How to choose crime, mystery and action comics

Crime and mystery comics range from noir to puzzle stories. Choose by tone and check whether a case is complete in one book.

Noir, detective, action and espionage

Noir crime is dark and often violent; detective stories focus on solving a case; action comics on pace; spy stories on secrecy and plot. The shelf and description show which a book is.

The publisher's age guidance matters here, as crime comics are often written for adults.

One case or a continuing series

Some crime comics tell one case per volume, which can be read in any order. Others follow a single investigation across several volumes and need to be read in sequence.

Check the volume number and the description to see whether a story ends in the book you are buying.

Comics based on novels and series

Some crime comics adapt novels or detective series. The description names the source and the creators.

Original crime comics often use visual clues on the page that are part of solving the mystery.

Before you choose an edition

• I know the tone and intended age.
• I know whether the case is complete in this volume.
• I have found the first volume if the story continues.
• I know whether it adapts another work.