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Following his blogpost introducing the genre, Cian O'Luanaigh lists the best â€" though often harrowing â€" medical comics and graphic novels

Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary by Justin Green

The book that launched a genre. Green's memoirs of a childhood beset by obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was the first graphic novel to explore illness from the patient's point of view. When Binky Brown (Green's alter ego) hits puberty after a strict Roman Catholic upbringing, he is plagued by religious guilt and a sexual obsession with the Virgin Mary. The rituals and associations that engulf Binky's life give a stark insight into the difficulty of living with OCD. Be warned: Catholics and church-goers may find much of the imagery offensive.

Epileptic by David B

Dark, disturbing look at what he 's how to live with those who suffer from epilepsy.

Epileptic is visually stunning, combining a world of grim reality with the nightmarish imaginings of a small boy. David's brother Jean-Christophe has regular violent epileptic fits. The condition leads the family on a series of moves between doctors and alternative therapists, health communes and cities. David worries that he may too have the condition, and the endless search for a cure takes its toll on the family.

In Epileptic there are no happy endings, no miracle cures, but we are left with a deeper understanding of how illness can affect a family. Not recommended for newly diagnosed epileptics. An upsetting masterpiece.

Psychiatric Tales by Darryl Cunningham

Cunningham draws on his years as a psychiatric nurse to bring us Psychiatric Tales, a collection of stories from inside a psychiatric ward. Each chapter deals with a different mental health problem, from dementia to depression.

"I really wanted to do two things," said Darryl. "One: explain what it's like working on the wards. What are the illnesses like? And two: to do something about undoing stigma, general stigma for these illnesses which have a very bad press". Psychiatric Tales captures both the experience of people with psychiatric problems and the experience of the staff caring for them, providing an enlightening look at mental illness.

The final chapter focuses on the author's personal struggle with anxiety and depression. "If I was going to be honest about other people's illnesses," said Cunningham, "I had to be honest about mine. It was a difficult chapter to write, the last chapter being about myself, but having put it out there and everybody reading it I realised it's a big weight off my mind really". You can see more of Darryl's work on his blog, Darryl Cunningham Investigates.

Stitches by David Small

With simple brush lines and grey washes, David Small beautifully depicts the somewhat depressing story of his childhood. As a child, Small's unloving father exposed him to X rays in a bid to cure his asthma and sinusitis. The exposure resulted in a lump on David's neck which had to be removed, leaving him mute and scarred: the 'stitches' of the book's title. The author found solace in art, and produced this book as a testimony of his loveless childhood and battle with cancer.

Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto

"What happens when a shoe-crazy, lipstick-obsessed, wine-swilling, pasta-slurping, fashion-fanatic, single-forever, about to get married big-city girl cartoonist with a fabulous life finds ... a lump in her breast?" Marisa Acocella Marchetto's autobiographical Cancer Vixen provides the answer. The book a self-consciously, humorously self-centred reminder that cancer can happen to anyone, and doesn't necessarily make you a better person. Marchetto imparts everyday wisdom from her experiences as a cancer sufferer, and worries about how she will pay for her treatment without insurance under the US healthcare system. Cancer Vixen is an honest account of how breast cancer will change a woman's life, for better and for worse.

Couch Fiction by Philippa Perry

Straight from the psychiatrist's couch comes Couch Fiction, a graphic account of the relationship between a psychotherapist and her kleptomaniac client. In a departure from the graphic novel format, Perry adds a technical analysis of the thoughts and actions of her characters underneath the panels. This analysis adds a layer not usually present in a graphic novel, giving a more in depth understanding of the psychiatric issues discussed. Recommended for psychiatry students, or anyone with a general interest in the subject.

I had a Black Dog by Matthew Johnstone

More of a picture book than a comic, I had a Black Dog is a graphic representation of how it feels to be clinically depressed. The 'black dog' metaphor, popularised by Winston Churchill, implies familiarity and an attempt at mastery over the illness. In this book Johnstone illustrates how he felt in his own struggle with depression over the course of 20 years. I would recommend this slim volume to healthcare professionals or people suffering from depression as an original and informative take on the illness.

Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story by Frederick Peeters

An autobiographical love story set in Geneva about Peeters' relationship with a woman called Cati and her child, who are both HIV positive. Peeters does not let the illness get in the way of falling for Cati, but as their relationship develops he reflects on what HIV can mean for a couple's future, and for the future of an HIV-positive child. Blue Pills is a provocative and moving read on the subject of HIV-positive relationships.

Medical Webcomics:

Mom's Cancer by Brian Fies

Mom's Cancer is Brian Fies's account of his mother's battle with metastatic lung cancer. "I wanted to share my family's story" said Fies. "I thought of it as drawing a map so that other people following along behind us and having similar experiences would know what to expect." The Eisner-award winning comic has been praised around the world for its moving and informative portrayal of a family's experience with cancer. It has been used in doctor and patient education and as a teaching aid in medical schools. Creative use of visual metaphors and honest story-telling make this a true masterpiece of the genre. Originally a web comic, it is now available in book form. Essential reading.

Comic Nurse by MK Czerwiec

MK Czerwiec's simple and direct style makes Comic Nurse a pleasure to read. Sometimes funny, sometimes reflective, and always quirky, Comic Nurse reminds you that in the face of big health problems, it's the little things in life that matter. Collections are periodically published in book form.

Fear of Failure by Thom Ferrier

Fear of Failure by Dr Thom Ferrier shows us what the doctor is thinking while we're standing in his surgery. All the stress and doubts of a GP are intimately revealed in this almost confessional website. Ferrier adds the pages as he draws them, keeping us in suspense about how it will all end. What to know what it's like to be a doctor? Start here.

Darryl Cunningham Investigates

Want to know the truth about homeopathy? Haven't done your homework on MMR? Darryl Cunningham's charming blog gives you all the facts in an accessible and engaging comic book style.

Medical education through comics:

Medikidz

The superhero team 'Medikidz' explain diseases to sick children. Join them on an educational tour of 'Mediland' â€" a planet which bears a striking resemblance to the human body â€" for common ailments explained in an engaging and accessible format.

Cian O'Luanaighis a graphic artist and writer of science in London. He has a master's degree in science communication from Imperial College London

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