Comic Book Yeti's BEST OF 2025 from the Indie Community

Mat Groom, writer of Immortal Legends Batman

THE COFFEE TABLE

(w) Kieran Alexander (a) Christopher Wood

Mat says: There’s nothing quite like picking up a self-published comic at a festival and being absolutely blown away. THE COFFEE TABLE grabbed me with its delightful hook — two roommates discover their thrifted coffee table has the magical power to turn mugs of hot coffee into cold, hard cash — and then it didn’t let go, delighting me with excellent pacing, emotive art, and even a clever formal touch I don’t want to ruin. If you want to get in on the absolute ground floor with future stars, grab THE COFFEE TABLE!

Frankee White, writer of Who Killed Sarah Shaw

Buried Long, Long Ago

(W) Anthony Cleveland (A) Alex Cormack

Frankee Says: Infuses real life horror and childlike fantasy with ease. Belle Gunness was a real life monster that Anthony Cleveland and Alex Cormack have transformed into a horror villain that could grace the cover of Fangoria

Doug Wood, writer of UltraMax

Assorted Crisis Events

(w) Deniz Camp (a) Eric Zawadzki

Doug says: I loved how challenging this book is. When you hear Crisis being mentioned you don’t expect deeply human stories outside of the superhero genre. Each issue artist Eric Zawadzki introduces hypnotic, chaotic, inventive panel layout that pauses me longer to study their intention. In a year of Deniz Camp writing some of the best in comics this series stands at the top of that pile.

Tom Lynott, Letterer for Let Her Be Evil and Blood Valkyrie in Vegas

Drome

(w/a) Jesse Lonergan

Tom Says: Drome is a friggn' masterpiece in my humble opinion. There is only one other book, once again in my humble opinion, that outshines Drome, and that's Matt Allison's Cankor. Drome is so awesome I bought two copies so I can gift somebody one of them.

Sir Jon, Community Member

Skin Police

(w) Jordan Thomas (a) Daniel Geta

Sir Jon says: SKIN POLICE from Oni Press and writer Jordan Thomas, artist Daniel Gete. Series 2 running now; great futuristic sci-fi with some contemporary overtones. Can be...difficult in places, which I enjoy.

Devin Whitlock, writer of CyberSync

Ginseng Roots: A Memoir

(w/a) Craig Thompson

Devin Says: Ginseng Roots: A Memoir by Craig Thompson was one of them and it was very good. It was sprawling and more than a little self-indulgent, but ultimately satisfying.

Nick Bryan, writer of SoulD

Orla and The Power Fantasy

(w) John Lees (a) Sally Cantirino

(w) Kieron Gillen (a) Caspar Wijngaard

Nick says: Orla! by John Lees and Sally Cantirino was a really fun series, a bloody yet strangely sweet romance-horror story with an edge of satire. Felt like a creative team really coming together in sync. Looking forward to the last issue in a few days.

Also another good year for The Power Fantasy by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard. The last few issues especially have drawn a lot of threads together and delivered more "holy shit" moments than I've seen in a single book for a long time.

Chris Stall, Long Box Punk, Podcast host and writer of Barricade Brigade

Graveyard Shift, Seven Years in Darkness; Year One and Dino Knights

(w) J. Michael Donohue (a) Colleen Palmer

(w/a) Joseph Schmalke

(w) Zach Chapman (a) Dave Swartz

Chris says: I’m cheating and giving you 3… I read each of these this year. I loved all three of these for different reasons. Graveyard Shift is an excellent haunted neighborhood introduction from J. Donohue. The story is dark and the setting leans into a rising tide of tension and fear. The artwork is incredibly supportive and sets the ominous mood excellently. Seven Years in Darkness: Year One by Joseph Schmalke is a darker take on Harry Potter and I am here for the darkness! Magic users must learn and adapt quickly to a school that is very much succeed or die. Dino Knights from Zach Chapman is a nostalgia fueled quest by time displaced Dino’s from Arthur’s court. Yeah, that King Arthur. Comedy, action, great artwork, and bursting with throwbacks

Allen, Community Member

Into the Unbeing Vol 2

(w) Zac Thompson (a) Hayden Sherman

Allen says: I really loved Into the Unbeing: Part Two by Zac Thompson and Hayden Sherman! Many people are familiar with Hayden's incredible style and paneling now thanks to Absolute Wonder Woman, and he brings the same magic to Into the Unbeing, highlighting the unique potential of comics as a medium. And Zac crafts such an unsettling eldritch location and story! Definitely the scariest comic I read this year

SolisSequentials, writer of The Order of the Nun-Ya

Bitter Root: The Next Movement

(w) Chuck Brown, David Walker (a) Sanford Greene

SolisSequentials says: Bitter Root: The Next Movement. An Image title from David F. Walker (writer), Chuck Brown (writer/co-creator), and Sanford Greene (artist/co-creator) that is another leap forward for the Sangerye family. Each new arc has pushed the family into the future as they continue to fight the paranormal repercussions of racism and hate embodied in the evil Jinoo. Monstrous entities that inhabit humans and feed off their hate. This new arc follows the family as they now work with the Kennedy administration to help find missing social activists, only to enter a monstrous new chapter in their war. A great book with history woven through paranormal jumps and scares. The whole series has been great in these times of unrest in America. 

