Following up on his 2024 – 2025 Reading List for 2024 – 2025, Comics Laureate Bobby Joseph has compiled his 2026-2027 Reading List, which Arts Council England have distributed to their connected libraries, and CILIP: the library and information association, as well as their literature team.
We’re delighted to feature this new list here on downthetubes – which includes graphic novels and manga by Huw Aaron, Neill Cameron, Colleen Douglas, ILYA, Bex Ollerton, Zara Slattery, and many more, including a specific section dedicated to Graphic Novels Created By UK Comic Creators.
“This year’s list is two-fold,” says Bobby, “the first being that it is focused predominantly on UK Comic creators (much of the list is as diverse as I could make it), the second being that it is more focused towards the National Year of Reading 2026.”
We have included Bookshop.org Affiliate Links to the books listed where available, supporting local bookshops; or a link to the publisher web store
Graphic Novels by UK Comic Creators
Milk White Steed by Michael Kennedy
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly.
ISBN-10: 1770467599. ISBN-13: 978-1770467590
Inspired by the folk tales and oral traditions from the Caribbean, Milk White Steed is a dreamlike venture into the messy truths of everyday West Indian lives: the abiding pursuit of the familiar and the vicious appraisal of their own otherness, all at once. Phantom desires, unchecked reveries, and surreal visions of the future flood the page in full-colour as stories follows a series of individuals leaving the West Indies and attempt to find their footing in the damp dinge of England’s counties.
Bone Broth by Alex Taylor
Publisher: SelfMadeHero
ISBN-10: 1914224329. ISBN-13: 978-1914224324
In this coming-of-age queer thriller, the young transmasculine Ash begins his transition into adult life by landing his first job at a ramen-noodle shop in London, prepping the bone broth. But as the financial landscape shifts under Ash’s feet, and after months of bonding with a series of challenging co-workers, everything suddenly stops dead. Literally.
Sensory: Life on the Spectrum: An Autistic Comics Anthology by Bex Ollerton and others
Publisher: Andrew McNeel Publishing
ISBN-10: 1524874760. ISBN-13: 978-1524874766
Thirty Neurodivergent comic creators explore their experiences of living in a world that doesn’t always understand or accept them.
The Witch’s Egg by Donya Todd
Publisher: Avery Hill
ISBN-10: 1917355211. ISBN-13: 978-1917355216
It was a spiderweb moon. And the imps did wonder. What dark delights wouldst the cat-witch conjure. By the Sardine Queen, by salt and the devil, by blackwormy earth, and by the deep, dark sea, the catwitch Urfi conjures an angel to love her.
Grand Slam Romance by Ollie Hicks and Emma Oosterhous
Publisher: Abrams ComicArts
ISBN-10: 1419758012. ISBN-13: 978-1419758010
Mickey Monsoon and Astra Maxima are best friends . . . and maybe more. That is, until Astra unceremoniously dumps Mickey to become a softball wunderkind at a private girl’s school in Switzerland. Years later, Mickey is the hotshot pitcher for the Belle City Broads, and their team is poised to sweep the league this season. But Micky is thrown off their game when Astra shows up to catch for the Gaiety Gals, the Broads’ fiercest rival.
Downlands By Norm Konyu
Publisher: Titan Comics
ISBN-10: 1787743322. ISBN-13: 978-1787743328
After the sudden death of his twin sister, 14 year old James Reynolds becomes obsessed with her tale of a black hound, a folkloric creature that is regarded as a portent of death. Enlisting the aid of his elderly neighbour, who the local children call ‘The Witch’, he delves into the centuries of village history, folklore, and ghosts, until he uncovers a deeper secret beyond his darkest nightmares, beyond the sight of most, and beyond the mortal veil.
Phenomenomix by Hunt Emerson
Publisher: Knockabout Comics
ISBN-10: 0861662903. ISBN-13: 978-0861662906
Comics pages about Unexplained Phenomena. Hunt Emerson has drawn these pages for Fortean Times magazine since the mid-1980s; they’re about the weird things that happen in the world – Vampires, Ghosts, Faeries, UFOs, Werewolves, Folk Beliefs, Miracles, Mystery Smells, Unknown Animals, Megaliths – all put through his comics filter.
The Most Amazing Saturday Morning Rubbish Club by Bill Tuckey and Francisco de la Mora
Publisher: SelfMadeHero. ISBN-10: 1914224361. ISBN-13: 978-1914224362
Arthur, Finn and Uma are three neurodivergent children with SEN (Special Educational Needs) who start a litter-picking group. Defying low expectations, they use their unique skills to improve their environment, with the story highlighting inclusion, friendship, and real-life parenting experiences.
