​Because English is not the easiest language in the world;. Whether you’re trying to learn it as a second language, or if you’re a native speaker that just feels like you could do better, we can all work to improve our English skills.

A well-known way to improve your English, both for speaking and writing, is to read. And, if you’re reading anyway, why not read comic books? Not only do they have some excellent writing and stories, but the images that are included can help make the experience more memorable and can sometimes help explain some of the dialogue.

So, looking for a comic to help improve your English? Might I suggest:

10. The Walking DeadThe origin of both the hit show and Universal's favorite idea for Holloween Horror Nights

This series of comics revolves around a group of mostly working-class Georgians trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. The main character, Rick, wakes up in a hospital after the initial outbreak has already hit, and must try to survive live long enough to discover what’s going on. He soon joins up with a group, takes charge of it, and tries to keep everyone alive.

It’s a very basic premise, but it’s well written, and the real threat danger is rarely the zombies. They’re constantly a threat, of course, but the major primary story arcs and problems all revolve around other humans. It’s an idea as old as the zombie film itself, dating all the way back to The Night of the Living Dead, where the people trapped in the house were the real monsters, and this series does a wonderfulmagnificent job in paying homage to the foundation of the genre.

This type of story leaves little room for eloquent prose but does expose the reader to realistic conversational English. The art is also very good at conveying the plotstory and setting, which can help connect the dots for those that may be learning English as a second language.

 You should pick up this series if you:

- Want to work on your conversational English

- Enjoy Zombie Stories

- Are okay with a lot of gore

- Love stress

9. The Stand

If you didn't think it would be creepy, you don't know Stephen King

If you ask someone who the most popular and prolific modern American author is, most people will give you the same answer: Stephen King. He’s a living legend in writing, and one of his most well-regarded books, The Stand, has been made into a comic book series by Marvel.

It’s a post-apocalyptic story where the vast majority of people in the world have died of a lethal and highly contagious virus (didn’t mean to get too topical here). The survivors end up banding together under one of two camps, which basically boil down to the God camp and the Devil camp.

The writing here is, just like with the book, phenomenal. King can explain complex scenarios through hints and clues that the audience can understand without everything needing to be spelled out. It’s a lesson not only in English and writing, but in storytelling overall.

Pick this series up if you:

- Are proficient with English, but  and you’re looking to improve

- Are a fan of the book

- Enjoy post-apocalyptic settings

- Want a book that can give you nightmares

8. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

I often wonder how many plots they could have foiled in the time it took to get that photo

Do you remember the classic stories that you probably read when you were younger? Stories like Dracula, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and The Invisible Man? Wouldn’t it be wild if those stories all really took place in the same universe and, due to extraordinaryincredible circumstances, the characters were all brought together?

Well, there’s the plot of this comic. A mysterious and powerful man, Mr. M, has recruited a team of incrediblepowerful people from around the world to form his League. Their task is to stop an international warmonger from obtaining the power of flight before the year 1900 even rolls around and destroying England from the skies.

Written by comic book legend Alan Moore (you’re going to see his name pop up a few times in this list), Tthe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a tale for the ages. It’s witty, the dialogue is precise and believable, and the plot’ is woven masterfully woven.

Also, it is much better than the movie.

You should pick this up if you:

- Are looking to practice your formal English

- Enjoy classic tales like those listed above

- Like stories that constantlyregularly offer surprise twists

- Don’t mind some darker subject matter

- Want to see so many people look impressed by a submarine 

7. Kingdom Come

This is the coolest coffee table in any universe, no question. 

If you’re looking for an excellent example of writing in a large-scale comic book event, you would be hard-pressed to find a better candidate than DC’s Elseworld story, Kingdom Come.

The story takes place several years in the future, where Superman is retired on a farm, and Batman has been broken so many times that he needs a metal exoskeleton to get around. With time comes change, and now the world is divided between the heroes of old and the new guard. The world is divided between the heroes of old and the new guard, with a few heroes in between trying to keep the peace. If peace can’t be found established between the two factions, the world is likely going to end.

Two things make this story stand out from other major comic book events. The first is the beautiful art by Alex Ross, who brings this world to life with his signature style. The other is the outstanding writing and storytelling involved in this comic, which manages to successfully manage multiple stories and character arcs in on graphic novel. 

Pick up this graphic novel if you:

- Want to improve your ability to tell new stories with well-established characters

- Enjoy tales told from a unique third-party perspective.

- Would love to see a comic bookstory about the legacies that heroes can leave

- Like brain-controlling worms

6. The Sandman

This is definitely more of Metallica's Sandman than the Chordettes.

There are few comics out there that are generally considered to people consider properbe “literature”, but Neil Gaiman’s epic fantasy adventure falls well squarely into that category.

It’s a very long and twisted story, but the short of it is that Dream (the sandman from the title) had been capturedwas held captive for seventy years before breaking out and claiming sweet vengeance on his captors. Now in the modern world, Dream must quickly adapt to his new surroundingsthis new world, having missed decades of progress.

It’s a brilliantly written story that incorporates traditional mythology and the mythology of the established DC universe. Because of the time jumps, and the jumps between realities, readers are exposed toget to experience a variety of speech patterns and vocabulary sets. The Sandman is a captivating book that should be on everyone's radar, regardless of whether or not they're trying to improve their language skills. Regardless, it’s a captivating story that’s worth anyone’s attention, especially those who are looking to improve their English and writing.

