Gerard Way burst onto the scene with *The Umbrella Academy*, a comic book series that was anything but ordinary. It featured a dysfunctional family of superheroes, a healthy dose of the bizarre, and a surprisingly big heart.
People who enjoy stories with a similar blend of dark humor, quirky characters, and maybe even a touch of the supernatural, might be looking for other authors who create worlds like his.
If you enjoy Gerard Way’s vivid imagination and fascination with the strange and magical, you might appreciate Neil Gaiman’s storytelling. Gaiman wraps profound, mysterious plots in everyday moments.
In “Neverwhere,” Richard Mayhew leads a normal, ordinary life, until the day he stops to help a mysterious injured girl named Door. Suddenly his life flips upside-down as he slips into a hidden, shadowy London underworld filled with danger and wonder.
Richard navigates bizarre encounters, wild threats, and amazing adventures. This blend of gritty reality, magic, and unexpected turns makes Gaiman’s tale deeply entertaining.
If you enjoy Gerard Way’s imaginative storytelling, you might also appreciate the creative vision of Grant Morrison. Morrison is a Scottish comic writer known for inventive plots and offbeat characters.
Take “Doom Patrol,” for example—a comic series full of strange characters and surreal stories. It follows a team of odd superheroes brought together after bizarre accidents. They tackle unusual threats and villains that defy logic and expectations.
Morrison’s storytelling blends humor, weirdness, and emotional depth that Gerard Way fans may instantly connect with.
Alan Moore is a British writer famous for his imaginative and often dark graphic novels. Many who appreciate Gerard Way’s comics and storytelling style find Moore’s creative worlds equally fascinating.
In “Watchmen,” Moore redefines superheroes as complex individuals dealing with real human conflicts and moral ambiguity. Set in an alternate history of the 1980s, the story begins with the mystery surrounding the murder of a former hero known as the Comedian.
The narrative explores how heroes would impact a realistic society, morally challenging readers through characters like the conflicted Rorschach and the nearly god-like Doctor Manhattan.
If you enjoy complex characters and inventive takes on superhero tropes, Alan Moore’s storytelling is worth your attention.
Books by Brian K. Vaughan often combine quirky imagination, emotional depth, and intriguing characters. If you’re interested in Gerard Way’s style of storytelling, you might appreciate Vaughan’s “Saga.”
The story follows Alana and Marko, two lovers from opposite sides of a raging intergalactic war. They risk everything to protect their newborn child. It’s filled with complex characters, surprising humor, and genuinely heartbreaking twists.
Vaughan blends everyday struggles and emotions with epic scenes of conflict and adventure. Readers connect deeply with the family at the center of everything, making “Saga” hard to put down.
Joe Hill is an author who crafts dark and imaginative stories with strong emotional depth, similar in vibe to Gerard Way. In his novel “NOS4A2,” Hill creates a chilling myth about a sinister villain named Charlie Manx.
Manx drives a vintage car around luring children into a twisted fantasy land called Christmasland. Victoria McQueen, a troubled young woman with a supernatural gift, becomes entangled in Manx’s terrifying world as she tries to rescue his victims.
The story expertly blends supernatural horror with an emotional narrative about confronting past trauma and personal demons. Readers who appreciate Gerard Way’s unique mix of eerie fantasy and genuine human struggles will likely enjoy Joe Hill’s distinct storytelling style.
If you enjoy Gerard Way’s imaginative storytelling and sharp exploration of complex characters, Kelly Sue DeConnick might catch your attention. Her creativity shines particularly in “Bitch Planet,” an edgy and provocative comic series set in a dystopian future.
In it, women who fail to conform to society’s very strict standards get sent away to an off-world prison colony called “Bitch Planet.”
This story is fierce and unapologetic—it blends sharp social commentary with memorable, authentic characters who fight against oppression and conformity.
Fans of Way’s “The Umbrella Academy” may find that DeConnick’s edgy narratives and powerful voice resonate strongly with them.
Readers who enjoy Gerard Way’s storytelling blend of punk energy, complex characters, and nuanced plots should check out Rick Remender. Remender has a knack for crafting intense stories set against vivid, edgy backdrops.
His comic series “Deadly Class” follows Marcus Lopez, a disillusioned teenager in the 1980s, recruited into an elite academy where the curriculum revolves entirely around the art of assassination.
Marcus struggles with navigating friendships, rivalries, and romance while also learning to survive in this lethal environment. Remender brings emotional depth and dark humor to themes of teenage angst and moral ambiguity, making the book hard to put down.
Warren Ellis is a British author known for his inventive storytelling and bold graphic novels, making him a great choice for readers who enjoy Gerard Way’s imaginative creations.
