Best Biographies & History Graphic Novels of 2026

The graphic novel "Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History" by Art Spiegelman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that tells the story of the author's father's experiences during the Holocaust. The Jews are portrayed as mice, while the Nazis are depicted as menacing cats. The book weaves the author's relationship with his father into an unforgettable tale of survival and the lasting legacy of trauma. It is a haunting and disarming look at one of history's most unspeakable tragedies. The unusual comic-book format and skillful graphics make it an engaging read for young adults and a must-read for everyone.

Gender Queer: A Memoir is a powerful autobiographical comic that explores the journey of Maia Kobabe's self-identity, including the difficulties of coming out to family and society, the confusion of adolescent crushes, and the trauma of invasive medical examinations. The book is a touching guide on gender identity that offers a useful resource for advocates, friends, and anyone seeking to better understand what it means to be nonbinary and asexual. Overall, this book is a must-read for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies, as it offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of living outside of the gender binary.

They Called Us Enemy is a gripping graphic memoir that tells the story of George Takei's childhood spent in American concentration camps during World War II. The book provides a firsthand account of the legalized racism and injustice that Japanese Americans faced during that time. It is a moving and powerful read, which explores themes of courage, loyalty, and love. The book is unique in its graphic format, which makes the story even more impactful. Overall, They Called Us Enemy is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Japanese Americans and the fight for civil rights in America.

The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale is a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel that tells the story of the author's father, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, and their complex relationship. The book weaves together history, memoir, and a tale within a tale, with Jews depicted as mice and Nazis as cats. The artwork is hauntingly beautiful, and the story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Holocaust or the power of graphic novels as a medium for storytelling.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood is a wise, funny, and heartbreaking graphic memoir that tells the coming-of-age story of Marjane Satrapi in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Through powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. This book is intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original. It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. Overall, Persepolis is a must-read for anyone interested in the human cost of war and political repression, and it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.

Ephemera: A Memoir is a debut graphic novel that blends memoir, magic realism, and graphic medicine. The story follows a grown woman and her memories as a child, as she tries to relate to her mother who struggles with mental illness. The book is gorgeously illustrated with warm, earthy tones and features full-color illustrations throughout. Loewinsohn's poetic and dreamlike writing infuses the genre with an ethereal fusion of memory and imagination. This powerful work is a beautifully rendered melancholy memoir that is both magical and heartbreaking.

The Complete Far Side is a three-volume slipcased paperback edition of the funniest and most original comic strip of all time. The book contains all 4,000 Far Side cartoons ever syndicated, presented in chronological order by year of publication, and includes over 1,100 that had never before appeared in a book. Creator Gary Larson offers a rare glimpse into the mind of The Far Side in quirky and thoughtful introductions to each of the 14 chapters. The book is a masterpiece of comic brilliance and a must-have for all Far Side fans.

Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation is a faithful and stunning illustrated version of a classic work of Holocaust literature. The graphic novel captures Anne's humor, vitality, and emotions in a way that is engaging and effective for both young readers and adults. The juxtapositions of text and imagery are wonderful, and David Polonsky's sublime illustrations provide thrilling and ingenious visual representations of Anne's flights of fancy. This masterpiece is a reminder that the diary is less about a life's senseless destruction than about a brilliant young woman eternally coming into being.

The Complete Persepolis is a graphic memoir by Marjane Satrapi, which tells the story of her childhood and coming of age during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The book explores the contradictions between private and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval, and Satrapi's experiences during her high school years in Vienna, as well as her return to Iran and subsequent self-imposed exile. The book is candid, edgy, and searingly observant, with raw humor and hard-earned wisdom. It is a stunning work from one of the most highly regarded graphic artists today, and is a unique and indispensable memoir of growing up in revolutionary Iran.

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic is a critically acclaimed graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel that explores her complex relationship with her father, who was both distant and exacting, as well as a closeted gay man. The book delves into Bechdel's personal history with subtlety and power, weaving literary allusions and humor into a heartbreaking and profound narrative. This national bestseller has won several awards, including the Stonewall Book Award, and has been hailed as a masterpiece of graphic storytelling. Overall, Fun Home is a brilliant and bittersweet memoir that combines the mundane with the macabre, making it a unique and unforgettable read.