Another year has come and gone, so now it’s time to highlight some of the creative works that caught my eye from last year. As always, there were a ton of stupendous comics released in 2025, so I wanted to take the time to highlight the ones that were independently or self-published and may have slipped under the radar. I hope that you find at least one new comic here that catches your interest.
All Ages
The cover of the comic “Slices of Life: A Comic Montage” by Qu. The cover features a woman with long brown hair, wearing a striped layered shirt and a gold earring, looking up towards the sky on a sunny day. Her left hand is above her face, blocking out the sun and shading her eyes. Surrounding her are the green leaves of a tree.
Slices of Life: A Comic Montage by Qu
Published by: Bulgilhan Press
Disclosure: I was a backer for this comic’s Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign
A collection of short, wordless comics, Qu’s Slices of Life: A Comic Montage is a love letter to the quiet moments in life, and the ways the world inspires us to create. Calming and relaxing, with a good pinch of humour throughout. Available as a physical book through the publisher’s webstore.
Early Adolescents
A promotional image showing the covers of the four comics included in the Crumble Bundle. The cover of “My husband’s clones” shows a man with freckles getting his kitchen apron tied up by three hands, one left and two right. It is coloured entirely in pink and yellow. The cover of “Shyshoot Red” shows a lime green cartoon pony wearing a yellow sunhat, a slight blush on his face, standing in a garden full of pink roses. The cover of “Kiss+Ride” shows two older men sitting in a car together, both of them blushing, and a smile on the freckled driver’s face in the foreground. It is coloured entirely in pink and blue. The cover of “Lab Puppy” shows a freckled anthropomorphic dog in the background sitting on a rolling stool, while wearing a green open-back hospital gown, an embarrassed flush on his face. Various pink mechanical scientific research equipment surrounds him. A pair of hands are puttting on a pair of blue medical gloves in the foreground.
Crumble Bundle by crumble
A collection of four comics focused on crumble’s characters, Marcie and Luka, in various different realities and scenarios. Sometimes they’re in a sci-fi slice of life, sometimes they’re anthropomorphic dogs, but regardless of the setting they always find a way to each other. Sweet and creative, with delightful vibes overall. Available digitally through their Ko-fi store.
Content warnings: Lab Puppy contains scientific experiments that include electric shocks
The cover of the comic “Curtain Falling” by Marty Tina G. The cover features a woman with long white hair, wearing a white, fairytale-esque dress, falling downwards, her face in shock. An orange-yellow sphere surrounds her, and is being cradled in the hands of an unseen person who is covered in stardust. Behind the woman are the red curtains of a stage, and above her is the outline of a single eye, staring down intently at her. A painting of crescent moon and a sun are in the top left and right corners of the cover respectively
Curtain Falling by Marty Tina G.
A woman finds herself the protagonist in a seemingly never-ending series of plays. While the plays are comforting and familiar, the woman finds that she cannot fully remember who she is, or why she is performing all these plays. What has she forgotten, and can she remember in time? Martyr Tina G.’s Curtain Falling is an excellently crafted story, especially for those who love fairytales. Available digitally through their Ko-fi store.
Content warnings: Loss of memories, blood and death, lots of disembodied eyes
Teenagers
The cover of the comic Formless Formless by A Liang Chan. It shows three images in rectangular boxes next to different words on the cover. Next to the top “Formless” is the image of a bird with an arrow in its neck. Next to the bottom “Formless” is the image of abstract shapes folding into each other. Next to “A Liang Chan” is an image of the sea near a shoreline. The background is two gold brown abstract images with spiked edges.
Formless Formless by A Liang Chan
A collection of short, experimental comics, A Liang Chan’s Formless Formless is a haunting anthology that will impress readers with their unique panel work and approaches to storytelling. An excellent display of what comics are capable of as a means of crafting narratives. Available digitally through their itch.io store.
Content warnings: Animal gore, discussions of death, “An Island” is set in the aftermath of a major natural disaster
The cover of the comic “House for Rent: Good Condition” by Lily Vie. In the center of the cover is the face of a woman with wavy black hair and three moles on the left side of her face. Her eyes are closed and a bead of sweat is above her right eyebrow. The title of the comic surrounds her face, as well as pink wisps and sparks. Three yellow coloured ghosts are on the cover, one with long hair and a hat, one wearing a puffer jacket, and one with long dreadlocks; only one of their eyes is visible. Surrounding the characters are various items including a rubber glove, a television, a marble, a rabbit plush, a ceramic cat, and garbage bags.
