Comics aren't really 'for' anyone in particular. They're not just for boys. They're not just for kids or teens. Adult men and women read comics as do little girls and boys. Gender non-conforming folks read comics too. That being said, certain comics are marketed at certain groups.
Making superhero comic books for young adult readers is a current trend in comics. Whether they feature new, high-school-age characters, or depict favorite adult characters as young adults, they contain themes that young adults can relate to. They may be less violent, or less explicit about that violence than standard comic books. That doesn't mean they're just for kids, though. These books are some of the best being published today.
10 Supergirl: Being Super
This miniseries depicts Supergirl's origin story. Kara Danvers crash-landed outside a small Midwestern town on Earth when she was a kid and was taken in by a local family. Now she's a happy 16-year-old. She runs track with her best friends while pretending that she's not quite as fast - and strong - as her powers make her. But when Kara's track coach gives her a suspicious health-tracking bracelet to wear, things start to go very wrong.
Being Super makes Kara's small-town life seem simultaneously exciting and peaceful. The book gives insight into how Supergirl became the kind and strong hero she is today. By the time the series is over, you'll be left wanting to get to know Kara's friends and family even more.
9 Ironheart
Some people say Riri Williams is the next Iron Man. She, however, calls herself Ironheart. Admitted to MIT at age 15, Riri is a super genius. She experienced gun violence while growing up in Chicago, which influenced her desire to become a superhero. She built her own Iron Man suit as a challenge to herself and quickly drew the endorsement of Tony Stark himself. Before she knew it she was a hero in her own right.
Riri is a deeply introverted geek. She has trouble connecting with people. This, and her intellectual abilities, put a spin on the typical young adult tale of coming of age. Riri has a lot more autonomy than a high schooler. And even though she doesn't have a superpower outside of her intelligence, she's still coming into her own as a hero and as a woman.
8 Spider-Gwen
Gwen Stacy became a superhero after her universe's Peter Parker died in her arms. The daughter of a cop, Gwen uses the investigative skills learned from her father to fight crime. She has the powers of a spider and in her free time, plays drums in a band. Gwen thought she killed the Lizard in the battle that killed Peter, but when the Lizard reappears, Gwen's life gets quite a bit harder.
Spider-Gwen is a classic spider-person tale of trying to juggle too many things at once. Between fighting crime, hiding her identity, and making it to band practice, Gwen has her hands full.
7 Ms. Marvel: No Normal
Kamala Khan is an Inhuman who can "embiggen" or stretch and grow her body. She got her powers from the Terrigen Mist when it hit New Jersey. Her life literally changed overnight. A Muslim, Pakistani-American young woman, Kamala struggles to integrate her life as the new Ms. Marvel with her family's values.
Kamala Khan is one of the most important, and most popular, new characters to come out of the last decade of comics. Not only are her religious and ethnic identities revolutionary in comics, but she is also a refreshing new 'in' for readers. Kamala is a fan-fiction-writing, Avengers-loving fangirl. She's a great introduction to Marvel Comics and her enthusiasm is downright contagious.
6 Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass
When rebellious teenage Harleen Quinzel is sent to live with her grandma in Gotham City, she discovers that her grandma has passed. No matter, Harleen simply moves into her old apartment above a cabaret owned by drag queen Mama. Harley takes herself to high school, becomes part of the drag queen family, and meets Ivy, a social justice-oriented fellow student. Soon enough though, Harley's passion for action acts up and she must choose between anarchism and activism.
Not only is Breaking Glass a great primer for the magnificent Harley Quinn, but it's also a deep musing on that choice between anarchism and activism. Naturally, Joker is the representative for anarchism, and Ivy is the passionate activist.
5 Miles Morales: Straight Outta Brooklyn
Another historic character of recent comics history is Miles Morales. An Afro-Latino young man from Brooklyn, Miles has all the powers of a spider and all the angst of a teenager. In Straight Outta Brooklyn, Miles tries to keep up with schoolwork while also fighting crime and romancing a friend in his free time. When immigrant and at-risk kids start being kidnapped, Miles must lose more sleep for the sake of his neighborhood.
Straight Outta Brooklyn is a great place to start for readers inspired by Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. The highs and lows of teenage life are represented well. The book introduces Miles and makes the comic book Spider-Verse approachable.
4 Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Officially recognized as the smartest person in the Marvel Universe, 9-year-old Luna Lafayette is lightyears ahead of her classmates in school. She's so bored in class that she has her own lab under the school full of Tony Stark-level science projects. In an attempt to protect herself from the Terrigen Mist, Luna invents a device that ends up opening a time portal that brings ape-like creatures and a tyrannosaurus rex into her world. Devil Dinosaur, as Luna names him, becomes her best friend and sidekick in her burgeoning superhero career.
Luna is an incredibly intelligent and logical girl but is often driven by her emotions. This makes her story at once inspiring and deeply relatable. Moon Girl is a fun book for even younger readers because of her age.
3 Teen Titans: Raven
Raven becomes orphaned again after her foster mom is killed in the car crash that takes Raven's memories. She's sent to live with her foster mom's sister and niece in New Orleans, but she can't remember any details from her previous life. This makes the discovery of her powers all the more surprising. Raven just wants to be a normal high schooler, but something dark is coming her way.
Part of a new DC series that refreshes the origin stories of the Teen Titans, Raven is a strong first book. Rife with teenage emotions, the characters are engaging and relatable. This exploration of what it's like to be a teenage girl with powers beyond her dreams is grand in its simplicity.
2 Under The Moon: A Catwoman Tale
At age 15, Selina Kyle already knows more about the world than she wants to. When her mom's abusive boyfriend kills Selina's stray cat, Selina runs away from home and becomes homeless. She's tough and quickly learns to survive on the streets. She fears loving something or someone again because she knows she'll lose them just like her kitten. Despite this, she finds her place in a community of homeless kids who have a job for someone with her growing Catwoman skills.
Under the Moon is darker than some of the other books on this list but it handles its darkness well. There are compassion and hope amid all the miserable realities of life. The book knows how to address these serious topics in a way that's accessible to young adults.
1 The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
Doreen Green is just starting college. She's a computer science major just trying to fit in. What makes it hard is her enormous squirrel tail and the fact that she can talk to squirrels. No matter, Doreen can handle it. She bounds around campus fighting crime in the most creative ways with the help of her squirrel partner, Tippy Toe.
What makes The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl unique is that Doreen rarely resorts to true violence to fight crime. She often uses her bubbly personality and army of squirrels to find a way around the fight. It's not obvious that she's doing this; it's just the way she is.