30 Best Comic Books for Kids Ages 6-13 Years Old
Inside: 30 of the best comic books for kids ages 6 to 13 years, including cool comic classics and newer comic book titles.
While they often receive a bad wrap as the lesser cousin to picture and chapter books, the fun, visual elements of comic books make them an engaging reading choice for children of all ages and ability levels, and these same elements support readers as they develop a range of important reading skills, including inferring meaning and strengthening vocabulary.
Plus comic books and graphic novels are the books children come back to over and over again making them an excellent choice for reluctant or struggling readers.
30 Best Comic Books for Kids
Below you’ll find thirty of the best comic books for kids, including a combination of well known and loved classics alongside newer, contemporary comic strips (with these classic comics, I’ve really tried to focus on those that have stood the test of time content wise).
And if you’d like to springboard you child’s love of comics into longer form content, you can’t go past introducing them to graphic novels. We’ve got the best lists to get you started, including Best Graphic Novels for 6-12 Year Olds, Adventure Graphic Novels for Kids, Funny Graphic Novels for Kids and 21 Illustrated Chapter Books for Kids.
As always, each title included on our list is linked to an Amazon page (these are affiliate links) where you can find further information and reviews for those you might not be personally familiar with.
Best Comic Books for Young Children
Tiny Titans by Art Baltazar
Before Teen Titans, there were Tiny Titans! Through bright and colorful comic book panels the Tiny Titans comic series shares the stories of the pint-sized heroes at their school, Sidekick Elementary.
Age 6+ years.
Angry Birds Comics by various authors
For fans of the game or the movies, this collection includes a series of funny, all-new stories featuring the hilarious Angry Bird and friends, and, of course, those pigs!
Age 6+ years.
The Quest for Snacks (book 1 of the Cat & Cat Adventures series) by Susie Yi
When their human leaves for work, Squash and Ginny find themselves in the most unfortunate predicament: without snacks. With a little help from a magical portal, the two cats embark on a quest to find ingredients for a potion that will produce unlimited goodies!
Age 6+ years.
RELATED: For more like this check out our collection of Graphic Novels for Early Readers.
Catwad: It’s Me (book 1 of the series) by Jim Benton
Catwad, a grumpy, cynical feline, and his best friend, Blurmp, a happy-go-lucky, carefree kitty. Catwad and Blumrp have hysterical adventures, with the book filled with fun wordplay, jokes and lot of grossness.
Age 7+ years
Comic Books for Elementary/Primary Grades
SpongeBob Comics: Silly Sea Stories by Stephen Hillenburg
Fun for fans of SpongeBob Squarepants and his zany crew of characters, the comic book includes a series of short, self contained stories.
Age 8+ years.
The Loud House: There Will Be Chaos by Chris Savino
Book 1 in a fun comic book series for fans of The Loud House cartoon. Lincoln Loud lives with his 10 sisters. The trick to surviving the chaos is to remain calm, cool, and collected…and you’ve got to have a plan! With all the chaos one thing is always for sure – there is never a dull moment in the Loud house!
Age 8+ years.
Science Comics: Dinosaurs – Fossils and Feathers (book 1 of the Science Comics series) by MK Reed
Each issue of Science Comics offers a great introduction to a particular topic – whether it be dinosaurs, volcanoes, coral reefs or the digestive system! An awesome educational comic strip series for kids.
Ages 8+ years.
Super Mario Adventures by Kentaro Takekuma
The peril-plagued Princess Toadstool is kidnapped by the diabolical deadbeat Bowser but super plumbers Mario and Luigi hatch a plan with their new friend Yoshi to rescue her. Are the Super Mario Bros’ plans a pipe dream? Can they stop the Koopa King before he forces the Princess to be his bride?!
Age 8+ years.