One of my favourite cartoonists, Lily Vie’s graphic novels are among some of the greatest I have had the pleasure of reading, with House for Rent: Good Condition being among my all-time favourites. While their stories are melancholic at times, the underlying theme of hope and connection always shine through. With gorgeous art, supplemented by their exceptional use of colours and inks, and some of the most striking character designs and paneling, their stories are a treat for the eyes, as well as the heart. Comics available physically through their personal webstore and digitally through their store on itch.io.
Content warnings: House for Rent: Good Condition focuses on death from the perspective of ghosts, including some implied suicide ideation, and mentions of the past death of a child. It also has a character experience a major depressive episode and has implications of a past abusive relationship. DogBody focuses on the experiences of a person who has been ostracized by his community, and includes casual ableism, non-graphic sex, and some disembodied eyes.
The cover of the comic anthology magazine “Mutt Mag: Takeoff”. It shows an individual wearing a striped shirt and pants, falling in mid-air, their long hair being pushed above them by the air. Four large feathers are coming out of their arms, while four feathers are coming from their torso. Their face is slightly flushed and expressing shock, their mouth agape. They are coloured in red, while the background is light blue.
Mutt Mag: Takeoff by Adam de Souza
The debut issue of Adam de Souza’s Mutt Mag showcases the cartoonist’s skills in crafting comics that are both compelling and chilling. The characters and settings are all exceptionally well-realized, giving the reader a sense of occupying each space, no matter how fantastical. Recommended for those looking for well-crafted one shots. Available digitally through his itch.io store.
Content warnings: Children in peril, death of humans and animals, body horror, blood and gore, bullying and exclusion by a community, non-sexual nudity
The cover of the comic “Rewired” by Jona Li. The cover features a woman, lying on her right side on the floor, with short, messy brown hair, wearing a black spaghetti strap top and blue jeans. The woman’s left hand does not have flesh on it, but rather a metallic hand with exposed wires on her forearm, and her right eye and surrounding face are also metallic, with a glowing red eye in the socket. A desktop computer tower and monitor, and laptop are visible in the upper half of the cover, the monitors are glowing red. Three wires, blue, red, and green, are connected from the laptop to the woman’s left forearm.
Rewired by Jona Li
How far are you willing to go for the chance to be loved? A short comic about the lengths some people are willing to go to change themselves for someone else, Jona Li’s Rewired provides a sci-fi twist on a classic tale of unrequited love. Available digitally through their itch.io store.
Content warnings: Self-modification of one’s body, including one’s mind, one instance resembling self-harm
The cover of the comic “The Fool, The Absolute Mad Woman” by Vivian Nguyen (LaweyD). The cover features a woman, with short braided pink hair, a long sleeved shirt and long skirt, sitting at a table with her elbows placed on the table and holding her head in her hands. She is smiling happily at something, or someone, unseen. Behind her is an abstract landscape of green paint strokes and pink clouds. Her image is framed in an oval shaped photograph frame which resembles lace. The silhouette of another woman and a pink piece of shiny ribbon are in front of the “photo”
The Fool, The Absolute Mad Woman by Vivian Nguyen (LaweyD)
Disclosure: I was a backer for this comic’s Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign
It started with a coat. Then her clothes, her earrings, and finally the woman wearing them. Alea wants to make a connection with this mysterious individual, but can never seem to work out the nerve to do so. Determined, she decides to finally take matters into her own hands. A slow burn sapphic romance thriller, Vivian Nguyen’s The Fool, The Absolute Mad Woman does an excellent job of subverting the reader’s expectations in this tale of obsession and devotion. Available digitally through her itch.io and Ko-fi stores.
Content warnings: Death, stalking, mild gore
The banner of the webcomic “Vápnthjófr saga” by Stina Rudebjer. The background shows a snowy, mountainous landscape at night, with a green aurora on display. The foreground shows seven swords each with different designs and sizes. On the left and right sides are cave walls, both adorned with red cave paintings of anthropomorphic figures holding weapons, an aurochs on the left side and a moose on the right side. The webcomic’s title is written in an alphabet that resembles runes.
Vápnthjófr saga by Stina Rudebjer
Disclosure: I helped beta read this comic
Stina Rudebjer’s Vápnthjófr saga is an anthropomorphic historical fantasy comic inspired by Norse mythology, where four women find their lives turned upside down as they are all forced to hunt down the Weapon Thief, a powerful jotun. The character development and world building are both wonderful, and the watercolour-inspired artwork showcases gorgeous landscapes and well paneled action sequences. Available to read online as a webcomic.