Coma by Zara Slattery
Publisher: Myriad Editions
ISBN-10: 191240866X. ISBN-13 : 978-1912408665
The world of Zara’s 15-day drug-induced coma, which she describes as ‘being trapped in a nightmare state that you can’t wake up from’ is rendered as a full-colour fantasy, with mythological creatures appearing out of nowhere as she battles to protect her three children against the forces of evil that threaten to engulf her.
Silk Cotton by Colleen Douglas
Rosarium Publishing
ISBN-13: 979-8986614649
Peter has always been told “the stories” like every child in the Caribbean. The tales of the ancients bound to the Silk Cotton tree, the Supernatural monsters of Myths and Legends, whispered in hush tones lest the speaker be heard and meet with an untimely fate.
Ready for Pop by Lord Hurk
Publisher: Knockabout Comics
ISBN-10: 0861662504. ISBN-13: 978-0861662500
• Buy it from Knockabout Comics eBay store
London, The mid-sixties. In what appears to have been a murder attempt, Britain’s greatest pop sensation ‘Vic Vox’ has been left a foot tall – the effects of the ‘shrink drug’ administered by assailants unknown. Detective Chief inspector Ladyshoe and his team at Scotland Yard are out to find who did it, and why, but they are up against the clock.
Who Are the Power Pals? by Duane Murray, Rob Jones and Ahmed Raafat
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
ISBN-10: 1506744141. ISBN-13: 978-1506744148
Washed-up actors Derek and Alex have been best friends ever since playing teen superheroes ‘Swallow’ and ‘Buzzard’ in the ’90s TV show Power Pals. Wait, you’ve never heard of it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone; it was cancelled after three episodes. But that small taste of fame left them hungry for more, and they’ve been trying to get back on the Hollywood train ever since.
Children’s Graphic Novels (Ages 7 – 11 Years)
Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy
Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd
ISBN-10: 1805130668. ISBN-13: 978-1805130666
When Nova invents a plastic-eating monster, she thinks she’s solved the world’s pollution problem. But she doesn’t expect her monster to start rampaging through the city! Can Nova find a way to save the day?
Twistwood Tales by AC McDonald
Publisher: Andrew McNeel Publishing
ISBN-10: 1524877417. ISBN-13: 978-1524877415
Come and join Bucket Boy and the whole Twistwood gang as they live their lives in the forest. Travel through a magical land and meet an enchanting cast of smart, snarky, and sweet characters from the popular webcomic, Twistwood Tales.
BEANO Betty and the Yeti: Friends at First Fart! By Hugh Raine
Publisher: Farshore
ISBN-10: 0008720924. ISBN-13: 978-0008720926
Betty and the Yeti are the best of friends, but Yeti is, well … a yeti, and Betty isn’t supposed to have a yeti living in her room – not that she’s asked! What the groan-ups don’t know won’t hurt them, right?
Donut Squad: Make a Mess! By Neil Cameron
Publisher: DFB Phoenix
ISBN-10: 1788453581. ISBN-13: 978-1788453585
The bagels are lying low, and now the Donut Squad are enjoying making their own malarkey. They’re off camping! And hiding from bears! Anxiety Donut is on an adventure where what happens next is up to YOU! And Lil Timmy learns the Meaning of Life – so you can too! But the bagels can’t be held back for long – their plan is about to be unleashed to kick the Donut Squad out of their own book. Will the Donuts be able to stop them?
Unfairies by Huw Aaron
Publisher: Puffin
ISBN-10: 0241683769. ISBN-13: 978-0241683767
Some stories will tell you fairies are sweet, kind, magical creatures. Well, those stories are WRONG. It’s time everyone knew the truth: fairies are sneaky, violent and about as magical as slugs. Join our RECKLESS, FEARLESS and, well, CLUELESS, hero Pip on a breakneck adventure among the warring unfairy tribes of The Garden.
Bumble and Snug and the Worried Dragons by Mark Bradley
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
ISBN-10: 1444972367. ISBN-13: 978-1444972368
When Bumble and Snug accidentally bring home some dragon eggs, they have to teach the little dragons how to be dragons – with the help of books, costumes, sweets and treasure, of course!
My Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary: Plop of the Class by Jim Smith
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0702334499. ISBN-13: 978-0702334498
Join best friends Pedro, Olga and Ozzy – otherwise known as the Poopies – on a series of fun adventure stories… help Pedro to keep his title as the king of poo when he and meets another kid obsessed with STINK, and navigate an OBSTACLE course like no other at school!
Stitch Head: The Graphic Novel by Guy Bass and Pete Williamson
Publisher: Little Tiger
ISBN-10: 1788956370. ISBN-13: 978-1788956376
In the maze-like dungeons of Castle Grotteskew, eccentric Professor Erasmus created Stitch Head, a small, almost-human creature. His experiments continued, filling the castle with creations so fabulously monstrous that Stitch Head was long forgotten. Until a travelling circus ringmaster knocks at the castle door, promising to make Stitch Head a star.
