Some of My Favorite Comics This Year--2025 in Review

There were many great comics throughout 2025. When I thought really hard about what stood out in my mind, however, five series released during this year/books published this year stuck out in my mind. Well, it was actually six series, but one was featured last year (more on that in a second), so I disqualified it. Anyway, here are some of my favorite comics/graphic novels/etc. this year.

Ultimates

Full disclosure, this and, "Ultimate Spider-Man," were the two Ultimate titles I adored this year and couldn't wait to read every month from the first issues on back in 2024 to now. That said, I already put USM in this sort of list last year so I cut it this time and thought I would focus on, "Ultimates." For real, however, if you want the main/big book that is key to this latest Ultimate Universe, "Ultimates," is a fantastic read from start to (rapidly approaching) finish. Deniz Camp has consistently written a superb comic about heroes in a broken World who dream of a better tomorrow (with Juan Frigeri generally on art), and I'm here for it.

Orla!

A comic about a woman named Orla with a literal monster inside her that devours bad dates. Yeah, its a horror comedy, but it has some sweet romance elements too when Orla falls for a guy she doesn't want to ingest. An incredibly funny and clever mix of genres, "Orla!" has just concluded as of this month (I need to grab the last issue), and I would encourage everyone to purchase the upcoming trade paperback collection!

Santos Sisters Volume 1

This one is a bit technical, as the first volume of, "Santos Sisters," collects the initial five issues printed before 2025. That said, this book was released in this year, so I say it counts! In my review of the first TPB, I state how it is, "Joyful, undiluted fun." I continue to feel that way about Greg & Fake's superb mix of vintage Archie-esque style with modern and clever jokes. Definitely a book worth picking up.

Absolute Batman

The earlier issues of, "Absolute Batman," were solid, but as we entered 2025, the book started rolling full steam ahead. The mix of crime drama, body horror, and amazing artwork by Nick Dragotta, among others (with superb writing by Scott Snyder) has resulted in what is undoubtedly my favorite Absolute book of the line--although all of them are solid and have charms. It is wild to think that when the Absolute line was first announced how skeptical many of us were. Now, here we are with Absolute books, and, "Absolute Batman," in particular, getting rave reviews and selling lots of copies. The old adage remains true to not judge a book (or comic) by its cover.

Holy Lacrimony

Michael DeForge is a modern master when it comes to making comics. His original graphic novel, "Holy Lacrimony," is a superb read about alien abductions, support groups, and sadness. Quite trippy and a little raunchy at points while also being laugh-out-loud hilarious, I was super-into this book and consider it another masterful entry in DeForge's oeuvre. 2025 clearly had some quality comics, and I'm pleased to have enjoyed these among other stellar reads!

"Holy Lacrimony," is Twisted, Hilarous, a Little Raunchy, and Another DeForge Masterpiece

Michael DeForge is a comic creator who stands out. His art, his tone, style, stories, they all have that vibe. In the same way where when you see a Wes Anderson movie you just know it's by him, a DeForge comic is just so...DeForge. What does that mean, however? Generally, a DeForge comic is funny, weird, has surreal art, and is just a hoot to read. "Holy Lacrimony," is a new comic by DeForge (published by Drawn and Quarterly) and it is unquestionably a treat.

"Holy Lacrimony," starts with a vaguely-popular musician named Jackie being abducted by aliens who are a huge fan of his work. They don't like his music, but they're fascinated with him because he is the saddest person in the World. These aliens don't understand sorrow, and out of everybody on Earth, somehow Jackie is the most depressed--and these aliens love it. Jackie has mixed feelings about this for sure and the half of the book that involves him on their spaceship doing, "Performances," of his sadness contains some of DeForge's amazing surreal artwork running wild. Shapes twist, and turn, and are trippy as can be. A sexual moment between Jackie and an alien is as erotic as it is disorienting, and the whole chunk of the book in space is a treat--I loved the running gag of the aliens encouraging Jackie to, "Get your bearings," for no other reason than it is a statement I use too. This is only half the book, however.

It isn't too much of a spoiler to reveal halfway through the book Jackie ends up back on Earth (the back of the book discusses this). He's plopped back on his home planet with nary a goodbye and a whole lot of stuff he needs to process. The book then shifts to more, "Grounded," art as Jackie forms a support group for survivors of alien abductions--a group full of people he can't quite determine the sanity and/or truthfulness of. This half of the book is less wild in DeForge's drawing but brings a ton of snarky humor--after all, in a group full of people who claim to have seen aliens what right does anybody have to say someone else is off their rocker or making shit up?

"Holy Lacrimony," is a Michael DeForge comic that feels like another perfect Michael DeForge comic. That sounds infuriatingly vague and specific at the same time, but that's the best way to describe the masterful creations of DeForge. He's a creator in a league of his own whose work over the years has only gotten better, sharper, and more delightful to consume. You should definitely read, "Holy Lacrimony," and enmesh yourself in its bizarre vibe. If you find it overwhelming you can always set it down for a few minutes to get your bearings. Heh.

5 out of 5 Stars.