Comics Squad Recess! by various authors
This all-star tribute to classic Sunday comics includes eight sidesplitting, action-packed stories about every kid’s favorite subject—RECESS! Do you like comics? Do you like laughing till milk comes out of your nose?! Look no further, this is the book for you! All your favorite comic creators are right here in this handy-dandy hilarious book with brand new comic strips featuring your favorite heroes, villains and more!!
Age 8+ years.
Scooby Doo Team Up! It’s Scooby Time by Scholly Fisch
Scooby Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang team up with Batman and Robin, the Teen Titans, Wonder Woman and the Super Friends in this fun collection of six entertaining adventures that will be enjoyed by kids and parents alike! Ages 8+ years.
Teen Titans Go! series by Scholly Fisch
From crazy stories about Robin and Beast Boy’s mini-putt showdown to demon pizzas, this fun comic strip for kids collection includes all of the best over-the-top gags, ridiculous expressions and hilarious actions of the teen superhero characters kids love!
Age 8+ years.
Wallace the Brave by Will Henry
Part Peanuts, part Calvin and Hobbes, Wallace the Braves shares a year in the life of Wallace and his family and friends in Snug Harbor. From meeting the new girl at school, Amelia, and being impressed by both her courage and her baseball-throwing style to waving at the clouds just in case there are aliens there watching, this cute comic strip includes many laugh out loud moments.
Age 8+ years.
Marvel Super Hero Adventures – Spiderman by various authors
It’s a spider-tacular adventure when Spider-Man is visited by his fellow web-slingers! What wall-crawling, web-swinging trouble will Peter Parker get into when he’s joined by Anya Corazon, Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen? With fearsome foes and villains to deal with, this team of heroes are sure to be busy!
Age 8+ years.
Ducktales: Quests and Quacks by Joe Caramagna & Joey Cavalieri
Featuring magical relics, dastardly ghosts, and one of Scrooge’s greatest threats – a risk assessor from an insurance company! Scrooge and Co. face off against all sorts of hilarious new threats inspired by the critically acclaimed Disney Channel series.
Age 8+ years.
Charlie Brown and Friends: A Peanuts Collection by Charles M Schultz
The classic Peanuts gang are all here in this fun series of Charlie Brown comic books. Featuring plenty of Lucy’s awesome ‘The Doctor is In’ strips and a baseball theme, this is a great intro to Peanuts for middle grade kids.
Age 9+ years.
The Last Comics on Earth series by Max Brallier
Fans of The Last Kids on Earth graphic novels are in for a treat with this spin off comic! At their local comic book store, the kids make a startling discovery: they’ve read every last issue of their favorite comic and no new issues are coming ever! (Thanks a lot, apocalypse!) Our heroes have one choice – continue Z-Man’s legacy by writing and illustrating THEIR OWN COMIC BOOK! Step one? Knock off their beloved Z-Man and cast themselves as the super rad, superhero protectors of the mysterious city of Apocalyptia. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything!
Age 9+ years.
Sonic the Hedgehog by Ian Flynn
If your kids love the Sonic video games, they will enjoy following the beloved hedgehog on his journey in comic form! As Dr. Eggman’s rogue robots continue to attack small villages around the world, Sonic will need the help of his friends Tails, Knuckles, and Amy, along with some new and surprising allies, to save the day.
Age 9+ years.
Plants Vs Zombies Vol 1: Lawnmaggedon by Paul Tobin
Fans of the popular game will love joining Nate Timely and Patrice Blazing as they fight the war to save Neighborville from brain hungry zombies. With a little help from Patrice’s Uncle Dave and an army of plants, they might just have a chance of winning the war against the Zomboss!
Age 9+ years.
Pokemon Adventures series by Hidenori Kusaka
The super popular Pokemon game characters jump out of the screen and onto the pages of this action-packed manga comic. Red doesn’t just want to train Pokemon, he wants to be their friend too. Bulbasaur and Poliwhirl seem game. But independent Pikachu may not be so easy to win over.
Age 9+ years.
