Going into this week I worried this would be one of those weeks where I struggled to get to ten books. Knowing Detective Comics #1000 was coming out I could see many deciding to wait until next week to release some of their best books. While this was not the strongest of weeks it was not difficult to put this top 10 together and even have some honorable mentions with Isola #7, Coda #10, The Forgotten Queen #, Go-Bots #5, The Avant-Guards #3, and Punks Not Dead: London Calling #2. A reminder that this countdown is based on my opinion so may differ from other reviews on this site. With that said let the countdown begin…
10. Femme Magnifique: 10 Magnificent Women Who Changed The World
Writer: Various
Artist: Various
Publisher: Black Crown
Description: Just in time for Women’s History Month, we’ve curated a one-shot selection of short stories from the critically acclaimed anthology, FEMME MAGNIFIQUE: 50 Magnificent Women Who Changed the World. Part mini-biopic, part personal salute to their personal icons, the subjects and creative teams include: Margaret Hamilton by Alisa Kwitney and Jamie Coe, Sylvia Earle by Maris Wicks, Kate Bush by Gail Simone and Marguerite Sauvage, Margaret Sanger by Lucy Knisley, Hillary Rodham Clinton by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Elsa Charretier, Cindy Whitehead by Jim Rugg, Mary Blair by Casey Gilly and Jen Hickman, Harriet Tubman by Chuck Brown and Sanford Greene, and Rumiko Takahashi by Chynna Clugston-Flores, Sally Ride by Cecil Castellucci and Philip Bond! From artists to astronauts, from performance halls to the Skateboard Hall of Fame, the magnificent women featured in this single issue have one thing in common: they’ve shattered ceilings and continued to empower, educate, and promote equality.
Why It Made the List: I debated placing this one on the list. Not because of its quality, but due to the fact it is actually taken from a larger graphic novel FEMME MAGNIFIQUE: 50 Magnificent Women Who Changed the World. Ultimately my goal with this list is to shine a light on books worth reading so in that spirit I choose to include it. Plus this is an issue that works by itself, and if you end up enjoying it the benefit is there is more already out there for you to read. What you have here is a number of fantastic creative teams telling some truly amazing and inspiring stories. Comics can be a powerful medium to showcase of histories most important moments. This shows that to be true with stories that show you can have an impact on the world through art, science, and even skateboarding.
Writer: Joe Henderson
Artist: Antonio Fabela, Lee Garbett
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: NEW STORY ARC! “FIX THE WORLD,” Part One-Willa’s in a race to save the world! Can she beat Barrow to the finish line and finally restore gravity to what it was? And what shocking surprise awaits her at the end that will rock her to her very core? This is where EVERYTHING CHANGES.
Why It Made the List: Skyward started out of the gates extremely strong as a series but the last arc did not quite have the same momentum. With this issue, we see the start of a new arc that is moving the series back to its original heights–literally and figuratively. This series continues to have some of my favorite chase sequences in all of comics. By having the concept of an Earth with no gravity the stakes are inherently higher. Open space becomes as dangerous as a crowded minefield. That added to an ending that will completely change things moving forward made it a standout issue.
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Caspar Wijngaard
Publisher: Dynamite
Description: A thousand dimensions from ours. All Earths’ best hopes, resting on our heroes’ fight. They’ve got everything… except a chance.
Why It Made the List: Considering how strong this series has been since its first issue one wonders what other characters are out there not being used that deserve their own series. With the upcoming HBO series and Doomsday Clock Watchmen is once again in the zeitgeist and this story is very much taking advantage of that. Considering Peter Cannon was the baseline for Ozymandias this is a little like a snake eating its tail, but it oddly makes it work. It is meta in a refreshing way and even without the context of the Watchmen connections, it is a remarkable superhero story dealing with alternate dimensions and end of the world stakes. With each and every issue I am amazed this comic exists and I am grateful for it.
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Jonas Scharf
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Description: New Orleans has become a battlezone as the Ash turf war spills out of the shadows.
Why It Made the List: When I think of Cullen Bunn I tend to associate him with most of his horror work like Harrow County and The Empty Man, which is obviously unfair because his works if far more than just that. This has horror elements for sure, but it is much more of a crime book with a slight supernatural twist. Good crime stories begin and end with great characters that live in the gray. Where people do bad things for what they perceive is the right reason. Here every main character is layered and filled with nuance. Jonas Scharf“s art is getting better with each passing issue. His style pitches the right tone, and all of this is leading to what is Cullen Bunn“s best book since Harrow County.
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Dean Ormston
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Description: With our heroes trapped in a bizarre new world it will be up to the new Black Hammer to bring them to safety!
