As mentioned in my favorite covers of the week article I am looking to get back to my top picks of the week countdowns which brings me to this Top 10 Comics list. Now the comic industry did not make it easy on me as publishers like Boom! Studios and Valiant did not even release any books. So if you are wondering why so heavy with Marvel books that is a big reason why.
Still, there are plenty of books to get excited about for the new year including the start of a few new series. A reminder that this list is solely based on my opinion so may differ from other reviews on the site. So if anything makes you angry make sure to send hate mail my way or comment belowÂ
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Jesus Saiz
Publisher: MarvelÂ
Description: “No…I am your father.” In the wake of the events following The Empire Strikes Back, it is a dark time for the heroes of the Rebellion. The Rebel fleet…scattered following a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Hoth. Han Solo…lost to the bounty hunter, Boba Fett, after being frozen in carbonite. And after being lured into a trap on Cloud City and bested in a vicious lightsaber duel against the evil Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker…learned the horrible truth about his past. Vader did not kill Luke’s father Anakin–Vader is Luke’s father! Now, after narrowly escaping the dark lord’s clutches, and wounded and reeling from the revelation, Luke, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, the Wookiee Chewbacca and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 must fight their way back to the Rebel Alliance-for the fate of the entire galaxy is at stake!
Why it Made the List: Uttering the words Star Wars brings with it the chance the horrors of the internet will close in on you no matter how placid the take so let us see how this goes with this week’s placement. I gave up on the Star Wars comics some time back mostly due to not being a major fan of the art. With a new number one and things finally progressing after Empire Strikes Back I jumped back in and was happy to get more of this Star Wars world. Considering how close together Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi appear to be I do wonder how many stories they can get out of this, but for now, I am happy to be back in this time with these characters. Charles Soule has the voices down and he references some of the newer major moments that have happened within the comic book canon since Marvel took over. That act makes these books seem more important. Jesus Saiz art gets the essence of the characters without looking like tracings of real-life photos. I no longer believe it is possible to satisfy all Star Wars fans but if anything could it would be this first issue.Â
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Jorge Fornés
Publisher: Marvel
Description: The Devil of Hell“s Kitchen returns!
As Matt Murdock rekindles his alliance with Elektra, Kingpin plans to rekindle some alliances of his own”¦
Why it Made the List: Last year when I did this list Daredevil was a mainstay even landing at the number one spot a few times. So it coming in at number nine may seem like a slight on a lighter week. The thing is this the part of the story that may not be the most exciting but it is vastly important to set up what comes next. The Daredevil and Elektra dynamic is so full of history and complexity you can quickly fall into the weeds but so far this story is staying above board. Showing that they are two dynamic personalties that are destined to clash and come together again and again. Ultimately the story along with the fantastic art by Jorge Fornés continues to make this one of Marvel“s best books going today. I became a major fan of Fornés art since I saw his work in the Aftershock series Hot Lunch Special His style is ideal for the world of Daredevil so I am thrilled anytime his name appears on the cover. This issue shows once again why he should be one of the hottest artists in comics.Â
Writer: Rodney Barnes
Artist: Jason Shawn Alexander
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: Jimmy’s horrifying discoveries regarding his father’s murder lead him to seek police coroner Jose Padilla’s help. But when they discover the force behind Philadelphia’s vampire outbreak is none other than former U.S. President John Adams, will Jimmy’s investigation reveal a way to save the city, or is he just dragging Jose to hell with him?
Why it Made the List: There is something that tends to happen with vampire stories that makes them not click with me for some reason, which is odd because I view Dracula as one of the greatest villains ever created in fiction. If we got more vampire stories like Killadelphia that hurdle may no longer exist whatsoever. What has made this story for me though is the family dynamic that gives the narrative a strong emotional core along with the art of Jason Shawn Alexander. His page layouts and a knack for character detail is something else. There is a cinematic approach to the way he sets his scenes and yes he can even make the city of brotherly love Philadelphialook good. Â
Writer: Ryan Ferrier
Artist: George Kambadais
Publisher: IDWÂ
Description: Are you dead? Denny Little can help. This disgraced TV psychic can put your soul in a living body… for a price. A bad day at the office, however, has just put a bounty on his head courtesy of a murdered mafioso, leaving Denny 48 hours to save his own life.
Why it Made the List: One thing I try really hard not to do is over push new number one issues. Sometimes the excitement of wanting a great new series can cause you to overinflate the quality of a book and lead you to miss out on some key concerning factors. To be fair creating a great first issue of a comic series is a herculean task. Still, even with that concern, I Can Sell You A Body #1 has a lot that has me excited. What struck me most about this first issue was how it can just as well work as a standalone issue, yet enough mystery to keep the series running for some time. This is also my first experience with artist George Kambadais“s work and enjoyed what I saw. The use of negative space in particular as the cover shows not only looked great but also worked to further the book“s established themes.Â
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Otto Schimdt
Publisher: Marvel ComicsÂ
Description: When a mysterious and ruthless new Ronin starts tearing a destructive path through the city, suspicion immediately falls on Hawkeye, but Clint has more to worry about than who“s wearing his old costume. After a clash with the Hood ends badly, Hawkeye gives himself a new mission that will place him in the crosshairs of one of New York“s most dangerous villains. Hawkeye“s mission and Ronin“s secret plans will set them on a collision course that only one of them will walk away from.