Animal Crossing New Horizons Vol 1 by Kokonasu Rumba
Super fun for fans of the Animal Crossing game, this comic strip series follows the gag-filled adventures of four goofy residents living amongst in the Animal Crossing New Horizons world.
Age 10+ years.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Matthew K Manning
Legendary heroes Raph, Leo, Donnie, and Mikey discover the Hidden City beneath New York, learn amazing mystic ninja skills, battle absurd mutants…and always find time for a slice of their favorite pizza! Will the TMNT be able to master their new world, or will their new world master them?
Age 10+ years.
Big Nate from the Top (book 1 of the comic strip collection) by Lincoln Peirce
Nate fights a daily battle against overzealous teachers, undercooked cafeteria food, and all-around conventionality. He’s a rebel without a clue, blazing through sixth grade with a series of detentions. Full of sarcasm and irony, these Big Nate comic strips were originally published in newspapers.
Age 10+ years.
Lumberjanes Vol 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson
A group of five, diverse, female best friends are spending their summer at Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penninquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types when things take a surprisingly strange turn, transforming their summer camp into a non-stop fantasy adventure involving a mysterious Bearwoman, three eyed foxes, talking, arm-wrestling statues and other supernatural critters.
Age 10+ years.
Comic Books for Middle School
Zeus: King of the Gods (comic 1 of the Olympians series) by George O’Connor
“In the time before time, there was nothing, Kaos. From out of Kaos came Ge, or Gaea, our Mother Earth.” This is the tale of how the Titans and Greek Gods came to be. It’s the story of titan Kronos who eats each of his children as they are born, except Zeus, the youngest child! Sharing mythology in an exciting comic book style, this comic book series is sure to engage fans of Percy Jackson!
Age 12+ years
Goldie Vance comic series by Hope Larson
Teen Goldie Vance works at the Florida resort that her father manages. She dreams of becoming the hotel’s in-house detective, with an insatiable curiosity that may just get her into trouble. A theft and kidnapping befall a guest at the hotel and Goldie is on the case!
Age 12+ years.
Spider-Man Miles Morales Vol 1 by Brian Michael Mendis
Miles Morales is hitting the big time and its a world of non-stop action! Like when Earth’s ightiest heroes all fall, and Miles stands alone against a villain with the power to destroy the universe. Or when the Black Cat tries to get her claws in this new Spider-Man. Or when a new mutant threatens to grab the spotlight! And don’t forget Miles’ toughest foe yet: his grandmother! But keeping his grades up might just be the ultimate challenge!
Age 12+ years.
Astro Boy Omnibus Vol 1 by Osamu Tezuka
Can a robot have a soul? Built by a brilliant scientist to replace his lost son but with powers beyond imagination, Astro Boy fights for the oppressed and helpless, whether they be human, alien, or robot. Exciting, whimsical, and touching, Astro Boy brings back a classic era of comics and animation for both kids and adults.
Age 13+ years.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Vol 1 by Kyle Higgins
Welcome to Angel Grove. Home to the Power Rangers and weekly monster attacks! Tommy Oliver was the new kid in town when evil doer, Rita Repulsa, swooped in and made him the Green Ranger. Now, free from her mind control, Tommy struggles to find balance between the plights of high school, making new friends, and the dangers that come with being a hero.
Age 13+ years.
Runaways: Find Your Way Home (Vol. 1) by Rainbow Rowell
The story continues of the early 00s tale of a group of six teenagers who discovered their parents were a secret criminal society, Runaways, taking on a new look and feel thanks to the dynamic pairing of Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka. Fans will love this new take on the classic and new readers can jump straight in thanks to Rowell’s excellent storytelling. Age 13+ years
Riverdale Vol. 1 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
For fans of the Riverdale show, this first instalment of the comic book series acts as a prequel to the TV series, with the stories are set before the show begins or between the storylines of the episodes, adding depth to the popular characters.
Age 13+ years.
