We are rapidly approaching the winter season, so why not set the mood with a few books that use harsh, cold settings as their backdrops. These graphic novels either take place during winter or in icy settings which play a part in how the plot unfolds. 

Snowpiercer series written by Jacques Lob, art by Jean-Marc Rochette, translated by Virginie Selavy, lettering by Gabriela Houston

Set in a dystopian future after an ice age, society is left on a 1000+ cart train for survival. If the train stops or you step off the train,  everyone freezes to death. The story sees a few protagonists, spanning different periods of the extinction event, as they deal to find a cure, answers and see the social imbalance as they progress higher up in the train carts. There's also a movie adaptation that's worth checking out after reading. 

Batman: The Long Halloween written by Jeph Loeb, art by Tim Sale, color by Gregory Wright, lettering by Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Taking place within the span of a year, Batman must track down a criminal mastermind named Holiday, who is taking out his victims every month on a specific holiday. At the same time, there are two criminal families going at each other and his rogue gallery of villains are on the loose, so he really has all the stacks against him. While it does take place from Halloween to Halloween, the majority of the story unfolds during the fall/winter season.

Mouse Guard story and art by David Petersen

A group of mice must traverse harsh winter conditions in order to gather vital supplies for survival and restoration. Peterson's artwork is amazing and really conveys that aesthetic winter environment. Note: Anyone who loves graphic novels will enjoy this, but the target audience is children.

Nemo: Heart of Ice written by Alan Moore, art by Kevin O'Neill

Loved the League of Extraordinary Men series? Then this graphic novel is for you. Set about 15 years after that event, Nemo has an interest in exploring Antarctica, an expedition that her father failed to accomplish, and finding lost treasure. There’s also a group of pirates who have a similar plan as well. This book is short but intense.

Winterworld by Chuck Dixon

Scully and Wynn embark on a journey from WinterSea to a barren ice land in search of her parents. Along the way , they must fight off others stopping them from reaching their destination. This is a perfect fusion of a post-apocalyptic ice age setting and the Mad Max movie series.

The Golden Compass Graphic Novel adapted by Stéphane Melchior-Durand, art by Clément Oubrerie, coloring by Clément Oubrerie with Philippe Bruno, translated by Annie Eaton

A classic by all means. It’s a faithful adaptation of Pullman’s story told in a different format. The artwork is unique and breathes new life into the series. Also check out the other volumes as well as the movie. 

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!