Last year was crap for home property values, banks, auto dealers, the stock market, oil prices, jobs, Republicans, and the Dallas Cowboys. But looking back, it was a pretty good year for comic books. DC concluded their 52 week "Countdown" and kicked off their "Final Crisis." Marvel thrust their entire universe into paranoia-laced chaos with a "Secret Invasion" that left the super-villains in control at the end of the day. Image wrapped up another "Casanova" thrill ride without Casanova Quinn. Dark Horse opened the gates of Hellboy with stories that feature "Lobster Johnson", "Abe Sapien", the "BPRD" from 1946, and even a "Hellboy" story that was written and drawn by Mike Mignola. Not only did the big guys all come to the show with their "A-game" but so did smaller publishers like Avatar Press with their super-radical "Black Summer". And then there was Archaia Studios' second beautiful installment of "Okko". And Icon's pulp-perfect "Criminal". Not sure what we're talking about? Read on. (Our Top 12 are listed in chronological order.)
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B.P.R.D.: 1946 #1
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Written by Mike Mignola, art by Joshua Dysart
Mignola puts us in the middle of World War II torn Europe better than Spielberg and Eastwood put together. Except in Mike Mignola's WWII, you're not just contending with Nazis but you've also got vampires coming out of the castle's woodwork. The first issue of this series was creepier than Dick Cheney and twice as scary. And the perfect way to kickoff this riveting series. When it comes to helping put back together a post-war Germany, miles of Army red tape and Cold War diplomacy proves to be of little concern compared with vampires that crawl all around you in dark hallways and an evil spirit that works through the body of a 7-year old Russian girl. |
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The Umbrella Academy: Apokalypse Suite #6
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Written by Gerard Way, art by Gabriel Ba
This book is a totally unexpected surprise - both the content as well as the circumstances surrounding its creation. The Umbrella Academy is an amazing story about seven exceptional children born without fathers, raised by an alien (who among other things nurtures super-intelligence out of primates) along with a robot mother and a giant Arab for the sole purpose of saving the world. If that sounds pretty far-fetched, consider for a moment how this incredible and perfectly scripted story was the first comic book written by My Chemical Romance's lead vocalist Gerard Way. And it was written while Way was on tour with his band. Unbelievable! |
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The Immortal Iron Fist #13
Published by Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction, art by David Aja
A mad scientist is attempting to blow up Heaven while the universe's greatest kung fu masters are engaged in a tournament that happens once every eighty-eight years. Danny Rand, Luke Cage and the Heroes for Hire lead the battle against Hydra and their evil leader, Xao to save Heaven and establish Danny Rand as the greatest Iron Fist of them all. Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, and David Aja prove that kung fu is alive and well in the Marvel U. The big mystery behind this book is why it's not Number One on Marvel's sales charts every single month. |
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Black Summer #6
Published by Avatar Press
Written by Warren Ellis, art by Juan Jose Ryp
Ever since Steve Rogers became America's Super Soldier, comic creators continue to be inspired by the concept of government made super heroes. If you liked Alan Moore's Miracleman, Mark Millar's The Ultimates, Warren Ellis' The Authority, or J. Michael Straczinski's Supreme Power, then you're gonna love Black Summer. Ellis dials up the action, the violence, and the political insanity to 11 in this super bad ass story about a Super Soldier who decides that protecting America begins by killing the president for his crimes against the country. Ouch. |
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Casanova #14
Published by Image Comics
Written by Matt Fraction, art by Fabio Moon
Casanova #14 is the final issue of the second story arc about the Quinn family and friends and their convoluted plans for protecting and / or controlling society in Matt Fraction's whacked out vision of the future. If the first sotry arc made you think nothing could be weirder, Fraction totally proves you wrong with this second roller coaster ride. In your face! Maybe the real trick here though is that he did it withou the aid of his lead character Casanova Quinn. Makes it pretty important to pick up the next issue as soon as it comes out. |
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Captain America #39
Published by Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brubaker, art by Rob De La Torre
