THE BEST COMICS OF 2025:
- Comic books really are the best. A medium of unlimited imagination, epic adventures, memorable characters - and, best of all, dozens of new releases to read each and every week. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown, I've been more grateful for comics than ever.
2025 was a big year for me as a fledgling comic book creator. At the beginning of the year, I helped to re-release the original volume of Halloween Team via Comicker Press. This meant that Halloween Team, with a spiffy new edition from Comicker, was now available to get both digitally and physically for the first time. Soon after the re-release, I got to work on writing the longtime-in-the-making sequel series. It was a pretty intense process - but also a lot of fun, and very gratifying creatively. To actually have the opportunity to continue this story, answer lingering questions, and revisit these characters that I'd come to really love - it was pretty awesome. Then, of course, came the hard part. We had to find a new primary artist for the series (titled HALLOWEEN TEAM: SHADOWS) due to conflicts on the part of original artist Matt Shults. Eventually, we did find a great new artist in Bugra Berah - who's got a very sleek, modern style that fit the darker tone of the sequel series well. Matt agreed to come back to draw flashback sequences in each issue, too. And after a lot of work on the part of Bugra, Matt, and Pete at Comicker - we were finally able to release Issue #1 of Shadows, just in time for Halloween. There were some tough moments on the road to release, no question - but it was incredibly gratifying to get our first issue out there during Spooky Season. And then, straightaway, work began on Issue #2 ...
2025 really reinforced for me how tough it can be to make comic books. Especially for those of us who are trying to squeeze the work in around full time jobs and/or other commitments. Not to mention, the economics of making comics is very, very difficult. I guess it's a minor miracle that any indie comics get made at all. Promoting and marketing the comic can also be really tough, especially in a world where social media use has become extremely fragmented and algorithmic. I was super proud of all the publicity we were able to generate for the release of Shadows - but still, it could be frustrating to put so much effort in and not always see it translate to sales. Of course, I have been pursuing screenwriting and comic book writing for a long time now, so there's a part of me that is an eternal optimist. I believe strongly that we have a pretty great book in Halloween Team, and I remain confident that we can steadily build an audience over time - given the right exposure and opportunities. And for me, personally, I'd love to continue to build up a body of comics work that can help to generate more comics work. It's happening, bit by bit, and much slower than I'd like ... but I'm doing my best to get my name out there and build a solid rep as a comics writer. In addition to Halloween Team: Shadows, 2025 also marked the release of It's a Horror Show: The Found Footage Anthology - a super cool crowdfunded project that features horror shorts from a number of talented writers and artists, including a story written by me and drawn by the talented Lorry Jamison. Watching the teams behind this comic work to promote it was a valuable educational experience. I hope we get to collaborate further, and I'm hoping I can get some stories in more anthology books in the future.
I had two different comic books release this year with my name in the credits. So why do I still sort of feel like a wannabe? I don't know, I think I am still waiting for my Justice League style membership card that tells me, in no uncertain terms, that I'm officially in the club. I know ... it doesn't actually work like that. But hopefully 2026 provides some larger sign that I'm here, I've done it, I belong. We shall see. Certainly, I've got a lot more comic book related goals that I hope to achieve in 2026 and beyond.
My own comic book writing aside, there were, once again, any number of truly amazing, awe-inspiring comic books that I read and greatly enjoyed over the past year. In my list below, you'll see a mix of old favorites and new stuff that quickly won me over and made a big impression. There are books from all-time favorite writers like Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, and books from newer discoveries like Ryan North.
Finally, for anyone reading this who isn't necessarily a huge comics reader - what are you waiting for?! Seriously, there are so many fantastic books out there - in multiple genres - that you need to read. Hopefully the list below can serve as a beginner's guide, if you will, to some current and recent must-reads. After you finish checking out HALLOWEEN TEAM, of course!
DANNY'S BEST COMICS OF 2025:
1.) The Knives: A Criminal Book
- Surprise, surprise. My #1 comic book of 2025 is, once again, a graphic novel from the incredible creative team of writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips. I know, enough already. But when they're this freaking good, I can't help but sing their praises and put them at the top of the list. 2025 saw the team return to their signature series, Criminal, following a multi-year absence. But man, was it worth the wait. The Knives was one of the best Criminal stories yet - another dark, pulpy crime-fiction masterpiece with memorable characters, masterful writing, and evocative art. 2026 is poised to be a big year for Criminal, with a star-studded streaming TV series on the way. But it will be hard to top the comic series, which has a near-perfect track record of delivering superlative stories. If you have any interest in crime/noir stories, then you absolutely need to read Criminal. And The Knives is a pretty great place to start.
2.) Wonder Woman
- While the cinematic future of Wonder Woman remains a mystery, the legendary DC character has had another incredible year in comics. A lot of the hype of late has gone to the (also very good) Absolute Wonder Woman book, which presents a re-imagined, dark and mystical and witchy version of the character. But in 2025 I was once again blown away by writer Tom King's run on the mainline WW book, which also features stunning art from Daniel Sampere. I loved King's big 2025 epic, which took C-list supervillain Mouse Man and turned him into the feared leader of an entire island of brainwashed subjects - who live in such fear of their evil leader that they have been trained to only ever utter one of two phrases: "Mice have ears" or "Mouse Man knows." I loved this story, one of King's best ever. A trippy, surreal saga that evoked classics like The Prisoner. A DC Comics highlight of 2025.
