Because English is not the easiest language in the world; whether you’re trying to learn it as a second language, or if you’re a native speaker that just feels like you could do better, we can all work to improve our English skills.
A well-known way to improve your English, both for speaking and writing, is to read. And, if you’re reading anyway, why not read comic books? Not only do they have some excellent writing and stories, but the images can help make the experience more memorable and can sometimes help explain some of the dialogue.
So, looking for a comic to help improve your English? Might I suggest:
10. The Walking Dead
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The origin of both the hit show and Universal's favorite idea for Holloween Horror Nights
This series of comics revolves around a group of mostly working-class Georgians trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. The main character, Rick, wakes up in a hospital after the initial outbreak has already hit, and must try to live long enough to discover what’s going on. He soon joins up with a group, takes charge of it, and tries to keep everyone alive.
It’s a very basic premise, but it’s well written, and the real danger is rarely the zombies. They’re constantly a threat, of course, but the primary story arcs and problems all revolve around other humans. It’s an idea as old as the zombie film itself, dating all the way back to The Night of the Living Dead, where the people trapped in the house were the real monsters, and this series does a magnificent job of paying homage to the foundation of the genre.
This type of story leaves little room for eloquent prose but does expose the reader to realistic conversational English. The art is also very good at conveying the plot and setting, which can help connect the dots for those that may be learning English as a second language.
You should pick up this series if you:
Want to work on your conversational English
Enjoy Zombie Stories
Are okay with a lot of gore
Love stress
9. The Stand
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If you didn't think it would be creepy, you don't know Stephen King
If you ask someone who the most popular and prolific modern American author is, most people will give you the same answer: Stephen King. He’s a living legend in writing, and one of his most well-regarded books, The Stand, has been made into a comic book series by Marvel.
It’s a post-apocalyptic story where the vast majority of people in the world have died of a lethal and highly contagious virus (didn’t mean to get too topical here). The survivors end up banding together under one of two camps, which basically boil down to the God camp and the Devil camp.
The writing here is, just like with the book, phenomenal. King can explain complex scenarios through hints and clues that the audience can understand without everything needing to be spelled out. It’s a lesson not only in English and writing, but in storytelling overall.
Pick this series up if you:
Are proficient with English, but you’re looking to improve
Are a fan of the book
Enjoy post-apocalyptic settings
Want a book that can give you nightmares
8. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
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I often wonder how many plots they could have foiled in the time it took to get that photo
Do you remember the classic stories that you probably read when you were younger? Stories like Dracula, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and The Invisible Man? Wouldn’t it be wild if those stories all really took place in the same universe and, due to extraordinary circumstances, the characters were all brought together?
Well, there’s the plot of this comic. A mysterious and powerful man, Mr. M, has recruited a team of incredible people from around the world to form his league. Their task is to stop an international warmonger from obtaining the power of flight before the year 1900 even rolls around and destroy England from the skies.
Written by comic book legend Alan Moore (you’re going to see his name pop up a few times in this list), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a tale for the ages. It’s witty, the dialogue is precise and believable, and the plot’s woven masterfully .
Also, it is much better than the movie.
You should pick this up if you:
Are looking to practice your formal English
Enjoy classic tales like those listed above
Like stories that regularly offer surprise twists
Don’t mind some darker subject matter
Want to see so many people look impressed by a submarine
7. Kingdom Come
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This is the coolest coffee table in any universe, no question.
If you’re looking for an excellent example of writing in a large-scale comic book event, you would be hard-pressed to find a better candidate than DC’s Elseworld story, Kingdom Come.
The story takes place several years in the future, where Superman is retired on a farm, and Batman has been broken so many times that he needs a metal exoskeleton to get around. With time comes change, and now the world is divided between the heroes of old and the new guard. If peace can’t be established between the two factions, the world is likely going to end.
Two things make this story stand out from other major comic book events. The first is the beautiful art by Alex Ross, who brings this world to life with his signature style. The other is the outstanding writing and storytelling involved in this comic, which manages to successfully juggle multiple stories and character arcs.
Pick up this graphic novel if you:
Want to improve your ability to tell new stories with well-established characters
Enjoy tales told from a unique third-party perspective
Would love to see a comic book about the legacies that heroes can leave
Like brain-controlling worms
6. The Sandman
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This is definitely more of Metallica's Sandman than the Chordettes' version.
There are few comics out there that are generally considered by people to be “literature”, but Neil Gaiman’s epic fantasy adventure falls squarely into that category.
It’s a very long and twisted story, but the short of it is that Dream (the sandman from the title) was held captive for seventy years before breaking out and claiming sweet vengeance on his captors. Now in the modern world, Dream must quickly adapt to his new surroundings, having missed decades of progress.
It’s a brilliantly written story that incorporates traditional mythology and the mythology of the established DC universe. Because of the time jumps and the jumps between realities, readers get to experience a variety of speech patterns and vocabulary sets. The Sandman is a captivating book that should be on everyone's radar, regardless of whether or not they're trying to improve their language skills.