Ever since Ed Brubaker killed him, I just can't seem to get enough of Captain America. By the time the Death of Captain America saga reaches issue #39, we've been teased with the prospect of Captain America's return through the past with the Invaders, from outer space with the Skrull invasion, or possibly the weirdest, through the womb of Agent 13. But in this issue, the new Captain America, Cap's old partner, Bucky, is confronted with a brainwashed Captain America replacement from the fifties. It sounds as goofy as a Casanova plot but it's really amazing comic book storytelling by the master, Ed Brubaker. |
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Omega The Unknown #10
Published by Marvel Comics
Written by Jonathan Lethem and Karl Rusnak, art by Farel Dalrymple and Paul Hornschemeier
The story of a mute, reluctant superhero from another planet, and the earthly teenager with whom he shares a strange destiny -- and the legion of robots and nanoviruses that have been sent from afar to hunt the two of them down. Created in 1975 by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes, the original Omega The Unknown lasted only ten issues but was a legend to those who recall it -- an ahead-of-its-time tale of an anti-hero, inflected with brilliant ambiguity. Jonathan Lethem has turned his fascination with the 1975 Omega into a hysterical, poignant, and moving story about lonliness and purpose in a crazy, confusing world. |
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Dead Space #5
Published by Image Comics
Written by Antony Johnston, art by Ben Templesmith
Ben Templesmith rocks. You may be familiar with his art from his work with Warren Ellis on the kickass detective series "Fell." In "Fell", Templesmith does a great job of creating a mood and a location that are one and the same. In "Dead Space", Templesmith accomplishes the same miracle. The outpost colony where this sci-fi zombie thriller takes place is simply crawlng with creepiness, thanks to Templesmith's mojo. And Antony Johnston has done an excellent job of making a truly scary, frighhtening story come to life (and death). Maybe the most amazing thing is that this is based on a video game and it's still a great comic. Inconceivable! |
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Okko Cycle of Earth #1
Published by Archaia Studios
Written and Illustrated by Hub
It is the Winter of 1109 in the official calendar of the Pajan Empire. Okko and his faithful companions – the mysterious masked Noburo, Noshin the monk, and young Tikku – arrive at the City of the Blasting Powder. While seeking a guide to help them cross the perilous chain of the seven monasteries, they meet a skillful warrior: Mow of the Wind. On the one hand, Hub's kung fu storytelling is fairly straightforward and relatively typical for the genre. On the other hand, the art is amazingly detailed and immaculately rendered. A good story and great art make for an exceptional comic. |
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All Star Superman #12
Published by DC Comics
Written by Grant Morrison, art by Frank Quitely
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely saved Superman. Superman comics had become unreadable before this series started. The character had been so deconstructed and reconstructed that he was a pail shadow of his former self. That former self, thank goodness, still lived in the mind of Grat Morrison. And with the help of Frank Quitely, Superman has returned. Issue 12 concludes their run in stellar fashion. Every issue of this series has been a reminder of what makes Superman great along with suprises that we never expected before. Bravo. |
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Criminal Volume 2 #6
Published by Icon
Written by Ed Brubaker, art by Sean Phillips
Ed Brubaker proves that comic books are equal if not superior to all other forms of media entertainment with Criminal. This noir inspired series transcends the genre. In each issue, Brubaker highlights an old film-noir gem but if you take the time to watch most of these flicks you'll see that they're actually inferior to Brubaker's Criminal series. Corny dialogue and implausible plot lines that are a dime a dozen in film noir flicks from the forties and fifties are nowhere to be found in Criminal. This is truly masterpiece level entertainment that raises the bar for every screenplay writer and novelist in the biz. |
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Secret Invasion #8
Published by Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Bendis, art by Leinil Yu
Secret Invasion began with a lot of teasing and anticipation. As usual, Brian Bendis delivered on the promise. For a story that was spread out over several months across several other titles, Secret Invasion still managed to deliver like a high speed thriller/summer blockbuster. All the way up to it's dramatic conclusion (Issue #8) which includes a breathtaking twist in the ending with more teasing and anticipation for the next big blockbuster. These guys make comic books hurt so good. |
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