School's out, the sun is shining and summer is in full swing -- but for me, the season doesn't officially start until I've decided what I'm going to read.

As a kid, I was an avid participant in my local library's summer reading program and relished weekly trips to update the patient librarians on my progress. Summer reading programs started back in the 1890s, and are still going strong today, helping kids and teens remain engaged in learning during the annual school break. But even if you aren't blissfully unencumbered by responsibilities for three months, it's a great time to challenge yourself to check out something new -- like a comic book!

No matter your age, comics are an excellent addition to any summer reading list and shouldn't' be overlooked when planning for yourself or a young person. Need some inspiration? Don't worry -- CBR has you covered with suggestions for kids, teens and adults. Check out our recommendations below, and please add some of your own in the CBR Community!




Kids

Teens

Adults

"The Wicked + The Divine" (Volumes 1 and 2) by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie

Every 90 years, 12 gods are resurrected to live on earth for two years before dying and beginning the cycle anew. In that short amount of time, they live as pop stars, adored and hated in equal measure, worshiped and followed by fans. But no fan is more devoted than Laura, who strikes up a friendship with Lucifer that leads her into the darkness of The Pantheon and down a path to her own surprising destiny.




"Wytches" by Scott Snyder and Jock

Sailor Rook knows there is something deadly in the woods behind her house -- something that follows her, stalks her and waits for her. It could just be her imagination, of course, which is reasonable considering Sailor is recovering from an incident so traumatic that it prompted her family to move to remote New Hampshire...or it could be an ancient race of hungry creatures, ready to collect whatever humans are willing to pledge. Snyder uses his personal experiences with anxiety and fatherhood to create a truly magnificent, horrifying story of what it means to be a parent.




"Beautiful Darkness" by Fabien Vehlmann, Kerascoet and translated by Helge Dascher

A classic fairy tale soon takes a disturbing turn when Princess Aurora finds herself with her world crumbling and her people looking to her for survival. The delicate, storybook paintings play in sharp contrast to the macabre story
that unfolds, blending the darkest aspects of humanity into a subtle, effective commentary.



"Black Science" (Volumes 1-3) by Rick Remender, Matteo Scalera and Dean White

The Anarchist League of Scientists explore strange worlds, dimensional rifts and encounter bizarre creatures in Remender's stunning science fiction series. The talented team infuses characters with an emotional depth that stands firmly against wild settings, building a world rich with intriguing relationships.




"The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer" by Sydney Padua

Countess Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, began translating Babbage's complex plans for a counting machine in 1842. What neither of them knew was that this would be the world's first computer and the birth of computing theory, although it was nearly a century before a recognizable computer was built. In Padua's revisionist take, the pair work together exploring theoretical physics and battling crimes with science. But don't worry -- this graphic novel is far from stuffy, and in fact is downright silly at times in the most charming way possible, resulting in a truly unique and clever story.

Further suggestions: "She-Hulk" by Charles Soule and Javier Pulido, "Rasputin" by Alex Grecian and Riley Rossmo and "Lazarus" by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark.