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These famous words are far more than just the cornerstone of Spider-Man’s ethos. As with so many other quotes from Marvel Comics, it has become a universal truth that guides people in their own lives. From the moment Stan Lee and Jack Kirby cocreated the Fantastic Four in 1961, Marvel Comics embarked on an incredible journey that led Marvel to become a leading force in pop culture. The unforgettable quotes from Marvel’s sprawling worlds and characters will resonate across generations. Avenger’s Assemble!
I love comics as much as the next nerd, truly. I’ve been reading them since I was 12, and I still pinch myself that I live in a world where Thanos and Deadpool are household names. I don’t only read comics, though. The vast majority of my reading time is spent elbow-deep in prose books. But that doesn’t mean my love of comics is far from my mind. When I hear about a great prose book that also leans into my love of comics? You know I’m there.
I know I’m not alone. Superheroes don’t just belong on the glossy pages of comics, after all. Great comic book stories can be found in any medium, as the huge success of comic book movies have shown us. If you’re wondering what some of the best books are for comics lovers, then I’ve got the list for you.
Some of these are very superhero–or supervillain–centric. Some of these are focused on comic book creators. But one thing that all of these books capture is that particular over-the-top, but still very human element we all love about comic books.
Here are seven of the best books for comics lovers.
All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
What happens when a long-time villain decides he wants to switch sides? Well, besides doing hero stuff, he needs a rebrand. So, Rolland decides to hire Vanessa to give him a heroic makeover. Part of that package? Vanessa pretends to be Rolland’s public love interest. But as another supervillain tries Rolland’s last villainous nerve, Vanessa finds herself both in the crosshairs and actually falling for Rolland.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
This book is so good that it won the Pulitzer Prize. Kavalier and Clay focuses on the titular Joe Kavalier and Sammy Clay. As Hitler begins his invasion of Europe, these Jewish cousins find refuge in America and in creating comic books, all while trying to save enough money to bring their families over from Europe. Despite the success of their comics, though, life is much harder, particularly with their Jewish families brutalized across the ocean.
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
When you have a family to take care of, you gotta do what you gotta do to pay the bills. For Evie, that means working as an assistant after an encounter with a notorious villain. While she’s getting used to severed heads and other villainous horrors, she’s also falling for her evil and hot boss. But something is amiss. Someone in the organization is a betrayer, and Evie is determined to root it out.
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
Anna’s job is pretty boring. All spreadsheets and data, even if it’s as a temp for villains. But after an encounter with a hero leaves her terribly injured, she gets laid off. She also starts to do what she does best with data. She soon discovers that the only real difference between heroes and villains is marketing. So she puts her boring talents to work, soon becoming the most in-demand villainous lieutenant in the business.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Charlie is a divorced substitute teacher. He lives alone with just a cat. His siblings want to sell the house he lives in. When Charlie’s uncle dies and leaves him the family business, it seems like a boon. Except the family business is supervillainy, complete with a volcano island lair. Oh, and Charlie’s uncle had enemies. Big, bad, super-rich supervillain enemies. Maybe if Charlie wants to survive, he needs to become the ultimate villain himself?
We Could be Heroes by Mike Chen
Jamie and Zoe both have gaps in their memories, but they also have powers. Jamie can read and erase memories. Handy for robbing banks to buy cat food. Zoe has super speed and strength, useful skills for delivering food and occasionally beating up bad guys. When they both attend a support group for memory loss, they find common ground despite their rivalry. They also realize that to find the secrets of their pasts, they might actually need each other.
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Not strictly about superheroes, this series starter really captures the feel of so many great superhero team comics. Adelina has been cast out of her family after a blood plague. After all, the powers of those survivors are feared. Adelina finally finds a home with a group of other survivors, dubbed the Young Elites. But they’re more than just a group of survivors, they fight monsters together.
Of course, there are also plenty of novelization of comic book stories and how-to guides about comics. Want some superhero books and novels for comic lovers? We’ve got you. Biographies about comic book creators? We’ve got you there, too.
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