Pick this story up if you:

- Enjoy darker stories

- Would like a comicstory that covers several timeframes and cultures

- Like fantastical settings

- Would like Mr. Sandman to bring you a dream

5. Fables

Even in fairly tales, the subway is a nightmare. 

People often turn to classic stories as they’re learning to read as kids. Tales like Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, and Jack and the Beanstalk are all staples of early reading and storytelling. So, if you’re looking to improve your English, why not read a modernized story fairly tale about these famous characters?

Centuries ago, these fairy tale characters were driven out of their homeland and, with few other options, were forcedfled to come to America toand start over. Now, they live in New York City and live in their own closed-off society, though they do still have to interact with regular people and must keep up a façade of normality.

It’s a fascinatingn interesting and intricate story that not only uses common lingo but also has moments of using more advanced language, as the book recites back to the origins of the characters.

You should pick this book up if you:

- Are familiar with classic fairy tale characters

- Want to further improve your skills

- Enjoy stories that twist classic tales on their heads

- Want to see the Big Bad Wolf as a grizzled detective

4. Marvel 1602

Things have gotten pretty dark and creepy, True Believers!

I’ll be honest;, Marvel comics aren’t known forfamous because of their profound writing. They have memorable characters, a generally fun tone, and have crafted a fairly detailed universe, but they’re often the kinds of comics where a hero will punch someone and say, “Take That!”

That all changes when the Marvel universe goes back to 1602. In this short series, the reader gets to experience what each of the major Marvel heroes would have been like in the 17th century, and their eloquentarticulate language matches that of the stereotypical speech of the early modern era. This type of language is ends up being a far cry from the campy dialogue many comic books readers have grown accustomed to reading.

Plus, on top of the trip through time and the classic speech patterns, the story is also compelling. I won’t mention too much about it, because everything in this book is better experienced first-hand, but know that this comice story is absolutely a page-turner to say the least. So even if you’re not looking to expand your vocabulary, you shouldmay still want to give this one a read.

Pick this story up if you:

- Want a comicstory that mixes the high-end language with common lingo

- Enjoy historical settings

- Are looking for a good, closed-off story

- Want to be constantly frequentlybe teased that Peter Parker is going to get bit by a spider.

3. V for Vendetta

Our unsettling hero, everyone!

Comic books dialogue tends to be relativelyfairly simplistic. Characters often speak plainly because the visuals can do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of storytelling;. This is not the case infor V for Vendetta.

Instead, the character that the story focuses on, V, often speaks as if he’s reading poetry and will even quote famous works of literature. Plus, the antagonist of the story is ultimately the government and their outlandish propaganda, so there’s a different kind of verbal sophistication coming from that end as well.

Alan Moore creates characters out of dialogue alone in this story, and there’s a lot to learn about the versatility of the English language here. It may be too intense for some readers, but it’s worth it for anyone who’s okay with some uncomfortable imagery.

You should pick up this book if you:

-Are very comfortable with English but are looking to improve.

-Enjoy stories about government propaganda, like the book “1984

-Like reading stories characters you don’t already know

-Enjoy gunpowder, treasonous plots, and the date of November 5th.

2. Batman: The Court of Owls

More like the Court of BATMAN!

Writer Scott Snyder ran the Batman series for the New 52 lineup at DC, and he brought more life to the hero than Batman had seen in some time. Nowhere is this more prevalent than at the very start of the run with the Court of Owls. 

The story itselfcomic follows Batman as he begins to uncover a secret organization in Gotham that has been running things behind the scenes for generations. The revelations are powerful in this book, as Batman learns that he isn’t the expert on everything Gotham. However, Mr. Wayne is nothing if not tenacious, and he will do whatever is necessary to learn  theabout the secrets behind the Court of Owls.

The Court has been used in a number ofseveral other Batman-based projects now, but it was the compelling idea and the precise writing in this story that kicked it all off. Scott Snyder does an outstanding job in this comic of building off of the existing lore of Batman while adding so much more to the character and the setting of Gotham City.

You should pick this comic up if you:

- Are looking to take your English proficiency up to the level of a pro

- Like stories about secret organizations

- Enjoy Batman comics

- Like weird owl masks

1. Watchmen

You've got red on you. 

You don’t become write the #1 New York Times best seller with poor language skills. HereIt’s another entry for writer Alan Moore, and this iconic book isn’t just a great story;, it’s one for the ages.  

For those who may be unfamiliar with this one, Watchmen takes place in a world where the cold war did not end but, instead, grew ever more intense. As the Doomsday Clock ticks toward midnight, the (mostly) retired heroes of yesterday become entangled in a strange plot that threatens millions, if not billions, of lives. And it alleverything seems to revolve around a single question: Who killed The Comedian?

WatchmenThis is the pinnacle of comic book writing and storytelling; even experienced writers can learn more about the craft from this book. If the subject matter and imagery wereasn’t so dark and gory, this would be a contender for required reading in schools. If you haven’t read it and are okay with some inappropriate themes, go pick up a copy, it’s worth every cent.

Pick up this graphic novel if you:

- Want to improve your mastery of the English language and storytelling

- Are okay with some gore and explicit content

- Can read