The New York Public Library has released its list of the best new comics for adults for 2026. The list is organized by a slew of different categories that include everything from Activism & Social Justice to Biography & Memoir, Manga, Fantasy, and beyond. It’s such a great, varied list to go through and to pick from to add to your to-be-read list when you have a chance.
Speaking of that list, at least one of the 50 comics in the list is out this month. It’s a darkly funny look at real life in New Zealand with a stunning color palette. In addition to that, this month’s best new comics include a cozy Ghibli-esque story, an iconic Swamp Thing mashup, sassy cats, Bollywood body horror, and more.
Swamp Thing Is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV, illustrated by Werther Dell’Edera
This one-shot comic merges two icons. The bestselling Something is Killing the Children series and DC’s Swamp Thing. Things start to go downhill once a pair of comic book fan siblings start reading horror comics. When the comics’ terrifying scenes start coming to life, and monster hunter Erica Slaughter is on the path to hunting the Swampt Thing.
Sassy Cats by Yamada Murasaki, translated by Ryan Holmberg
This is such a unique combination of (obvious) cat literature and feminist perspectives, which is unsurprising, considering Murasaki’s influential feminist comic of the ’80s, Talk to My Back. Sassy cats was also originally serialized in Garo from 1979-1980, but recently published in English. In it, we’re treated to the simole but profound musings of house cats, as well as Murasaki’s own personal reflections.
All access members continue below for more of this month’s best new comics.
Trove by Danie Stirling
This YA graphic novel about friendship is coming from the author of Crumbs. In it, besties Jules and Ness have centered much of their friendship around the book series Trove. But when Ness finds out Jules is about to move away, and Trove’s author will retire before finishing the final book, the girls set out on an adventure to find the missing manuscript and a way for their friendship to survive these new, big changes.
In Your Skin by Aditya Bidikar, Som
Never have I seen a book with a description involving “Bollywood body horror” before this one, and I am heartily intrigued. Not only that, but in this age of parasocial relationships, I’m kind of surprised we haven’t seen the IRL version of this play out. It starts with Priyanka, who has gorwn up watching Bollywood start Ayesha San all her life. She’s seen all the movies, and knows every step to all the dances. When she gets the chance to meet the Bollywood star, Priyanka’s life gets a wrench thrown in it: Ayesha is retiring. Priyanka has a solution to Ayesha not wanting to live right, though; she’ll just take over her life…
Bedford Street by Ross Murray
The characters in New Zealand author Ross Murray’s latest are all going through it. A nurse deals with violence after her late-night shift, a single mother with excruciating back pain contends with a former partner suffering from substance abuse addiction. Despite all thr turmoil, Murray manages to share the woes of Bedfor Street residents with some humor. And the color layout of that cover is gorg.
The Magical Forest of Hoshigahara Vol. 1 by Hisae Iwaoka
From award-winning mangaka Hisae Iwaoka comes a cozy, Studio Ghibli-flavored meditation on loss and being alone. In the middle of the monster-filled forest lives a man. At first glance, it seems like he lives alone, but his days are full of eccentric spirits.
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