Why it Made the List: I love it when comics can just be fun. Not that stories are absent of stakes but those type of superhero stories that are not afraid to be superhero stories. Matthew Rosenberg has a knack for great dialog and when you match that with a character like Hawkeye everything else begins to fall into place. This is Hawkeye of old, not the character we have seen since the well regarded Matt Fraction and David Aja run from years back. Marvel has tried to repeat that success and it was never going to work. Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schimdt putting their stamp on the character making him a bit more fun-loving yet he still carries that aloof piece of his personality.Â
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Sami Basri
Publisher: DC ComicsÂ
Description: Harley Quinn is great at kicking jerks in the face. Paying her taxes? Not so much. Things turn from bad to worse when Harley’s new accountant, an ex-con called the Hambezzler, runs into trouble with his old crew and they come to Coney Island with one thing on their minds: payback!
Why it Made the List:Â I do not typically read Harley Quinn but knowing Mark Russell was writing the most recent issue caught my eye. I am soglad I read it as Russell brought his normal humorous flair including clever parodies of over the hill McDonald’s characters. Of course, that was just the beginning as this was an issue directed at the corporate greed that destroys lives and let’s those who lose scavenge for the remaining scraps. Give Sami Basri a great deal of credit as well. His cartooning is strong and the designs he came up with were key in making the concept work. The decrypted take on Ronald McDonald was especially inspiring. To me there is no such thing as a bad character and I love it when writers I enjoy reading prove that fact.Â
Writer: Curt Pires, Tony Pires
Artist: Alex Diotto, Dee Cunniffe (Colorist)
Publisher: Image ComicsÂ
Description: Elon scrambles to piece together Olympian’s past and find a way to get him home. So he heads to the one place he knows he’ll find answers: his local comic shop!
Why it Made the List: Olympia is a comic series that does not try to hide the fact it is a large love letter to the work of comics legend Jack Kirby. That is a brave move because when you place yourself next to giants you are asking to look small. Why this series is working so far is because that love letter aspect is just the beginning of what appears to be a much broader look at the industry and fanfare of comics in general. With how this issue ends it appears that look at the industry may get a bit dark and show creating superheroes does not mean success is automatic nor lasting. As much as I would love to see a straightforward throwback tale in the style of The King I do like this is going a bit further. Where a series like Black Hammer looked to humanize the characters within the superhero world this is looking outward to the people who make comics possible including fans, creators, and your local comic book shop as well.Â
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Jacen Burrows
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Description: Valery Stefanovich has put himself on a collision course with The Punisher. The roots of this issue go back to Afghanistan in the 1980s where Valery spent time in the Russian Special Forces and some of the most horrific things you can imagine. Things that CHANGED him. Frank and Valery have so much in common, but that never bodes well, does it?
Why it Made the List:Â Punisher Soviet #3 was the issue I was waiting for with this series as Garth Enis does what he does best- a brutal and true to life war story. Similar to Enis’s last Story The Punisher: The Platoon this feels like a story he wanted to tell and Marvel said he could if he found a way to make it a Punisher story and he has. This time around the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan is the focal point and we get a perspective we rarely get in America media as we are on the side of the Soviets. Not that this is a story on their side. Moreso showing the horrors of war and how those who pay the deepest price have the least say in their destiny. Anyone who has enjoyed Enis’s past work will certainly enjoy this.
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Olivier Coipel
Publisher: Marvel ComicsÂ
Description: A BRAND-NEW, SUPERSTAR CREATIVE TEAM TAKES THE KING OF ASGARD TO NEW REALMS OF GLORY!
The prince is now a king. All Asgard lies before Thor, the God of Thunder. And after many months of war, the Ten Realms are finally at peace. But the skies above the Realm Eternal are never clear for long. The Black Winter is coming. And the God of the Storm will be powerless before it.
Why it Made the List: Heavy is the head that wears the crown. A statement that fits not only the character of Thor for this issue but the new creative team of Donny Cates and Olivier Coipel who look to take over the character after Jason Aaron“s epic run. How do you follow up a story that covered such a massive time span both in actual years and the history of the character? Well so far the answer provided to that question is pretty fantastic. The best way to describe Donny Cates“s story style is that he takes concepts and ideas most would only tell in Elseworlds or What If.. stories and brings them into the regular universe Big, bold, and full of classic comic book spirit. This series may not have the weight of Aaron“s run, but like with this week“s issue of Hawkeye, it is destined to be one hell of a fun ride.Â
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Bengal
Publisher: Image ComicsÂ
Description: Glory“s cargo consists of a heavily drugged Pablo, a worried Isabelle, a very sick father, and a liver to save him””but it won“t last forever. She“s got a whole mess of trouble hot on her heels, and time is running out.
Why it Made the List:Â If you are a fan of Mad Max I would highly recommend checking out issue eight of Death and Glory, even if you never read an issue of the series or a comic for that matter. Â A massive high-speed car chase in the middle of the unforgiving desert where capture means your body parts will end up on the black market. It was high adrenaline from start to finish, Remender and Bengal find more and more ways to top themselves with the insanity of this chase. They seem to be having the time of their lives with this book. The story may not be anything super special but I can stare all day at Bengal’s art and ability to construct action. Picking my number one issue is always hard. When it came down to this week Death or Glory #8 wowed me the most out of everything I read. The type of issue I could hand to anyone and say enjoy the next fifteen minutes of your life. Not often an indie book is that welcoming to new readers this late into its run.Â
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- A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.
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