Retro Review: 10 Groundbreaking 2024 Comics You Missed
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Even in 2025, the idea of “comic book fatigue” being a real phenomenon seems laughable. Whether it’s comic books, films, video games, or cartoons, the demand for fresh stories and innovative ideas remains strong. Yet, many groundbreaking comics from 2024 slipped under the radar, overlooked by fans.
Groundbreaking 2024 Comics
The reality is that most comic book fans don’t actually read comics. They love the movies, TV shows, video games, and animated series but have never picked up an issue. With countless titles released every week—both from major publishers and indie creators—finding the right comic can feel overwhelming.
We’ve got you covered. Here are 10 groundbreaking 2024 comics that you might have missed but absolutely need to read now.
1. Universal Monsters: Frankenstein
(Image courtesy FB/LSoH)
This comic offers a fresh take on the classic 1931 Frankenstein film, introducing a unique narrative twist. Instead of focusing solely on the monster’s creation, the story explores the lives of those who unknowingly contributed to it—the individuals whose body parts were used to bring Frankenstein to life.
A compelling new character is introduced: the son of the corpse that served as the foundation for the experiment. Additionally, the dynamic between Dr. Frankenstein and his assistant is reimagined, adding new depth to the story.
This is one of the most poignant and groundbreaking comics of 2024 that you might have missed. Preorder the 112-page hardcover, available April 8, 2025. for $24.99 at Amazon now.
2. Poison Ivy
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Poison Ivy made her debut in Batman #181 in 1966, created in response to the popularity of Catwoman on the Batman TV show starring Adam West. Originally introduced as a seductive villain, Dr. Pamela Isley has since evolved into an anti-hero in modern comics. Her origin was later expanded in 1988, establishing that her powers—the ability to communicate with and control plant life—were granted by elemental forces.
Poison Ivy stands out as one of the most groundbreaking comics of 2024, redefining her origin, exploring her sexuality, and recontextualizing her agency as both a doctor and an eco-warrior.
Get the 160-page paperback Poison Ivy Vol. 1: The Virtuous Cycle for $15.26 at Amazon now.
3. Ain’t No Grave
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“Ain’t No Grave,” also known as “Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold This Body Down,” is an early 20th-century African-American gospel song. Johnny Cash famously covered it on his posthumous 2010 album, giving the song new life. The powerful sentiment behind its lyrics inspired the title of this 2024 Image Comics story.
This supernatural Western follows Ryder, a former bandit who loses her family and is left with an incurable disease. Determined to seek justice, she sets out on an impossible mission—to kill the one responsible for it all: Death itself.
Buy the 184-page paperback for $16.99 at Amazon right now.
4. Man’s Best
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Earth is on the brink of collapse, its resources nearly depleted, making it uninhabitable for future generations. In a last-ditch effort to save humanity, a brilliant scientist and her three pets—two dogs and a cat—board the starship Horizon in search of a new home.
When disaster strikes, the animals are left stranded, crash-landing on an unknown planet. Equipped with cybernetic suits, they must navigate their new reality and find a way to complete the mission their owner started—ensuring the survival of the human race.
Groundbreaking 2024 comics like this went under the radar because of this premise, even though it is inspired by the 2004 comic We3. Get the 160-page paperback of this limited series for $19.99 at Amazon.
5. The One Hand and The Six Fingers
(Image courtesy FB/Solaris)
The One Hand and The Six Fingers are two interconnected limited series that alternate chapters to unravel a gripping story from two perspectives—a veteran detective hunting a serial killer and the twisted mind of the killer himself.
In The One Hand, Detective Nasser postpones his retirement after discovering that a legendary serial killer, believed to be long caught, may be active once again. Meanwhile, The Six Fingers follows archaeology student Johannes Vale, who slowly comes to a horrifying realization—he is a copycat of the One Hand Killer. The only problem? He has no memory of committing any crimes.
Get the 280-page paperback for $18.59 at Amazon now.
