (Mighty Atom) that transforms a classic robot story into a profound meditation on war, humanity, and artificial intelligence. Through the eyes of robot detective Gesicht investigating mysterious murders, Naoki Urasawa crafts a suspenseful neo-noir that explores what it truly means to be human. With stunning art and complex characters, Pluto stands as a landmark achievement in science fiction storytelling.
Why These Comics Matter Today
What strikes me about this list is how many of these works feel more relevant now than when they were first published. Transmetropolitan’s media landscape looks increasingly prophetic. The Incal’s spiritual themes resonate in our tech-obsessed world. Akira’s concerns about unchecked scientific advancement and social upheaval feel particularly pointed.
The Future of Science Fiction Comics
As we move further into the digital age, the boundary between comics and other media continues to blur. Webcomics like On a Sunbeam show how digital distribution can enable new forms of storytelling. Meanwhile, traditional publishers are taking more risks with science fiction stories that wouldn’t have gotten the green light twenty years ago.
Coda
What makes these comics truly great isn’t just their sci-fi elements – it’s how they use those elements to tell deeply human stories. Whether it’s Saga’s meditation on family, Transmetropolitan’s political fury, or We3’s exploration of humanity’s relationship with animals, these works use science fiction as a lens to examine who we are and who we might become.
The best science fiction comics don’t just show us ray guns and robots (though those are cool too) – they show us ourselves, reflected in the chrome of a possible future. And in doing so, they help us understand our present a little better.
What do you think about this list? Did I miss any of your favorites? Are there any recent sci-fi comics you think might deserve a spot in the future? Let me know in the comments below!
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