Scott Pilgrim is legitimately great—a landmark graphic novel that changed the medium and still holds up 20 years later. O'Malley's blend of video game mechanics, indie rock culture, and genuine relationship drama created something that feels both timeless and completely of its moment.

That said, this is firmly teen territory. Scott is kind of a disaster at the beginning—selfish, dating a high schooler, avoiding his problems—and while his growth is the whole point, younger readers might miss that nuance. There's drinking, smoking, sexual content (nothing explicit but definitely present), and the emotional messiness of young adult relationships.

The 2024 anniversary box set is gorgeous and comes with the Netflix anime's renewed buzz, making it a perfect entry point for teens who are ready for more sophisticated graphic novels. Just know what you're getting: it's smart, funny, and ultimately about becoming a better person, but it takes the scenic route through a lot of immature behavior to get there.