In Ellis’s graphic novel “Transmetropolitan,” you meet Spider Jerusalem, a rebellious, sharp-tongued journalist who returns to a chaotic, futuristic city to uncover hidden truths behind politics and media.
The story is wild, satirical, and filled with eccentric characters who will hook you from the start. If vibrant dystopian settings, insightful humor, and daring heroes draw you in, this is a book worth picking up.
Jeff Lemire is a Canadian comic book writer and illustrator known for his emotional storytelling and unique visual style. If you enjoyed Gerard Way’s imaginative narratives like “The Umbrella Academy,” you might appreciate Lemire’s “Sweet Tooth.”
This graphic novel series is set in a dark post-apocalyptic world. The story follows Gus, a gentle-hearted boy born with deer-like features, who ventures out of his isolated home after losing his father.
Alongside companions he meets on the road, Gus navigates danger, friendship, and secrets about his own origin. Lemire weaves human drama and adventure into a compelling journey through a bleak, yet hopeful landscape.
Cullen Bunn is an author known for his dark yet imaginative graphic novels and comics. Readers who enjoy Gerard Way’s stories may appreciate Bunn’s distinctive ability to blend the eerie with the mysterious.
One intriguing example is his graphic novel “Harrow County,” a haunting tale set in the South. It follows Emmy, a young girl whose connection to supernatural forces becomes frighteningly apparent on her eighteenth birthday.
With chilling visuals and a tense storyline, this book offers an atmospheric experience that draws readers deep into Emmy’s unsettling journey and the cursed history of her hometown.
Matt Fraction is a comic book author known for fast-paced storytelling, quirky dialogue, and deep characters that fans of Gerard Way might appreciate. In his series “Hawkeye,” Fraction follows Clint Barton—the Avengers archer—on his days off from superhero duties.
These down-to-earth stories show Clint handling neighborhood disputes, fighting street criminals, or simply hanging around with his protege Kate Bishop. Fraction combines humor, drama, and emotional depth throughout his work.
Readers who love Way’s “Umbrella Academy” might find a new favorite author in Matt Fraction.
Readers who enjoy Gerard Way’s imaginative storytelling and vibrant characters might also appreciate G. Willow Wilson. Wilson blends fantasy with contemporary issues, creating relatable heroes and vivid worlds.
In her novel “Alif the Unseen,” the story follows a young hacker in the Middle East named Alif. Alif is thrust into a hidden dimension filled with djinn and ancient magic after obtaining a powerful manuscript.
The book mixes elements of magical realism and cyberpunk, offering readers adventure, suspense, and thought-provoking questions about technology and tradition.
If Gerard Way’s unique blend of real-world issues and fantastical storytelling appeals to you, “Alif the Unseen” might pique your interest too.
Patrick Rothfuss is an author who weaves fantasy stories full of vibrant characters, emotional depth, and a richly built world. Readers who enjoy Gerard Way’s imaginative storytelling might also appreciate Rothfuss’s novel “The Name of the Wind.”
The book introduces us to Kvothe, a legendary figure recounting his life’s tale—from his early years as a curious child traveling in a performing troupe, to his tragic hardships, and finally to his challenges as a young wizard at a prestigious academy.
Rothfuss builds an immersive world layered with magic, music, and mystery. His compelling prose and carefully crafted characters draw readers deep into Kvothe’s adventures, setbacks, and triumphs.
If you enjoy stories that blend fantasy and real, vivid emotion, “The Name of the Wind” might be your next great read.
Marjorie Liu is an author known for vivid storytelling and darkly imaginative worlds that fans of Gerard Way’s style might truly appreciate.
In her graphic novel series “Monstress,” Liu introduces readers to Maika Halfwolf, a young woman scarred by war who shares a psychic connection with a mysterious, otherworldly creature living beneath her skin.
In a complex world filled with magic, monstrous beings, powerful sorceresses, and political struggles, Maika searches for answers to her past and tries to control the ancient force inside her.
The beautifully detailed and dramatic art complements the intriguing and richly layered storyline perfectly, making “Monstress” an intriguing choice for those drawn to boundary-pushing narratives and creative storytelling.
Stephen King is an iconic author known for seamlessly blending the supernatural with everyday life. His novel, “It,” follows a group of childhood friends who face unimaginable terror in their small hometown.
The town of Derry holds dark secrets, embodied by a sinister clown named Pennywise, who resurfaces every twenty-seven years to feed on fear. To survive, this close-knit band must confront Pennywise and their own buried demons.
Readers who enjoy Gerard Way’s storytelling—with its mix of vivid characters, dark suspense, and relatable teen struggles—may find King’s exploration of friendship and lurking darkness equally captivating.