6 Out of this World Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comics for Young Readers

Pokemon Adventures Vol. 1, by Hidenori Kusaka and Mato
Pokemon creator Satoshi Tajiri once said of this manga that out of all other Pokemon adaptations, it bore the most resemblance to his original concept. Kids who love the Pokemon games and cartoons will be enraptured by this story of one young trainer’s journey to—what else?—beat the Pokemon League and become the world’s greatest Pokemon champion. Of course, the villainous Team Rocket stands in Red’s way, with some unexpected agents on their side that will even surprise adult fans of the franchise. Later volumes explore advanced themes like pacifism and environmental destruction, which offer great learning opportunities for readers of all ages.

Hilo Vol. 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth, by Judd Winick
Winick’s newest book—and his first foray into all-ages material—centers on the adventures of Hilo, a strange kid who’s definitely not from around here. (And by “here,” of course, I mean “this galaxy.”) Hilo doesn’t know how he got to Earth, but he knows who his friends are: ordinary kids D.J. and Gina, both dealing with their own middle school problems (which Winick, to his credit, does not minimize). Whether fighting robot space ants or finding out what makes them happy, this fun, cartoony trio’s escapades are going to delight younger readers.

Laddertop Books 1-2, by Orson Scott Card, Emily Janice Card, and Honoel A. Ibardoloza
The controversial Card’s most popular work, Ender’s Game, contains themes that may not be appropriate for some younger readers. Here, then, is an ideal substitute: an original graphic novel that follows some of the same themes of the Ender series, with manga-inspired art by Ibardoloza. Twenty-five years after the sudden appearance of alien “Givers” above Earth, exceptional children are regularly sent to maintain the magnificent Laddertop web high above the planet. But after young Robbie is unexpectedly accepted into the service, she begins having strange dreams that may have been sent to her by the Givers themselves.

Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake, by Natasha Allegri
The only duo more mathematical than Finn and Jake is Fionna and Cake! The gender-bent Adventure Time spinoff has taken on a life of its own in the fandom, prompting creator Allegri to produce this gorgeous miniseries. After Fionna barely saves the Fire Prince from one of the Ice Queen’s evil plots, she must coax him back to life—while dealing a mischievous Lumpy Space Prince and many more oddities from around the land of Oo. This collected edition also features short comics by Noelle Stevenson, Kate Leth, and more!

Korgi Book 1: Sprouting Wings!, by Christian Slade
With its unique, sketchy black-and-white art style and powerful wordless pages, this original series by former Disney animator Slade is a fairy-tale adventure perfectly suited for young and old alike. In Korgi Hollow live the woodland people known as Mollies, who lead peaceful lives alongside their faithful (and magical) companions, the Korgis. But as Ivy and her Korgi, Sprite, are about to find out, evil lurks in the forest just beyond their home, and escaping it will be a task easier said than done.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise, by Gene Luen Yang, Gurihiru, and Bryan Koneitzko
Avatar fans are always hungry for more adventures in their favorite universe, and since both the original series and its sequel are over, there’s precious little for them to consume. Thankfully, Dark Horse has been producing additional comics by award-winning cartoonist Yang and the Studio Gurihiru team that take place immediately after the original series so that fans can keep their nerdy passions alive. In this graphic novel, Avatar Aang must deal with the fallout of the Hundred Year War, while Toph attempts to become a metalbending teacher; later installments detail the search for Zuko’s mother Ursa, giving closure to a plotline that went unresolved in the cartoons.
What kind of spec-fic comics do your kids love?