Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | xkcd: volume 0 | 2009 | Randall Munroe | Buy |
xkcd: volume 0 (2009) is the first print collection of Randall Munroe’s xkcd webcomic. Munroe self-published and distributed the book, which collects a selection of strips from the early years of the comic alongside some bonus material. The book was notable for being self-produced by Munroe without a traditional publisher, reflecting the DIY ethos of the webcomic community of the period.
The collection gives a representative sample of xkcd’s range: mathematical jokes, programming humor, physics thought experiments, romantic observations about relationships, and occasional surrealism. The strips are presented in black and white with Munroe’s characteristic stick figures and hand-lettered captions.
For readers already familiar with the xkcd website, the book offers a curated selection and the physical object. For readers new to Munroe’s work, volume 0 is one starting point, though the What If? books are often more accessible as an introduction because they have continuous prose alongside the visual humor.