Written by a tour de Force of contemporary English literature in many forms, in Sandman, Neil Gaiman brings us stories of Lord of Dreams, Morpheus when he breaks free from prison after 70 years. It broke new ground for graphic novels in its exploration of magic and myth alongside the traditional superhero characters. Enjoy a dark horror fantasy in the DC Universe. amazon.com

In an imaginative take on including female characters in comic book stories, Vaughan’s four Paper Girls are not defined by their relationships to the boys in the story. Instead, we follow the surreal adventures of Erin, KJ, Tiffany and Mac as they deal with “many crazies” in a time-bending tale that takes us from 1988 to 2016 and beyond. amazon.com

This is when comic actually also means comical. A winner of a Goodreads Choice Award in 2013, this one will have you laughing out loud. Allie Brosh is a blogger who shares anecdotes and stories of her life and this comic book is a collection made even more appealing with hand-drawn illustrations. You’ll certainly become very familiar with the ALL THE THINGS! meme. amazon.com

In a genre dominated by male characters (although we’re all familiar with the Black Widow and Wonder Woman) and at a time when feminism is more pronounced than ever, Ms. Marvel will appeal to women who want a kick-ass heroine who can hold her own. Not only a feminine incarnation of Captain Marvel, the diversity card is well and truly played because our protagonist is a 16-year-old Pakistani girl. Metaphorical walls are well and truly being kicked down. amazon.com I do hope you give the world of graphic novels and comic books a try. They will enrich your reading experience. If there’s nothing in my list that appeals to you, check out 100 Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels. There’s sure to be something you like.