Pick this story up if you:
Enjoy darker stories
Would like a comic that covers several timeframes and cultures
Like fantastical settings
Would like Mr. Sandman to bring you a dream
5. Fables
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Even in fairy tales, the subway is a nightmare.
People often turn to classic stories as they’re learning to read as kids. Tales like Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, and Jack and the Beanstalk are all staples of early reading and storytelling. So, if you’re looking to improve your English, why not read a modernized fairy tale about these famous characters?
Centuries ago, these fairy tale characters were driven out of their homeland and, with few other options, fled to America to start over. Now, they live in New York City, in their own closed-off society, though they do still have to interact with regular people and must keep up a façade of normality.
It’s a fascinating and intricate story that not only uses common lingo but also has moments of using more advanced language, as the book recites back to the origins of the characters.
You should pick this book up if you:
Are familiar with classic fairy tale characters
Want to further improve your skills
Enjoy stories that twist classic tales on their heads
Want to see the Big Bad Wolf as a grizzled detective
4. Marvel 1602
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Things have gotten pretty dark and creepy, True Believers!
I’ll be honest; Marvel comics aren’t famous because of their profound writing. They have memorable characters, a generally fun tone, and have crafted a detailed universe, but they’re often the kinds of comics where a hero will punch someone and say, “Take That!”
That all changes when the Marvel universe goes back to 1602. In this short series, the reader gets to experience what each of the major Marvel heroes would have been like in the 17th century, and their articulate language matches that of the stereotypical speech of the early modern era. This type of language ends up being a far cry from the campy dialogue many comic books readers have grown accustomed to reading.
Plus, on top of the trip through time and the classic speech patterns, the story is also compelling. I won’t mention too much about it, because everything in this book is better experienced first-hand, but know that this comic's story is absolutely a page-turner. So even if you’re not looking to expand your vocabulary, you should still give this one a read.
Pick this story up if you:
Want a comic that mixes the high-end language with common lingo
Enjoy historical settings
Are looking for a good, closed-off story
Want to be frequently be teased that Peter Parker is going to get bit by a spider.
3. V for Vendetta
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Our unsettling hero, everyone!
Comic book dialogue tends to be relatively simplistic. Characters often speak plainly because the visuals can do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of storytelling; this is not the case in V for Vendetta.
Instead, the character the story focuses on, V, often speaks as if he’s reading poetry and will even quote famous works of literature. Plus, the antagonist of the story is ultimately the government and their outlandish propaganda, so there’s a different kind of verbal sophistication coming from that end as well.
Alan Moore creates characters out of dialogue alone in this story, and there’s a lot to learn about the versatility of the English language here. It may be too intense for some readers, but it’s worth it for anyone who’s okay with some uncomfortable imagery.
You should pick up this book if you:
Are very comfortable with English but are looking to improve
Enjoy stories about government propaganda, like the book 1984
Like reading comics with characters you don’t already know
Enjoy gunpowder, treasonous plots, and the date of November 5th.
2. Batman: The Court of Owls
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More like the Court of BATMAN!
Writer Scott Snyder ran the Batman series for the New 52 lineup at DC, and he brought more life to the hero than Batman had seen in some time. Nowhere is this more prevalent than at the very start of the run with the Court of Owls.
The comic follows Batman as he begins to uncover a secret organization in Gotham that has been running things behind the scenes for generations. The revelations are powerful in this book, as Batman discovers that he isn’t the actually expert on everything Gotham. However, Mr. Wayne is nothing if not tenacious, and he will do whatever is necessary to learn about the secrets behind the Court of Owls.
The Court has been used in several other Batman-based projects now, but it was the compelling idea and the precise writing in this comic that kicked it all off. Scott Snyder does an outstanding job in this series of building off of the existing lore of Batman while adding so much more to the character and the setting of Gotham City.
You should pick this comic up if you:
Are looking to take your English proficiency up to the level of a pro
Like stories about secret organizations
Enjoy Batman comics
Like weird owl masks
1. Watchmen
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You've got red on you.
You don’t write the #1 New York Times best seller with poor language skills. It’s another entry for writer Alan Moore, and this iconic book isn’t just a great story; it’s one for the ages.
For those who may be unfamiliar with this one, Watchmen takes place in a world where the cold war did not end but, instead, grew ever more intense. As the Doomsday Clock ticks toward midnight, the (mostly) retired heroes of yesterday become entangled in a strange plot that threatens millions, if not billions, of lives. And everything seems to revolve around a single question: Who killed The Comedian?
Watchmen is the pinnacle of comic book writing and storytelling; even experienced writers can learn more about the craft from this book. If the subject matter and imagery weren’t so dark and gory, this would be a contender for required reading in schools. If you haven’t read it and are okay with some inappropriate themes, go pick up a copy, it’s worth every cent.
Pick up this graphic novel if you:
Want to improve your mastery of the English language and storytelling