David "DB" Andry, writer of Red Vector

FML

(w) Kelly Sue DeConnick (a) David Lopez

David says: FML by Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez is by far my favorite comic of the year. It simultaneously perfectly captures how it is to be a teenager and the parent of a teenager. Every issue has made me both laugh and cry, it's sweet, caring and badass!

David Pepose, writer of Space Ghost, Speed Racer, Cable: Love & Chrome, Captain Planet, Ten-Ton Titan Terrier

Escape

(w) Rick Remender (a) Daniel Acuña

David says: One of my favorite indie books for 2025 has to be Escape, from writer Rick Remender, artist Daniel Acuna, and letterer Rus Wooton at Image Comics. Taking place during World War II in a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, Escape is like a molar-grinding mashup of Blacksad and Saving Private Ryan. Following a downed pilot as he fights his way behind enemy lines to destroy a fascist super-cannon, Remender is delivering some of his career-best work in terms of dialogue, pacing, and choreography, while Acuna beautifully renders all the action of this soot-stained war zone with endless drama, tension, and mood. Bouncing between electrifying sprints of close-quarters combat and heartbreaking vignettes that put a human face behind the unthinkable scale of the war effort, Escape is a comic book masterpiece that has truly left me on the edge of my seat.

Mike Sterling, Sterling Silver Comics

The Lucky Devils

(w) Charles Soule (a) Ryan Browne

Mike says: THE LUCKY DEVILS by Charles Soule and Ryan Browne Now, Charles Soule has been a writer to pay attention to ever since he entered the comics biz, doing outstanding work on mainstream titles such as DAREDEVIL and SHE-HULK while also knocking it out of the park with the amazing EIGHT BILLION GENIES with Ryan Browne. THE LUCKY DEVILS continues Soule’s satirical proclivities, focusing on two demons attempting to subvert Hell’s system and improving their station while pushing two humans to greater social influence and power via temptation and some devilish sweet-talking. Weird and funny, filled with jabs at the working world (both in our world and Hell’s), and superbly illustrated by Browne, who gives Hell and its inhabitants just the wackily unpleasant look it needs. I feel like this comic is just a bit overlooked, but deserves as much of an audience as GENIES had.

Dave Chisholm, writer/artist of Is Ted Ok? (2026)

Tongues

(w/a) Anders Nilsen

Dave says: My fave of the year by no small margin was TONGUES. Whew, I was blown away by that book in a major way. Aspirational and beautiful.

Keezy Young, writer/artist of Hello Sunshine

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring

(w/a) Patrick Horvath

Kezzy says: The horror of it being so unexpected because of how comfortable the art was extremely inspiring to me as a creator

Dimitrios Fragiskatos, Comic Shop Owner

Save Now

(w) Matt Kindt (a) Tomas Giorello

Dimitrios says: Save Now grabbed me. The premise is a guy creates save points and restarts time so that his avengers team beats the threat. In issue 1 he tells them about a threat called that they Absolutely can not defeat, and he is going to use his powers to relive his youth with the woman he loves until he dies of old age.

Richard Fairgray, Writer of too many comics to name

The Department of Truth

(w) James Tynion IV (a) Martin Simmonds

Richard says: The Department of Truth has been oddly soothing this year. In 2020 I got really into podcasts about outdated bad medicine because it meant not thinking about current bad medicine. I think this book is doing the same for me in 2025. Like, why focus on the current crises and abominations of power when there's these historic ones that can be held at a distance and investigated for excitement instead of dread? Also, the chaotic cover work from Alison Sampson is phenomenal.

Riotously horny and pervy, spectacular visuals, and one of the most evocative depictions of the afterlife I’ve encounered in some time.

John Harris Dunning, writer of Summer Shadows

Night Drive

(w/a)Richard Sala

John says: Night Drive by Richard Sala (Fantagraphics)

I adore the work of Richard Sala and I connected with it immediately when I read 13 O’ Clock as a kid. His very particular brand of demented Noir is unique; it can be really funny, but never at the cost of its uncanny atmosphere. A treat that this, his very earliest self-published work, is finally available.

Fellhound, writer/artist of S.I.R.

I'm...A Cat?

By Causticsoda

Fellhound says: One-shots can be hard to nail but this one perfectly encapsulates the complicated feelings of depression, dependence, and addiction into a 40-page gut punching cat metaphor. Beautifully drawn and tragically told. Those are the stories I live for.

Luke W. Henderson, Zine Creator Extraordinaire and letterer

S.I.R. (SEISMIC IRONCLASH ROULETTE!)

(w/a) Fellhound

Luke says: S.I.R. is a bombastic but emotional tale of motorcycle jousting and love. The characters are incredibly fleshed out and the writing is poetic. The perfect book to rip your heart out