10 Graphic Novels That Changed Redditors Lives

Much like movies impact audiences through moving scenes and music connects to listeners’ emotions, graphic novels can have a profound influence on readers. Characters are well-developed across a series that connect with readers and storylines can open topics for discussion and provoke thought.

From material tackling tough subjects like love and death to sexuality and toxic masculinity, it’s easy for a graphic novel to influence thought and change the lives of readers. Redditors have decided their lives are forever changed after reading these graphic novels.

Daytripper By Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá

Daytripper is a ten-issue series following the story of Brás, an obituaries writer who dreams of becoming a novelist like his father. Challenges with family, relationships, and fatherhood are front and center as each episode ends with a different version of Brás dying.

Related: 9 Hard-To-Find Graphic Novels Worth Your Time

A deleted Reddit user explains the life-changing impact of Daytripper, writing, “Just thinking about the person I want to be. How I want to be remembered.” With each death, the series addresses major life questions, such as the meaning of life. With relatable storylines, it’s easy for the series to be influential to readers.

A Distant Neigborhood By Jiro Taniguchi

Following Niroshi Nakahara as he unexplainably travels through time over 30 years in the past, A Distant Neighborhood gives Niroshi the power to relive old memories and interact with lost family members. The Japanese manga is a touching story as the protagonist has his adult memories intact, but is blessed with the chance to remember moments he has forgotten.

Redditor PataudLapin explains, “I found some pages of this book so emotionally powerful.” Many memories fade with time, and it’s important to remember to stop and take in beautiful moments. A Distant Neighborhood reminds readers to appreciate moments and individuals.

Maus By Art Speigelman

With plenty of movies about the Holocaust, the subject takes on the form of a graphic novel in Maus. Creator Art Speigelman interviews his father about his experience surviving the Holocaust as a Polish Jew and his story is told through animals such as Nazi soldiers as cats and Jews as mice.

Redditor forrealthoughcomix explains, “It really made me think a lot about the trauma people carry.” Since the narrative switches between past and present throughout Maus, it’s easy to see how the Holocaust impacts Speigelman’s father both during and after and how trauma is carried throughout life.

Bamse – The World’s Strongest Bear By Rune Andréasson

Originating as a Swedish cartoon and comic book strip in the ‘60s, Bamse is a friendly bear in blue overalls that teaches moral values and eats a special honey that makes him super strong. Over time, Bamse becomes a father and teaches his cubs about gender equality and intellectual disabilities.

Redditor senalmoondog praises the series, writing, “He taught me why taxes are good, not to be a racist, be kind and kick a** as needed.” Bamse teaches practical knowledge that all children should learn before becoming adults, as well as how to be a better person and treat others with kindness.

Spider-Man By Stan Lee And Steve Ditko

Spider-Man may be known for terrifying villains in Marvel Comics, but for some readers, Peter Parker is an inspiration. The comic books about the teenager turned superhero thanks to a radioactive spider bite have been a worldwide phenomenon with a number of big-screen adaptations.

For Redditor Dorlando_Calrissian, Spider-Man “has taught me that no matter how bad things get, you always have a choice to do the right thing.” People can strive to do the right thing instead of making emotional decisions during difficult times.

Goblin Girl By Moa Romanova

Moa gets more than she bargained for when she matches with a celebrity on a dating site in Goblin Girl. She believes the older gentleman is the answer to her problems. She’s broke, depressed, and nearly homeless. But there are strings attached to her love match.

Related: 10 Best Graphic Novels Every Newcomer To Comics Should Read

Redditor jagvetinteriktigt appreciates the graphic novels’ notion “that no matter how hard things get and how bad your problems become, they will always go away eventually.” Moa learns a tough lesson that only she can make her own happiness and get her out of a pit of despair. It’s an important moral for any story.

The Sandman: Dream Country By Neil Gaiman

With four stories and no common storyline, The Sandman: Dream Country is no stranger to death. There are heartbreaking deaths throughout the comics, but one story, in particular, stands out to readers. In “Façade,” Death helps a superhero die.

Redditor thetiredregular writes of the story, “For some reason, that story changed the way I viewed death.” Urania wants to kill herself due to her “freakish” appearance after retiring from being a superhero and Death helps her with a merciful end. The story has significant commentary on appearance and death for readers.

Strangers In Paradise By Terry Moore

Strangers in Paradise chronicles a love triangle between two women and a man as the story alternates with a mystery about an international crime organization that manipulates and kills men and women in positions of power.

Related: 10 Non-Superhero Comics/Graphic Novels For Young Adults

Redditor Archer_Quiet praises the series, writing, “It gave us so many, many opportunities to discuss absolutely everything about relationships, sexuality, and how people develop themselves in general.” The series heavily discusses sexuality, divorce, and infidelity, along with eating disorders, which can aid in the self-discovery of readers.

The Boys By Garth Ennis And Darick Robertson

Similar to the Amazon Prime series, The Boys follows a group consisting of Billy Butcher, Mother’s Milk, the Frenchman, the Female, and Hughie Campbell as they monitor superheroes with gruesome outcomes. Though plenty is left out of the comics in the adaptation, some readers are influenced by the comics.

Redditor hipedog explains, “That series became strangely beautiful and had a lot to say on the nature of masculinity.” With intense, reckless superheroes like Homelander and graphic violence, the commentary on toxic masculinity is palpable as male characters struggle to show emotion or put their friends in danger for narcissistic reasons.

Preacher By Garth Ennis And Steve Dillon

It’s good versus evil in Preacher as Texan preacher Jesse Custer becomes possessed by a supernatural creature that’s the product of an angel and a demon. Custer and his girlfriend, Tulip, travel the United States searching for God, who abandoned Heaven when the creature was born.

The series is influential for Redditor Zealousideal-Bowl-51, who writes that it “changed how I look at the world in that it asks you not to believe in a magic man in the sky but look to your fellow man and believe in humanity.” Preacher encourages people to find support in one another when it looks like all hope is lost.

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