3.) Poison Ivy
- Alongside Wonder Woman, Poison Ivy was DC's other best ongoing series of 2025. In fact, it's been one of the best DC books going for a few years now - and thanks to the brilliant writing of G. Willow Wilson, it just keeps getting better. Wilson has accomplished the feat of making Ivy the most well-rounded and human she's ever been, while also putting her in the midst of some of the trippiest, most surreal adventures she's ever had. I'd compare it in some ways to Alan Moore's legendary run on Swamp Thing, and I don't say that lightly. A 2025 highlight was a special Annual issue featuring art by Fables' Mark Buckingham - with a fairy-tale story beautifully told by Wilson and drawn by Buckingham.
4.) Fantastic Four / One World Under Doom
- In 2025, writer Ryan North continued to absolutely crush it writing Marvel's Fantastic Four. And not only did he continue to do a bang-up job on the main FF book ... 2025 also saw North tasked with writing the FF-adjacent "One World Under Doom" event series, in which Doctor Doom, in Trump-like fashion, cons America and the world into installing him as their one true leader. Given that this appears to be the genuine will of the people, the FF and other heroes are faced with quite a moral and practical quandary in terms of how to put a stop to this. North brings unbridled imagination and genuine science fiction chops to these books, and if it were up to me, he'd continue to write Fantastic Four for years to come (although I'm also very excited that he's going to be writing DC's The Flash in 2026!).
5.) The Invisible Man
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James Tynion had another banner year in 2025. In addition to his regular ongoing books, like Department of Truth, Tynion continued to offer some incredibly strong takes on the classic Universal Monsters. Following his Dracula series last year, this year saw Tynion pen an Invisible Man series that is one of the best things he's written so far. So much so that it prompted me to watch the original 1930's film for the first time ever. Tynion's series, however, serves as a prequel to the film - providing one hell of a backstory for the iconic villain, in a way that really adds to the film and expands its lore considerably. I loved it. Tynion might be the best horror writer working in comics today.
6.) Lazarus Fallen
- After a long absence, one of the best comic book series returned in 2025 for its grand finale. That's right, Lazarus is back! Written by Greg Rucka and drawn by Michael Lark, Lazarus is a gritty, near-future epic that has only become more scarily prescient as more time has passed. The book tells of a world run by a handful of "Families" - mega-corporations that each run a part of the world, and are now in the midst of a brutal, winner-take-all war. Each Family has a Lazarus - a genetically-engineered warrior who leads their army. But this book tells the ongoing saga of Forever Carlyle, Lazarus to the Carlyle Family, who slowly but surely begins to resist her programming and turn against her Family. It's awesome, epic stuff - and it's bold, on-the-money social commentary as well. Rucka is one of the best ever, and I'm happy that he's been able to take this series to the finish line in grand fashion.
7.) Vanishing Point
- Mark Russell has become one of my favorite comic writers over the last several years. He's got a knack for quirky humor, imaginative world-building, and ambitious high-concept storytelling. All of that is evident in Vanishing Point, a Twilight Zone esque anthology series that features a new, original Russell-penned sci-fi parable in each issue. I'm absolutely digging this series so far. It scratches that Twilight Zone itch, but brings a unique voice and sensibility to the table. And Russell pulls no punches - some of the stories we've gotten thus far have been downright %$&#'ed up and disturbing. In other words, this series has become a must-read for fans of great science fiction storytelling.
- Aliens vs. Avengers could have easily been a lame cash-grab. But in the hands of writer Jonathan Hickman, it was one of the coolest and most memorable series I read in 2025. I love the Alien franchise, and this series gleefully embraces the lore and themes of the entirety of the Alien filmography. At the same time, it tells one of the most epic and high-stakes Avengers stories I've ever read. It really is the best of both worlds, written in a way that only a true visionary like Hickman could pull off. If you happen to be a fan of both Marvel and Aliens, then this is a total must-read.
- James Tynion's now-long-running series continued to impress in 2025. It's The X-Files by way of David Lynch by way of American history - a supernatural conspiracy thriller that dives deep into the cultural fabric of America, exploring the ideas and the people (real and mythological) that shape this country. Tynion really went for it with this series in 2025, telling stories that directly examine today's America, the MAGA movement, and the divisions that threaten to tear us apart. With each passing year, this series further cements itself as one of the modern-day greats.
10.) Battle Beast
- As a huge fan of the Invincible comic series (and the more recent animated TV adaptation), it was an awesome surprise to find out that writer Robert Kirkman would, in 2025, re-team with artist Ryan Ottley and return to the Invincible universe. Now, Battle Beast seems like a tough sell as an ongoing series - he's a fun supporting character, but could he carry his own book? The answer is yes! Because Kirkman is doing a lot of world-building here - introducing a whole universe of intergalactic supporting characters and antagonists. He and Ottley are also, clearly, committed to simply making this the most over-the-top, ridiculously fun comic book possible. It's violent, action-packed, weird, crazy, twisted, and ridiculously entertaining.
OTHER FAVORITES FROM 2025
Black Canary: Best of the Best
Birds of Prey
Minor Arcana
Geiger
Green Arrow
Batgirl
WRITERS OF THE YEAR:
1.) James Tynion IV (The Invisible Man, The Department of Truth, W0RldTr33)
2.) Ryan North (Fantastic Four, One World Under Doom, Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton)
4.) Ed Brubaker (The Knives: A Criminal Book)
5.) G. Willow Wilson (Poison Ivy)
8.) Mark Russell (Vanishing Point)
1.) Daniel Sampere (Wonder Woman)
2.) Bryan Hitch (Redcoat)