Content warnings: Death, gore and violence, warfare, children in peril
Mature and Adult Audiences
The cover of the comic “Allodynia” by Violet Kitchen. The cover features two people lying on a bed on their sides, their backs facing each other. They both have various electrodes on their backs and arms and are drawn in red and white. The person on the left has short wavy dark hair a white tank top and plaid patterned shorts; their eyes are closed with discomfort and their left hand is touching the sheets. The person on the right has short light hair, a dark bra, and dark pants. Their face is contorted in visible pain, their right hand gripping the sheets and left hand holding one of the electrode wires. Above their heads is a red and white image that resembles nerve endings
Allodynia by Violet Kitchen
Published by Go Press Girl!
Hoping to reconnect with their chronically ill partner, Tess participates in an experimental medical study focused on pain. What they initially assume will be an easy challenge soon proves to be significantly more than they anticipated, in more ways than one. Violet Kitchen’s Allodynia excellently uses colour and panels to really showcase the multitude of ways the body and mind can be overwhelmed by pain. Available physically through the publisher’s Ko-fi store or digitally through the publisher’s itch.io store.
Content warnings: Ableism, cissexism, reclaimed queerphobic language, medical imagery, body horror
The cover, by Seosamh Dáire, of the fourth issue of the comic anthology magazine “Datura”. It shows a man with short blue hair and a mustache caressing another, unseen man, their hand underneath the other man’s jean shorts. The unseen man is holding the back of the visible man’s head, as the visible man is leaning towards the unseen man’s crotch. The visible man is wearing a shirt with the sleeves cut off and a metal necklace wrapped around their neck. Both men have visible body hair on their limbs.
Datura Issue 4, Stories by Madeline McGrane, buttercup, Safron Isaac Robin, and Seosamh Dáire. Edited by Sunmi and Mar Julia. Printed by Jess Jess Press and Sabii Borno. Cover art by Seosamh Dáire
A collection of four creative and gorgeous girls’ love comics, the newest issue of Datura magazine continues to show that there is a great deal of creativity to be found in this genre. While Datura’s stories are always a treat, this issue in particular has the artists go all out in some wonderfully weird directions, which makes me glad the magazine exists. Haunting, messy, but always passionate, this is a treat for those looking for something different in their yuri. Available physically or digitally.
Content warnings: Death, sex (including impersonating another person, choking, accidental voyeurism), gore, body horror, guns
The cover of the comic “Dead Horses” by Freya JN. In the foreground are two anthropomorphic cat people, an adult and a child, standing in a field. The woman is wearing a jumpsuit and mask over her face, a sniper rifle slung over her right shoulder, while the girl is wearing a hoodie that resembles a caterpillar, holding a butterfly in her hands. In the background is a horse, enveloped in flames. The letters of the title are butterflies in various stages of metamorphosis, arranged to resemble letters in the Latin alphabet. The title is written a second time in plain text in parentheses below.
Dead Horses by Freya JN
Deep in the Widemeadow, there is a House. If you give it an offering, you will get one wish. How far are you willing to go to have it granted? One of the greatest examples of what comics can accomplish as a medium, Freya JN’s Dead Horses is a standout graphic novel in terms of storytelling, artwork, and clever paneling. Slowly unravelling the narrative was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had, and the payoff was exceptional. Available physically through her Etsy store and digitally through her itch.io store.
Content warnings: Death of anthropomorphic cat people and animals, sex, gore, children in peril, guns, emesis
The cover of the comic “Home by the Rotting Sea” by Otava Heikkilä. The cover features two women, wearing brown dresses with a piece of rope for belts, sitting and lying down on red wild grass, holding each other’s hand. The woman sitting has brown hair done up in a bun, and is more curvaceous, her expression wary and concerned. The woman lying down has long, curly black hair that is done in braids in front of her, her expression wary and guarded. Behind them is a hill that is on fire and grey from the recent burn.
Home by the Rotting Sea by Otava Heikkilä
Brought to the Väki as “gifts”, Otava Heikkilä’s Home by the Rotting Sea follows two former members of the human king’s harem try to adjust to their new role as members of a community they do not know or understand. As they slowly adjust to their new accommodations, the pair soon discover that this place may be able to become a home, giving them freedom they never had experienced. Available digitally through their itch.io store.
Content warnings: Sexism and gendered violence, sex (consensual and non-consensual), discussion of miscarriages and discrimination towards the person who experienced them, discussion of slavery, death of humanoid people and animals, mortuary cannibalism, ethnocentrism, implied past major natural disaster
Image Sources: All images of these comics belong to their respective cartoonists and publishers. Creators are free to contact me if they wish to have an entry discussing their work edited, removed, or to have any image descriptions changed for clarity.