Happy Hills – Attack of the Giant Danger Cats by Sophie Henn
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s UK
ISBN-10: 1398524603. ISBN-13: 978-1398524606
Lost unicorn Ace never meant to go to Happy Hills – and now he can’t leave! Join Ace and the riotous residents of the most chaotic town ever, as they deal with imaginary friends, cross-making trousers, and GIANT DANGER KITTENS!
Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Egypt: A graphic novel guide to ancient history by Rik Worth and Jordan Collvar
Publisher: Wren & Rook
ISBN-10: 1526366622. ISBN-13: 978-1526366627
So, you think you know about ancient Egypt – the pyramids, mummies, and pharaohs? Well, we’re the animals of ancient Egypt and we think it’s time we told you the REAL history. We’re going to talk about the really good stuff AND introduce you to the BEST Egyptians, including baboon guards, mummified cats and even sacred poop-pushers.
Teen Graphic Novels (12-17 Years)
Finding My Voice by Aoife Dooley
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0702307386. ISBN-13: 978-0702307386
Frankie is different, and so is her best-friend, Sam. So when they both start secondary school, it’s tough. Particularly when there are so many rules to follow, like: No talking in class! Be quiet in the hallways! Silence for assembly!
Pizza Witch by Sarah Grayley and Stef Purenins
Publisher: Image Comics
ISBN-10: 1534327967. ISBN-13: 978-1534327962
Join Roxy, a Pizza Witch in training, on a journey filled with magic, pizza, and her loyal cat familiar, as she seeks out the secret ingredient to unlocking her greatest pizza magic ambitions.
My Dad Fights Demons! By Bobby Joseph and Abbigayle Bircham
Publisher: SelfMadeHero
ISBN-10 : 1914224345, ISBN-13: 978-1914224348
Welcome to Rye’s world: A non-binary teen whose stepdad hates them, their mother ignores them, and they’re stuck in a dead-end relationship. To make matters worse, their world is turned upside down one day with the return of their father, the Magical Mr Mantrikz, self-styled “greatest sorcerer in the world”, and Rye now has to spend their weekends with this rude, pushy, and frankly ridiculous wizard. And that was never going to work – especially when magic is involved…
Black Dolls Vol. 1 by Rachel Faturoti and Flo Woolley
Publisher: Orion Children’s Books
ISBN-10: 1510113088. ISBN-13: 978-1510113084
Band founder, Jada has always dreamed of tearing up the music industry rules – she’ll fight anyone or anything who says otherwise. So when auditions open for Clash of the Bands, she forms Black Dolls!
Romo The Wolf Boy by ILYA
Publisher: SelfMadeHero
ISBN-10: 914224442. ISBN-13: 978-1914224447
Romo, rumoured a wolf boy taken from the wild, and a young stagehand named Francis are the two newest members of Blimey O’Riley’s Travelling Circus. Together they will become Criminologists Extraordinaire, Specialists in the Paranormal – but this is only their first adventure…
Manga
Wonder Cat Kyuu-Chan Vol. 1 by Sasami Nitori
Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC
ISBN-10: 1645058573. ISBN-13: 978-1645058571
There’s more to this kitty than meets the eye! Kyuu-chan loves snacks, cuddles, and bow ties, but most of all loves Hinata, the young professional who adopted this mischievous wonder cat into his home.
Haikyu!!, Vol. 1 by Haruichi Furudate
Publisher: Viz Media LCC
ISBN-10: 1421587661. ISBN-13: 978-1421587660
After losing his first and last volleyball match against Tobio Kageyama, “the King of the Court,” Shoyo Hinata swears to become his rival after graduating middle school. But what happens when the guy he wants to defeat ends up being his teammate?!
Pokémon Adventures Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 by Hidenori Kusaka & Mato
Publisher: Viz Media LCC
ISBN-10: 1974709647. ISBN-13: 978-1974709649
When Pokémon Trainer Red encounters a challenger he can’t fight alone, he must join up with Blue, his former nemesis, and Green, a thief. This unlikely trio and their Pokémon will need to learn to work as a team if they’re going to defeat their mutual enemy!
Hikaru no Go, Vol. 1 by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata
Publisher: Viz Media: SHONEN JUMP
ISBN-13 : 978-1421550121
Hikaru Shindo is like any sixth-grader in Japan: a pretty normal schoolboy with a two-tone head of hair and a penchant for antics. One day, he finds an old bloodstained Go board in his grandfather’s attic–and that’s when things get really interesting.