Why It Made the List: I had some concerns with this newest chapter of Black Hammer that it would be majorly spinning its wheels as once again these characters appeared lost in a manufactured world. The machinations of the plot are similar, however, I continue to enjoy how Lemire finds ways to create obstacles for these characters. Alabama Slam“s part in this issue, in particular, stood out. Every time you think he will be able to capture that sense of heroism he clammers for he does not quite get there. This is the type of journey where it is one step forward and two steps back, but when you have characters this strong it can still work. Doing so much every triumph feel that much more earned.Â
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Artist: Martin Morazzo
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: “HOPSCOTCH MÉLANGE,” Part Three-This is the true story… of one guy… picked to live in a house… and have his life taped… to find out what happens… when life stops being polite… and starts getting real.
Why It Made the List: I know there are many comic book readers that do not love the anthology format as they prefer stories to be more connected. Personally what I love about it is that you never know what exactly you will get with each issue. This takes aim on our Reality TV culture and does so with great effect. I may be dating myself with this reference but felt like a modernized version of the Peter Hyams“s classic Stay Tuned–but actually good. It finds that fine line of being both hilarious and insane at the same time. A reality TV show where people do an autopsy of their loved one to solve how they died feels like something that is far too close to reality than it should be. Ice Cream Man continues to be one of the most twisted comics out today.
Writer: Alex Paknadel
Artist: Martin Simmonds
Publisher: Vault Comics
Description: Â The epic conclusion! Having barely survived their confrontation with the unstoppable Zaj?cek the Cremator, who remains determined to leave their $#!t in ruins, Jerry and Leo are off-camera and off-the-grid. But where to go now that Leo’s stolen pretty much everything he ever wanted? Only one item remains: the Action Joe action figure Leo lost as a kid. An epic showdown in the desert ensues, and a surprising hero rises!
Why It Made the List: This issue marked the end for the Friendo series so it was a bittersweet moment to read that last page. It has been one hell of a ride and it ends with the best issue. A modernization of the original themes of Wizard of Oz to reflect our current materialistic culture driven by hyper-capitalism. This is the type of book that will reward you on rereads due to the complexity of the narrative and unexpected structure. Prior to this I never read anything by Alex Paknadel but now after this and the current Incursion comic he has entered my list of must-read writers.
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Publisher: Marvel
Description: KNOW FEAR.
Why It Made the List: Three issues in and this is quickly becoming one of Marvel“s best series. Chip Zdarsky is not rewriting the book on how to do Daredevil he is just slightly adjusting it in order to make the surprises even more effective. Taking what you know so you assume you know where exactly he is going and only to go another way. Love a lot of the small tidbits he has already added to the character. Something even as small as the idea that Daredevil’s powers make location inconsequential. There is no such thing as front-facing when you view the world through a radar sense. Then you have Marco Checchetto“s art which is glorious. What you have here is a way to be familiar without being repetitive. I do worry that the ending of the book is going down a road that is perhaps overly traveled. So far though I have no reason to doubt that Zdarsky and company will once again find a way to make it work.
Writer: Scott Snyder, Brian Michael Bendis, Geoff Johns, Paul Dini, Kevin Smith, Warren Ellis, Peter J. Tomasi, James Tynion IV, Christopher Priest, Tom King, Denny O’Neil
Artist: Steve Epting, Jim Lee, Alex Maleev, Doug Mahnke, Dustin Nguyen, Becky Cloonan, Kelley Jones
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: As part of DC“s year-long global celebration of Batman“s 80th anniversary, DC is publishing a momentous 1,000th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS””the series that introduced the world“s most popular Super Hero and the title from which the DC brand was born. This must-have collector“s item debuts March 27, 2019 and includes all-new stories plus a wraparound cover from the powerhouse art team of fan-favorite artist Jim Lee, inker Scott Williams and colorist Alex Sinclair.
Why It Made the List: I do not envy the task of putting together a book like this. Knowing this will be the biggest book of the year, and perhaps the biggest book in some time every decision is amplified. How do you sum up 80 years of the most popular superhero ever in one comic? Personally, think they did as good as of job one could ask for. Not every story was fantastic but there was a good mixture of style and structure to make each unique. My personal favorite was probably “Manufacture for Use”“ by Kevin Smith and Jim Lee. Also “Legend of Knute Brody”“, “Batman“s Design”“, “The Precedent, Â “Longest Case”“, and “I Know”“ were also fantastic. Why has Batman been such an iconic presence over the last 80 years? This does a respectable job of trying to answer that impossible question.
Writer: Hayden Sherman
Artist: Michael Moreci
Publisher: Vault
Description: Dust needs an arm; Billy needs redemption. Only one of these quests goes well.
Why It Made the List: This was an easy week when it came to choosing what would be number one on this list. No disrespect to the other books, but this was by far the most complete issue of the week. What fascinates me the most about Wasted Space is how each issue has its own unique and complete theme and then how that theme drives the narrative. This issue focused a lot on redemption as the story slowed down to further examine the actions of these characters. Loved how Rex“s struggle to deal with his decision to kill his father mirrored Billy“s own internal journey to face what he has been avoiding since the beginning of the series. With all the absurdity packed into this book, you can overlook the depth of these characters. As this issue demonstrated Wasted Space is a comic everyone should be reading.
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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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