18) Justice League Dark
The best DC in comics, movies, or on TV. These stories of magic and gloom pair beautifully with an incredible cast of characters. Wonder Woman. Zatanna. Swamp Thing. Man-Bat. Detective Chimp!
17) My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies
I need do nothing to convince you why a new Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips graphic novel is worth reading.
16) Rat Queens
After a hiatus that was far too long for my liking, Rat Queens has successfully roared back into our hearts with all the expected verve. Kurtis Wiebe and Owen Gieni’s tales of the most notorious adventuring party in Palisade is one for the ages, people, and you’re depriving yourself of the best in comic comedy by missing out.
15) Infidel
A haunted house story unlike any other. An American Muslim woman haunted by a spirit that feeds off xenophobia. A terrifying, tense tale that will sit in the pit of your stomach long after you’ve read it.
14) Multiple Man/New Mutants: Dead Souls
Two unexpected dazzlers this year were a pair of Matthew Rosenberg miniseries celebrating the B-listers of the X-Men universe. Adam Gorham’s art made New Mutants a thrilling horror story. Andy MacDonald’s light and kinetic touch turned Multiple Man into a dynamite time travel caper.
13) Judas
In the vain of Preacher or The Goddamned came Judas, a new spiritual exploration from Jeff Loveness and Jakub Rebelka. A gripping exploration of the life and death of the most reviled figure in The Greatest Story Ever Told. A much heavier Jesus Christ Superstar.
12) Jessica Jones: Blind Spot
The most suitable people to take over creative duties for Jessica Jones got the job! Kelly Thompson and Mattia de Iulis told a compelling story of want and loss. As a path is being cut through the most powerful women in the Marvel Universe, only the 616’s greatest P.I. can get to the bottom of it in a beautifully rendered mystery in the mighty Marvel manner.
11) Mister Miracle
Sometimes it feels like people just buy a book because they want to feel like they’re keeping up with comics. And sometimes a book sells out day one because it’s just that damn good. Tom King and Mitch Gerads captured the zeitgeist for a calendar year with their incredible tale of superhero sorrow.
10) Ms. Marvel
G. Willow Wilson’s landmark run on Ms. Marvel is coming to an end. The most important superhero book of the last decade is changing hands. Many new superheroes come and go, but Kamala Khan is going nowhere. Wilson, along with Adrian Alphona and Sana Amanat, created a superhero for our times. But all torches must be passed eventually…
9) Spectacular Spider-Man
Chip Zdarsky’s Spider-Man tenure only ran for two years, but somehow he managed to produce my favorite issue of both those years. Last year’s face to face with J. Jonah Jameson was a stunner, but even it has a run for its money against Spectacular Spider-Man #310, a documentary about how New York really feels about ol’ webhead, and how our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man truly feels about himself. A knockout punch.
8) Hawkeye/West Coast Avengers
Kelly Thompson’s pair of books about Best Hawkeye Kate Bishop were the most thrilling and funny superhero books on shelves. With remarkable art from the likes of Leonardo Romero & Stefano Caselli and a stunning sense of humor, these are nearly perfect breezy reads.
7) Thor & Mighty Thor
The only reason this book isn’t at the top of the list is because we’re all officially taking it for granted. Jason Aaron’s Thor epic has been the best book from either of the big two for seven years now, plain and simple. If you haven’t started it yet, what on Earth are you waiting for?
6) All-New Wolverine/X-23
Sometimes there’s a comic so good it takes a character you didn’t care about and catapults them up your favorites list. All-New Wolverine was that book, instilling in me a love of Laura Kinney that simply wasn’t there. This remarkable book (with the intro of our beloved Honey Badger to boot) ended this year. It’s been followed by Mariko Tamaki & Juan Cabal’s excellent X-23 series, an impossibly good follow-up to an excellent series.
5) Crowded
This year’s standout image book is a sparkling debut. A victim of the gig economy must hire a 1.4 star bodyguard when her death has been crowdfunded at $2 million. It’s a hilarious satire of contemporary culture and the surprise comics smash hit of the year.
4) Immortal Hulk
The absolute surprise masterwork of the year. Al Ewing and Joe Bennet’s horrific approach to The Hulk manages to surprise and impress with every issue. Each is its own macabre morality tale. Rarely, if ever, has Bruce Banner’s other guy been this compelling. This is an all-timer in the making.
3) All The Answers
This year’s best original graphic novel was a personal story of a man and his father. The man is Michael Kupperman, and his father was the first TV wiz kid. It’s the story of a son discovering just how his father was broken. It’s beautiful.
2) X-Men Red
There was just no way the best X-book in a decade wasn’t going to make this list. Tom Taylor, working with artists like Mahmud Asrar and Carmen Carnero, created the superhero book of our time. Hatred is being weaponized. Misinformation turns crowds against the disenfranchised. And only Jean Grey and her team of X-Men can battle the hate and fight for the truth. Every issue of this made me tear up.
1) Snagglepuss
Yes, indeed. The best comic of 2018 is a profound, heartbreaking tale about the cartoon cat Snagglepuss. Mark Russell and Mike Feehan took their story of a gay playwright in the heat of the Red Scare and made it the most charming, compelling, and impactful book that came out this year. A six issue stunner that will be on favorites lists for years to come.
1 Trackback / Pingback