Dr Stone by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi
Publisher: Viz Media LCC
ISBN-10: 1974702618. ISBN-13 : 978-1974702619
One fateful day, all of humanity turned to stone. Many millennia later, Taiju frees himself from the petrification and finds himself surrounded by statues. The situation looks grim – until he runs into his science-loving friend Senku! Together they plan to restart civilization with the power of science!
Bounce Back by Misako Rocks!
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
ISBN-10: 1250768454. ISBN-13: 978-1250768452
Lilico, with the help of her cat, must learn to adjust to a new country, a new school, and new pressures in Bounce Back, a middle grade graphic novel about finding your team and finding yourself.
The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home, Part 1 by Kanata Konami
Publisher: Vertical Comics
ISBN-10: 1942993161. ISBN-13: 978-1942993162
Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her herself lost. Overcome with loneliness she bursts into tears – but then she is rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The little kitty is whisked away into an apartment complex… where pets are strictly not permitted.
Minecraft: The Manga Volume 1 by Kazuyoshi Seto
Publisher: Viz Media LCC
ISBN-10: 197474714X. ISBN-13: 978-1974747146
Peaceful life in a perfectly constructed town bores ten-year-old Nico into mischief. Riding creepers while they explode is fun and all, but what he really wants is to escape the blocky confines of his home and take his crafting skills on an adventure to the end of the world.
Aoashi (3-in-1 Edition) Volume 1 by Kobayashi Yuugo
Publisher: Titan Comics
ISBN-10: 1787748642. ISBN-13: 978-1787748644
Glory and ambition lie ahead of young Ashito Aoi as he takes the first steps to becoming a pro soccer player. But after being catapulted into a new harsh environment, can he hold onto his spider’s thread and climb his way to the top?
Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet by Sonia Shak, William Leong and Richard Appignanesi
Publisher: SelfMadeHero
ISBN-10: 0955285607. ISBN-13: 978-0955285608
Shakespeare’s famous tragedy unfurls in front of a dramatic manga setting, in which the fair city of Verona becomes a street in the highly fashionable Shibuya district of Tokyo. The swordfights become duals with katanas; the Capulets and the Montagues, opposing Yakuza families.
Manga Shakespeare: Macbeth by Robert Deas and Richard Appignanesi
Publisher: SelfMadeHero
ISBN-10: 0955285666. ISBN-13: 978-0955285660
Samurai warriors have reclaimed a future post-nuclear world of mutants in the original manga version of Shakespeare’s tale of skulduggery.
Manga Shakespeare: The Tempest by Paul Duffield, William Shakespeare, Richard Appignanesi
Publisher: SelfMadeHero
ISBN-13: 978-0955285622 ISBN-10: 0955285623
A dark, 21st-century reimagining of Shakespeare’s play where technology is considered magic.
• Check out Bobby Joseph’s 2024 – 2025 Comics Laureate Reading List here on downthetubes
Bobby Joseph – Comics Laureate 2023 – 2027
Bobby Joseph follows in the footsteps of comic creators Dave Gibbons, Charlie Adlard and Hannah Berry, and illustrator and bookseller Stephen L. Holland in the unpaid role promoting the comics form, also known as ‘The Ninth Art’.
The Comics Laureate is an ambassadorial and educational role for the comics medium and aims to raise awareness of the impact comics can have in terms of increasing literacy and creativity.
Working closely with the Lakes International Comics Art Festival, the Comics Laureate champions the role of comics in improving literacy through a programme of educational visits, workshop events, guest appearances and conferences. A key focus will be working to increase the acceptance of comics as a creative art form in schools, libraries and throughout the education system.
Bobby Joseph was announced as the Comic Laureate 2023-25 during the Lakes International Comic Art Festival on 30 September 2023, in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Bobby is an acclaimed comic writer, artist, tutor and editor whose work has often challenged and inspired its readers. His early work includes the creation of Skankmagazine, where his best-known strip, “Scotland Yardie”, first featured later collected by Knockabout Press.
Bobby has written for The Guardian newspaper, Dazed and Confused and Vice.com. His comic work was a prominent feature at the Anarchy in the UK comic exhibition at the British Library in 2015 and was seen by over 60,000 visitors. He is also a vocal advocate for diversity and BAME representation in comic books and is credited on the BBC website as instrumental in featuring some of the “first comics by black creators featuring black characters.”
Scotland Yardie, published by Knockabout Comics in 2017, was the first BAME graphic novel to be studied as a module on an English Literature MA course at King’s College, London.
• Read: Bobby Joseph becomes first person of colour appointed UK comics laureate – Guardian article
• Check out Bobby Joseph’s 2024 – 2025 Comics Laureate Reading List here on downthetubes
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.