6. Paranoid Gardens
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Paradise Gardens is no ordinary wellness clinic—it’s a sanctuary where aliens, ghosts, monsters, humans, superheroes, and anthropomorphized animals coexist as both patients and staff. At the heart of it all is Loo, a human nurse determined to uncover the facility’s hidden secrets and her own mysterious connection to it.
This is one of the most groundbreaking comics of 2024, a must-read for fans of the strange and surreal. Co-written by Gerard Way, musician and creator of The Umbrella Academy comics, it promises a mind-bending experience unlike anything else.
Get the 176-Page paperback for $19.99 at Amazon now.
7. Transformers
(Image courtesy FB/TMR)
Transformers is a brand that took the world by storm in the 1980s and experienced a resurgence in the 2000s thanks to Michael Bay’s blockbuster films. While Transformers comics are nothing new, and neither are Transformers and G.I. Joe crossovers, this latest iteration brings something fresh to the table.
Published by Image and Skybound, Transformers is a G.I. Joe and Transformers crossover that stands out as one of the most groundbreaking comics of 2024. In this story, the Autobots and Decepticons crash-land on Earth with no memory of how they got there. Their existence is soon discovered by the military, venture capitalists, mercenaries, and weapons dealers—who waste no time exploiting their technology and power sources for their own agendas.
In other words, the arrival of the Transformers sets the stage for the creation of G.I. Joe, Cobra, and M.A.R.S. If you’re not reading this Energon Universe series from Image, you’re seriously missing out.
Get the 144-page first volume of this series on Kindle for $13.99. This series is so popular it is hard to find new copies on Amazon. You might only find used paperback or hardcover copies.
8. Void Rivals
(Image courtesy FB/TFF)
This series is also part of the Energon Universe, the expanding comic book world featuring Transformers and G.I. Joe.
Deep in the far reaches of space, warriors from the warring planets Agorria and Zertonia crash-land on a hostile planetoid, far from their home worlds. Forced to set aside their mutual distrust to survive, they soon uncover a shocking conspiracy—one that exposes the lies behind their interplanetary war and reveals an unexpected connection to the Transformers.
Get Void Rivals Vol.1: More than Meets the Eye, a 136-page paperback for $13.30 at Amazon now.
9. Space Ghost
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Space Ghost began as a campy 1966 Hanna-Barbera cartoon but found new life in the 2000s as a late-night TV host on Adult Swim. Now, the character has been reimagined in a monthly comic series from Dynamite Comics, shedding his campy roots for a more modern, gritty take as an intergalactic seeker of justice.
Among the most groundbreaking comics of 2024, this series stands out for effortlessly transforming Space Ghost into a legitimate, modern-day hero—without losing the essence of what made him iconic.
Buy the 144-page paperback Space Ghost Vol. 1: With Only Ghosts to Comfort Us for $19.99 at Amazon now.
10. Judge Dredd: A Better World
(Image courtesy FB/2000 AD)
Even if you’ve never read a Judge Dredd comic, you know the character. Sylvester Stallone starred in a forgettable 1995 adaptation, while Karl Urban led 2012’s Dredd—an excellent but underrated take on the franchise.
Set in a dystopian future, humanity is crammed into massive, continent-sized cities plagued by lawlessness, corruption, and chaos. To maintain order, “Judges” serve as the ultimate authority—police officers with the power to arrest, charge, and execute criminals on the spot. Among them, Judge Dredd is the harshest and most unforgiving enforcer of the law.
In Judge Dredd: A Better World, a bold new initiative aims to combat crime through local social programs and data-driven grassroots activism. If successful, it could render the original Judge system obsolete challenging the very foundation of Dredd’s world.
Buy the 144-page paperback for $24.99 at Amazon now.
Ask a Friend
I get it—jumping into comic books as a casual reader can feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. But you don’t have to figure it out alone. Ask a friend who’s into comics or visit your local comic book shop (if you’re lucky enough to have one) and get some guidance.
Many casual fans are content waiting years between blockbuster comic book movies instead of diving into the wealth of stories already out there. But with nearly a century of comic book history to explore, why not check out some hidden gems?
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
